Licensing Engineer (m/w/d)

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 seeks a dedicated Licensing Engineer with a strong background in civil or structural engineering, ideally with seismic, hydrological, and/or geotechnical engineering experience. This role will provide day-to-day support in the development of the Kairos Power Hermes test reactor facility Operating License Application (OLA). While prior nuclear licensing experience is not required, candidates with civil/structural design experience along with seismic, hydrological, or geotechnical engineering experience and a willingness to learn will be given priority, as we are committed to providing comprehensive training in licensing and regulatory processes.

As a Licensing Engineer, you will work closely with engineering design, safety analysis, and technology development teams to ensure that regulatory requirements are identified and implemented in alignment with Kairos Power’s licensing strategies. You will contribute to the preparation of regulatory submittals, reports, and materials for pre-application interactions with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC).

Responsibilities

• Develops licensing document content, programs, and supporting licensing related products and activities specifically geared toward the reactor facility construction and engineering, with a focus on civil/structural, geotechnical, hydrological, and seismic aspects
• Supports planning, development, and defense of Kairos license applications
• Supports pre-application meeting interactions with the USNRC
• Prepares licensing strategies supporting license application development and execution
• Leads resolution of key strategic licensing issues (e.g., development of regulatory programs such as civil/structural inspection and testing programs, seismic/structural analysis, et al.)
• Coordinates with and supports development of safety analysis documentation
• Coordinates with and supports development of testing programs to meet regulatory requirements
• Supports NRC construction inspection program
• Supports Project Management and Engineering teams to develop execution plans. (schedules, milestones, cost models, decision criteria, etc.) that meet Kairos Power’s objectives.
• Identification and roll down of top-level regulatory requirements into design requirements
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• BS or MS degree in Nuclear, Civil, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering or related field
• 3+ years of experience in facility engineering design and construction, with seismic, geotechnical, or hydrological engineering experience highly preferred. Nuclear licensing experience is not required—we are willing to provide training
• Strong knowledge of civil/structural and seismic system design, including analysis, design, and implementation of engineering solutions
• Eager to learn and develop skills in nuclear licensing, with a proactive and growth-oriented mindset
• Familiarity or experience in development of Preliminary and Final Safety Analysis Reports (PSARs and FSARs) and Operating License Applications (OLAs), particularly for design of structures, systems, and components, and other licensing considerations preferred
• Experience in system design, with thorough understanding of evaluation, design, and implementation of new technologies
• Demonstrated coordination skills including advisory, relationship, and stakeholder management skills fit to handle a small / start-up environment; demonstrated ability to earn the trust of team members and management
• Entrepreneurial, flexible, open to new ideas, collaborative in nature with full buy-in to the Kairos Power mission
• Proven team player with excellent verbal, written communication/presentation, and interpersonal skills; must be able to interact and communicate effectively at all levels of the organization
• A natural bias for independent action, comfortable delivering on commitments and holding him/herself and team accountable; a respectful individual that embraces challenges with an unwavering focus on driving results and meeting milestones
• Ability to work with highly collaborative team
• Ability to problem solve quickly and efficiently.
• 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
• Prioritizes and ensures safety of oneself and others

Physical Conditions

• Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, raps, 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 40 pounds, in all directions
• Communicating with others to exchange information

Environmental Conditions

• General office environment
• Outdoor environment or elements such as precipitation and wind
• Noisy Environments
• 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 shield, gloves, and safety shoes

Travel

• Travel for business needs is required (25 - 35%)

Additional Requirements

• Requires occasional schedule flexibility
• Requires occasional extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines

The salary range for this position is $116,700 to $137,000 for employees working onsite at our Alameda, CA headquarters. The range provided in this job posting represents the typical range or starting rate of candidates hired in California. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include your education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, the market data for your work location, and a comparison to other employees already in the role.

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. link