Lead Mechanical 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 is seeking a highly motivated Lead Mechanical Engineer focused on Remote Handling Special Components with expertise in modular component and equipment design for remotely operated systems. In this role, you will lead design, demonstration, and iterative development of hardware technologies enabling rapid assembly of reactor system components with enhanced maintenance and inspection capability. This Lead's responsibilities will mesh Remote Handling operations into modular design with influence on system touchpoints to enable efficient handling. Additionally, you will lead team members and mentor junior engineers building foundational expertise through design and test of prototype systems.

Responsibilities

Production Component Development

• Applies lifecycle design practices, including maintainability, inspectability, and decommissioning considerations, during component development
• Acts as a technical liaison with vendors and suppliers to ensure design feasibility and manufacturability of specialized components
• Develops interface control documentation for integration of remote handling components into larger plant systems
• Develops structured test protocols, defines acceptance criteria, and coordinates formal test readiness reviews with QA and systems engineering
• Provides technical support to project scheduling and cost estimating teams to ensure design activities are adequately represented in project plans
• Implements design revisions based on test outcomes or operational feedback
• Ensures compliance with nuclear industry regulations, safety standards, and applicable codes
• Implements robust risk assessments and reliability analyses for heated and mechanical support components
• Contributes to design basis documentation and regulatory submittals
• Maintains up-to-date design documentation in accordance with configuration management practices and digital engineering standards

Remote Handling Solutions

• Develops remote handling techniques and processes that enable component repairs with minimal impact on plant operations
• Leads conceptual reviews and physical demonstrations of remote handling approaches through iterative design, build, and test cycles
• Collaborates with engineering and remote handling teams to shape online and offline reactor maintenance strategies

Testing and Validation

• Tracks testing and demonstration opportunities that align with reactor schedules, and communicate proposals to related teams and leadership
• Conceptualizes integrated solutions supported by execution plans for rapid demonstration
• Participates in inspections, quality checks, pre-commissioning evaluations, installations, shakedown, tuning, hot commissioning, and other activities to verify performance

Collaboration

• Collaborates with Engineering Teams, Laboratory and Shop Staff, Materials Teams, and industry partners to organize inputs and charter accelerated projects for novel hardware systems

Engineering Reports

• Publishes engineering reports documenting design details, test results, and lessons learned

Team Building

• Shares knowledge, experience, and methods with colleagues to foster a high-performing team
• Mentor junior engineers in design and testing of prototype systems

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• S. degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
• 10+ years of experience developing and delivering hardware for uniquely demanding applications
• Expertise in high-temperature systems
• Experience integrating mechanical and electrical systems for remote operations is desirable
• Experience with molten salt or advanced reactor systems is a plus
• Familiarity with data acquisition platforms (e.g., LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python) is a plus
• Experience in nuclear, aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated industries is desirable
• Proven team player with excellent verbal, written communication/presentation, and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of radiation effects on materials and material degradation in extreme environments is desirable
• Strong background in low voltage electrical systems, optical systems, and efficient packaging
• Familiarity with design and operation of pressure systems and fluid conveyance systems
• Broad experience with power electronics such as servos, motors, electromagnets
• Familiarity with non-destructive inspection and analysis techniques
• Working knowledge of ASME codes and piping standards is a plus
• Experience as a technical mentor
• Ability to work within a 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 30 pounds in all directions
• Communicating with others to exchange information
• Use of various hand tools

Environmental Conditions

• General office environment
• Assessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned
• High-concentration, demanding, and fast-paced
• Noisy environments
• Small and/or enclosed spaces
• Elevated heights

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
• Manipulating, cleaning, and disposal of hazardous materials
• Color identification: detecting, distinguishing, recognizing and identifying colors

Travel

• 25% travel may be required

Additional Requirements

• Occasionally requires schedule flexibility
• Occasionally requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines

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. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/10/appendix-A_to_part_810