Senior Engineer, Nuclear Systems Code Development

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 Senior Engineer supporting KP-SAM Code Development. Reporting to the Manager of Systems Code Development and Methods, the KP-SAM Code Developer Engineer performs development of radioactive source term models into KP-SAM, develops demonstration input models, and performs safety analysis of the KP-FHR plant. KP-SAM is the KP-FHR systems analysis code used for transient safety analysis, source term analysis, and design support analysis. The candidate must be capable to lead thermal hydraulics or source term models development into KP-SAM code and perform verification and validation. The candidate must have expert level of knowledge of high-level coding languages such as C++ and Python, as well as general knowledge in nuclear reactor systems, numerical methods, thermal hydraulics and thermodynamics. The new position will lead KP-SAM IET (Integral Effects Testing) validation work, and lead selected model development projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead KP-SAM IET validation efforts by working with junior code developers
• Lead selected thermal hydraulics or source term development projects, and develop validation strategy by collaborating with other KP-SAM team members, testing teams and ANL SAM team
• Provide support for Safety Analysis team and Licensing Team
• As a KP-SAM team member, help other normal code maintaining and SQA related tasks, and support additional validation and analysis tasks
• Develop new source term models into KP-SAM through the full stage of cycle, including literature review of the relevant physics, developing models, implementing the models into KP-SAM, developing testing cases, performing sensitivity and uncertainty analysis, writing documentation, and proposing validation test ideas
• Mature existing source term models through demonstration testing, review, validation, and actual safety analysis application
• Help the Safety Analysis team develop source term analysis input models
• Collaborate with the risk analysis team, salt chemistry team, tritium team, and engineering design teams to help the Source Term Method Lead address source model related issues
• Interface with testing teams to sponsor source term validation tests and perform validation
• Assist in normal software maintenance and updates with ANL SAM code
• Publish internal engineering reports and external journal or conference papers
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or M.S in nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering, mathematics, computer science, or related engineering field
• 10+ years of work and/or academic experience developing a nuclear reactor systems code
• Deep knowledge of nuclear thermal hydraulics and wide knowledge of nuclear reactor systems
• Having capability to independently create new TH models, implement models into actual systems code, and perform verification & validation
• Experience with any systems analysis codes such as SAM or RELAP is highly preferred
• Experience with model development with DOE MOOSE framework, is highly preferred
• Capability to develop complex systems models for real problems
• Proven capability to perform strict verification and validation; past experiences in IET validation is highly desired
• Knowledge and experiences in numerical methods, such as JFNK method, high order methods in time or space (finite volume or finite element method)
• Experience in software development and coding skills, such as C++ and Python programming
• Familiar with scientific computational environment and tools such as version control software such as Git, Github, latex, Linux or Mac OS environment

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
• Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned
• High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced

Safety and PPE

• Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs
• Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes

Travel

• Some travel may be required (up to 5%)

Additional Requirements

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

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.

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