Manufacturing Integration Engineer

Job Description

Kairos Power is a new nuclear energy technology and engineering company whose mission is to enable the world's transition to clean energy, with the ultimate goal to dramatically improve people's quality of life while protecting the environment. This goal will be accomplished through the commercialization of the fluoride-salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (FHR) that can be deployed with robust safety, affordable costs, and flexible operation to accommodate the expansion of variable renewables.

The Integration Engineer in the Pre-commissioning, Install, Test, and Assembly (PITA) group supports the successful execution of complex manufacturing projects by aligning production schedules, resolving cross-functional roadblocks, ensuring material and resource readiness, and coordinating tasking in the group. This role serves as a key liaison between the Fuels development department, manufacturing, supply chain, and operations teams, driving timely delivery and integration of technical systems. With a strong focus on continuous improvement and compliance, the PITA Integration Engineer promotes efficient workflows, clear communication, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Support skid reviews, manufacturing activities, and assembly operations.
• Maintain high-level production schedules based on project milestones in collaboration with manufacturing planners, manufacturing supervisors, and engineering.
• Coordinate resources and resolve roadblocks by collaborating across engineering, design, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to ensure timely availability of materials, labor, and equipment.
• Support project reviews, ensuring manufacturing requirements and design decisions are clearly communicated, documented, and aligned with production goals.
• Proactively identify and resolve bottlenecks by working cross-functionally to implement practical, technically sound solutions in fast-paced, evolving environments.
• Communicate production status and risks effectively to stakeholders, including project leads, engineering, operations, and quality teams, ensuring alignment and transparency.
• Champion continuous improvement by identifying inefficiencies, implementing process enhancements, and supporting training on planning tools and methodologies.
• Ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards throughout the production lifecycle.
• Support change management processes by evaluating engineering changes and assessing their impact on production timelines and resources.
• Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor manufacturing integration effectiveness and support data-driven decision-making.
• Contribute to risk assessments and mitigation planning for manufacturing integration activities, particularly during the introduction of new processes.
• Document and standardize integration workflows to promote consistency, scalability, and knowledge transfer across teams.
• Collaborate on new design/project efforts, ensuring manufacturability and integration readiness from prototype to full-scale production.
• Coordinate part and component ordering through the supply chain and procurement team.
• Work at KP-SW fabrication facilities to assemble all components and build new skids and coordinating/partnering with additional resourcing from PITA (technologist support).
• Support manufacturing readiness reviews and pre-commissioning activities to validate integration plans prior to execution.
• Partner with Quality to support inspection planning, nonconformance resolution, and corrective action implementation related to integration activities.
• Support capacity planning and long-range manufacturing integration planning for future Fuels program needs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related technical discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in production planning, manufacturing operations, or process engineering, with a strong track record in schedule development, resource coordination, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Proven commitment to workplace safety and compliance with established safety practices.
• Experience in transitioning designs from prototype to production is desirable.
• Experience working in a highly regulated or safety-critical environment (e.g., nuclear, aerospace, automotive, medical devices) is desirable.
• Experience working directly in fabrication, assembly, or shop-floor manufacturing environments.
• Experience working with project management tools and methodologies (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Agile, or similar) is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Deep understanding of manufacturing workflows, supply chain logistics, and inventory control, with experience supporting the design, procurement, and assembly of complex technical systems.
• Familiar with process documentation, including PFDs and P&IDs, and how they inform industrial system operations and integration.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly document plans and effectively convey information across engineering, operations, and leadership teams.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and production planning tools (e.g., JobBOSS, Oracle, Infor).
• Ability to analyze and use production data to optimize performance.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and specifications and translate them into actionable manufacturing requirements.
• Skilled in risk assessment and mitigation related to manufacturing and system integration activities.
• Familiarity with manufacturing execution systems (MES) and digital manufacturing tools for real-time tracking and control.
• Understanding of Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles.
• Effective stakeholder management and influence across technical and non-technical teams.
• Ability to work with a highly collaborative team.
• Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently.
• Prioritizes and ensures safety of oneself and others.
• Ability to proactively collect, manage and transfer knowledge.
• Ability to seek different and novel ways to create efficiencies when working on problems, challenges and issues.
• Ability to facilitate cross-functional working sessions and drive alignment on priorities and execution plans.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail in schedule, documentation, and risk tracking.
• Working knowledge of configuration management and document control practices in regulated environments.

Physical Demands

• Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts and the like.
• Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces.
• Remaining in a stationary position for prolonged periods.
• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.
• Adjusting, moving, transporting, installing, positioning, or removing objects up to 50 pounds in all directions.
• Communicating with others to exchange information.
• Operating motor vehicles, heavy equipment or machinery.
• Use hand tools.

Environmental Conditions

• General office environment.
• Low temperatures.
• High temperatures.
• Outdoor environment or elements such as precipitation and wind.
• Noisy environments.
• Small and/or enclosed spaces.
• Odors or fumes from chemicals or chemical reactions.
• Elevated heights.
• Accessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.
• High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced.

Safety and PPE

• Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs.
• Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions.
• Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes.

Travel

• Some travel may be required (up to 15%).
• Able and willing to travel to Los Alamos and other Fuels development sites.

Certification

• Capable of obtaining forklift and boom lift certification.

Additional Requirements

• Occasionally requires working weekends.
• Occasionally requires schedule flexibility.
• Seldom requires non-standard work-week hours.
• Occasionally requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines.

About our Benefits

We know that we have some of the most talented and dedicated employees, and we believe in rewarding them accordingly. If you work here, full-time employees (excludes interns) expect to have access to the benefits below:

• Competitive compensation packages.
• Medical, dental and vision benefits for employees and their dependents.
• Paid Vacation.
• 401(k) and pre-tax health insurance, dependent care, and commuter benefits (FSA).

Kairos Power is committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the communities where we do business. Kairos Power is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We actively welcome people of different experiences, abilities, and perspectives.

Kairos Power participates in E-Verify.

Candidates only, no recruiters or agencies please.

Note: You are applying for a position that is located in a facility that handles information that is subject to export control restrictions by the Department of Energy under 10 CFR Part 810. To work in this facility, you need to be authorized by the Department of Energy to access Part 810-controlled information. Foreign nationals who are citizens of countries that are not on the Department of Energy's general authorization list (link below) are not permitted to work in our facility unless the Department of Energy issues an export control license to the company to permit that individual to have access to Part 810-controlled information. The following questions are intended to determine the licensing requirements that may apply. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/10/appendix-A_to_part_810