Structural 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 Structural Mechanical Engineer focused on design, development, and production of salt system equipment with interfaces to the Remote Handling System. Expertise in design and operation of mechanical connections for structural attachments and sealing systems is preferred. The Structural Mechanical Engineer will work in close collaboration with reactor component owners to quickly refine and optimize flange connection designs, produce production-ready drawings, and support a variety of applications across plant systems. In this role you will design and analyze components with efficient touch points to enable in-cell reactor component maintenance and inspection with minimal impact to plant operation as well as contribute to structural design of supports to enable remote maintenance.

Responsibilities

Clamped Flange Development

• Develops innovative clamped flange and sealing system designs for robust reactor component connections
• Analyzes designs for component optimization and ASME BPVC Section III Div1 compliance
• Integrates design-to-cost and design-for-manufacturing efforts across systems
• Delivers test-proven hardware through SolidWorks CAD, drawing review and release, and collaboration with in-house fabrication teams
• Lead or participate in formal design reviews (PDR, CDR) and provide peer feedback on component and system designs
• Populates internal design catalog with ready to implement CAD files
• Ensures compliance with nuclear industry regulations, safety standards, and applicable codes
• Support lifecycle management of structural components, including obsolescence planning and configuration control
• Utilize digital thread principles and model-based engineering approaches, as applicable

Structural Attachments

• Develops remote handling structural reaction points to facilitate operation of tele manipulator equipment
• Identify technical risks related to mechanical design and propose mitigation strategies
• Analyzes designs for optimization and space-efficient integration
• Work with external suppliers and vendors to ensure manufacturability, quality, and timely delivery of components
• Collaborates with remote handling tooling team to optimize end-effectors and other custom equipment

Testing and Validation

• Participates in sealing system testing and system load testing
• Participates in integrated testing and demonstration opportunities
• Participates in inspections, quality checks, pre-commissioning evaluations, installations, and other activities to verify system performance

Collaboration

• Works with component engineering, reliability, fabrication, laboratory, and civil structures teams to accelerate hardware development

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

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
• Experience with ASME BPVC Section III or other nuclear/pressure vessel codes and standards
• Experience working under quality assurance programs (e.g., NQA-1, ISO 9001, ASME)
• Experience with weldments and NDE techniques
• Preferred hands-on experience with hardware design, fabrication, assembly, or testing
• Familiarity with design and operation of pressure systems and fluid conveyance systems

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in cross-functional teams
• Familiarity with GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) and tolerance stack-up analysis
• Expertise in efficient analysis techniques
• Working knowledge of product lifecycle management (PLM) tools and engineering change control processes
• Familiarity with digital engineering practices or model-based systems engineering (MBSE)
• Understanding of fatigue, creep, and fracture mechanics as applicable to structural components
• Proficiency in computer-based methods for data acquisition, control, and analysis
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks)
• 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 Demands

• 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 for prolonged periods
• Repetitive assembly operations of manufacturing test fixtures and test setups in collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams
• 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
• High-concentration, demanding, and fast-paced
• Low temperatures
• High temperatures
• Outdoor environment or elements such as precipitation and wind
• Noisy environments
• Small and/or enclosed spaces
• Odors or fumes from chemicals or chemical reactions
• Elevated heights
• Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned
• Laboratory environment (engineering & testing)
• Prototyping/Test Facilities
• Manufacturing/Industrial Environments

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

Travel

• Some travel may be required (up to 10%)

Additional Requirements

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

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