Materials Test Engineer

Reporting to the Senior Manager of Materials, this position is responsible for materials testing in Flibe molten salt and contributes to qualification testing of metallic and graphitic materials for use in the FHR plant structural components. This role will involve both routine and novel testing, modifications to experimental test hardware, development, and implementation of test procedures within Kairos Power’s laboratories including the Salt-laboratory, while maintaining and developing safety practices for testing materials in these environments. The role will also involve materials engineering tasks such as sample preparation, microscopy and other characterization methods, and material test data analysis and interpretation.

Responsibilities

• Perform materials testing using in-situ mechanical and corrosion test systems in the Salt laboratory
• Supporting test preparation, assembly, data recording, basic maintenance and troubleshooting of electromechanical and fluid systems
• Perform data processing, visualization, and analysis to support data interpretation
• Investigate improvements in test hardware or test procedures for optimizing test operations
• Procure, install, commission, operate, and maintain lab equipment
• Perform routine laboratory duties: order chemicals and equipment consumables, lead lab clean-up and organization
• Participate in developing safe operations for new experiments, safety planning, and communication for tests
• Support laboratory scheduling, consumable tracking, and procurement
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Materials Science or Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent degree with direct experience in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or engineering lab testing experience
• Experience in mechanical testing and/or corrosion testing
• Demonstrated practical skills for installing and operating scientific and testing equipment
• Experience in troubleshooting lab equipment: gloveboxes, furnaces, chillers, pumps, data acquisition systems, etc.
• Must be proficient in the use of hand and powered shop tools
• Must be able to use basic mechanical inspection tools
• Must be able to use multimeters and other basic electrical diagnostic equipment
• Demonstrated safety skills and understanding of chemical hygiene and hazardous waste generation
• Must be able to read and interpret engineering drawings
• Careful workmanship, attention to detail, and accurate logging of data are required
• The candidate needs to have experience in assembly and maintenance of test hardware, power supplies, heater controllers, control and instrumentation, and general laboratory equipment (i.e., vacuum pumps, gas transfer systems, furnaces, etc.)
• Proficient written and oral communication skills

Functional competencies

• Ability to work with highly collaborative team
• Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently
• Prioritizes and ensures safety of one self 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 and the like
• 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 environment
• High temperatures
• Noisy environments
• Odors or fumes from chemicals or chemical reactions

Safety and PPE

• Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs
• Manipulating, cleaning and disposal of hazardous materials
• Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions
• Color identification: detecting, distinguishing, recognizing and identifying colors
• Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes
• Handling of Beryllium (Be)

Travel

• Some travel may be required (10%)

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 timeline

The salary range for this position is $90,000-$115,400 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.

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 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 to the Department of Energy’s general authorization list