Materials Characterization Co-Op (m/w/d)

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.

Job Summary

The Materials Characterization Co-Op will work on the Materials team to support various materials qualification programs, fuels fabrication programs, and deployment of new characterization capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Perform materials characterization to support structural materials qualification programs, including metallographic sample preparation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy, electron back-scatter diffraction, optical microscopy.
• Perform characterization to support TRISO and fuel pebble fabrication and quality control programs, including metallographic sample preparation, X-ray computed tomography.
• Develop new characterization methods in wet chemistry and analytical chemistry for TRISO particle and fuel pebble characterization, including manual techniques, HPLC, and ICP-MS.
• Support in installation and commissioning new characterization equipment.
• Support in development and writing of characterization procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing a BS or MS degree in Chemistry, Material Science, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or relevant discipline preferred.
• Must be in good academic standing with current educational institution.
• Able and willing to commit to 15-20 hours per week during spring 2026 school semester.
• Completion of or current enrollment in any of the following courses at University of New Mexico:
  • CHEM 2310C Quantitative Analysis Lecture and Laboratory
  • CHEM 453L Analytical Instrumentation: Theory and Application
  • CBE 318L Chemical Engineering Laboratory I: Introduction to Experimentation
  • CBE 371 Introduction to Materials Engineering
  • NE 323L Radiation Detection and Measurement
  • NE 313L Introduction to Laboratory Techniques for Nuclear Engineering
• Exposure to SEM, HPLC, ICP and other analytical and characterization concepts is a plus.
• Exposure to data handling and modeling is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Solid foundation and understanding on fundamentals of mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of materials is preferred.
• Knowledge of stainless steel, graphite, or TRISO is a plus.
• Ability to work with 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.

Physical Conditions

• Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts, etc.
• Setting up and transferring temporary structures (e.g. scaffolding, ladders).
• Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces.
• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting 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 20 pounds in all directions.
• Communicating with others to exchange information.
• Use hand tools.
• Repetitive assembly operations of manufacturing test fixtures and test setups in collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams.

Environmental Conditions

• General office and laboratory environment.
• Noisy environments.
• Small and/or enclosed spaces.
• Odors or fumes from chemicals or chemical reactions.
• Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.
• High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced.

Safety and PPE

• Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs.
• Manipulating, cleaning and disposal of hazardous materials.
• Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions.
• Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes.
• Handling of hazardous materials such as Beryllium and Uranium in lab environments.

Travel

• Must have reliable means of transportation to and from Kairos Power facility in Albuquerque, NM.

The salary range for this position is $27 to $29 per hour. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include your education, experience, knowledge, skills, ability and the market data for your work location, and a comparison to other employees already in the role.

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. Export Control Information