Lead Engineer, Structural Integrity of Graphite Core Components

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

Reporting to the Manager, Structural Integrity & Materials Modeling, the Lead Engineer, Structural Integrity of Graphite Core Components will drive the development and deployment of novel analysis methods and numerical models used for the design, licensing and operation of the Kairos Power fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactors (KP-FHRs). They will also support the Materials and Engineering Design teams with the identification of testing needs, test definition and planification, inspection and experimental data analysis, as well as finite-element analysis (FEA) of graphite core structures and components.

Responsibilities

• Support the development, verification and validation of constitutive models for structural graphite materials
• Perform and review thermal and mechanical analysis of graphite core components using both static and dynamic FEA
• Improve design-by-analysis (including damage tolerance assessment) and fitness-for-service methodologies and support their deployment across downstream teams by producing necessary supporting documentation, conducting calculation reviews, providing trainings, supporting testing teams with definition and planification of confirmatory and/or validation testing
• Collaborate cross-functionally with various engineering teams on efforts such as uncertainty quantification (UQ), software Quality Assurance (SQA), software and hardware acquisition, and support of management and work program leadership in meeting company’s licensing milestones and deliverables
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• MS or PhD degree in Mechanical, Nuclear, or Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Mathematics, or related field strongly preferred
• 10+ years of experience in FEA applied to graphite core components (GCCs) preferred
• Excellent knowledge of Finite Element Methods and other spatial and time discretization techniques for partial differential equation (PDE) systems
• Strong knowledge of inelastic deformation and failure mechanisms of quasi-brittle components operating at high temperature and under irradiation highly preferred
• Working experience with both deterministic and probabilistic modeling approaches applied to failure analysis, defect and damage tolerance assessments of GCCs
• Working experience with model calibration and optimization techniques as well uncertainty quantification
• Working experience with scientific & scripting programming languages (e.g., C++, Fortran, Python and Matlab)
• Ansys or Abaqus experience required; APDL & Usermat (Ansys) or UMAT (Abaqus) experience strongly preferred
• Ability to function in a fast-paced company environment with minimal direction and adjust workload based upon changing priorities
• Proven team player with excellent interpersonal, written, presentation, and verbal communication skills
• 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

• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods
• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another
• Communicating with others to exchange information

Environmental Conditions

• General office environment
• Noisy environments (if visiting manufacturing areas to collaborate)
• Accessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned
• High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced
• Autonomously driven and demanding atmosphere

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, as required

Travel

• Some travel may be required (up to 10%) to other Kairos Power offices and meeting locations.

The salary range for this position is $133,900 to $157,500 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 (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