Welding Engineer

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.

Kairos Power is seeking a highly motivated Welding Engineer to develop in-house welding processes and expand welding capabilities in support of Kairos Power's FHR program. In this role, you will work with the Welding Development Team to advance and implement welding and manufacturing capabilities for both manufacturing and technology development programs. You will collaborate with design, testing, materials, modeling & simulation, and reliability engineers to develop weld joint designs, welding techniques, specifications, and inspection methods for welded KP-FHR and test platform assemblies. Additionally, this position will serve as a resource for internal fabrication teams to optimize welding procedures and enable process improvement.

Responsibilities

• Design and Develop Welding Processes

  • Create welding procedures for new projects and products, including selection of appropriate welding methods, materials, and equipment.
  • Evaluate and select welding techniques (e.g., GMAW, GTAW, SMAW, etc.) to optimize production, based on material types, product requirements, and desired outcomes.

• Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS)

  • Develop and maintain Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS) and Procedure Qualification Records (PQR) in compliance with applicable codes and standards (e.g., AWS, ASME, API).
  • Ensure procedures meet both customer requirements and industry regulations.

• Quality Control & Assurance

  • Review welding inspections to ensure compliance with design specifications and quality standards.
  • Analyze test results and determine corrective actions to improve welding techniques and processes.

• Troubleshooting & Process Improvement

  • Diagnose and resolve issues with welding procedures, equipment, and quality concerns.
  • Implement process improvements to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the quality of welds.

• Collaboration & Training

  • Work closely with design engineers, production teams, and other stakeholders to ensure seamless integration of welding processes into the overall manufacturing workflow.
  • Train and mentor welding technicians and operators on welding techniques, safety standards, and best practices.

• Documentation & Reporting

  • Prepare detailed technical reports, process documentation, and work instructions. Maintain records of welding procedures, quality control inspections, and test results

Qualifications

• Education and experiences: Bachelors or Masters degree in Weld Engineering or other related field
• Minimum 3 years experience working in weld engineering or other related field
• Experience with automated/semi-automated weld processes (Orbital Pipe, Narrow-Groove GTAW, Electron Beam Welding, etc.)
• Experience in weld inspection including NDE and destructive testing
• Experience working with austenitic stainless steels, carbon steel, piping and pressure vessels
• Experience with manual and CNC machining preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Expert in reading and interpreting engineering and assembly drawings including weld symbols
• Knowledge of CAD software such as SolidWorks preferred with modeling and drawing generating experience
• Knowledge of ASME Boiler and Pressure vessel and AWS structural code requirements
• Proficient in the use of computers to perform daily work
• Team player with excellent verbal, written communication/presentation, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently
• Ability to seek different and novel ways to create efficiencies when working on problems, challenges, or issues
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and foster a culture of inclusion
• Ability to proactively collect, manage and transfer knowledge
• Ability to balance multiple tasks in an agile manufacturing environment
• Prioritizes and ensures safety of oneself and others

Physical Conditions

• Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts and the like
• 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 50 pounds in all directions
• Communicating with others to exchange information
• Operating motor vehicles, heavy equipment or machinery
• Use hand tools
• Repetitive assembly operations of manufacturing test fixtures and test setups in collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams

Environmental Conditions

• 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
• Evaluated 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
• Color identification: detecting, distinguishing, recognizing and identifying colors
• Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes
• Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions

Travel

• Some travel may be required (up to 10%) to other Kairos Power offices or external suppliers

Additional Requirements

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

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