Field Operator

Job Description

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 Field Operator to support the Engineering Test Unit (ETU) operations. In this role, the individual is responsible for the proficient operation of assigned equipment or specific areas within the plant, demonstrating a keen focus on safety, reliability, and optimal performance. Their duties encompass the execution and reporting of operational activities, utilizing discretionary time to contribute to sustainable facility results. Drawing upon a foundation of established basic technical skills, the operator works collaboratively with the Shift Team to proactively address and resolve unplanned events within their collective capabilities. Notably, the role involves the effective escalation of issues beyond the team's capacity to the appropriate support roles. Additionally, the incumbent may take on a mentoring role, providing training to less experienced operators. Overall, the position requires a combination of technical acumen, operational expertise, and a commitment to maintaining a secure and efficient plant environment through proactive problem-solving and collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Follows policies, principles, procedures, standards, and practices to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation of plant areas.
• Subject Matter Expert and trainer for the Beryllium Worker Program at Albuquerque site.
• Operates and field checks process equipment. Monitors process conditions, key performance metrics, equipment and control systems and makes appropriate decisions to maintain and/or achieve desired rates and conditions aligned with Kairos’s goals.
• Performs scheduled operational and related tasks and tasks that arise because of resolving unplanned events.
• Works with shift team members and other shift teams to leverage skills and knowledge to balance workload ensuring assigned tasks are completed by due dates.
• Conducts effective shift relief, as defined in facility specific operating discipline and tools, to ensure effective communication and handoff to arriving shift team.
• Maintains qualification in assigned areas, per Kairos’s policy, and completes training goals in a timely manner. This includes using discretionary time to address skills and knowledge gaps.
• Mentors and trains new and existing operations personnel on process operation, troubleshooting and the use of operating discipline in alignment to Kairos’s training process.
• Performs Immediate Response activities, as assigned.
• Initiates and documents preliminary investigations according to plant specific process/criteria and participates in formal and informal Root Cause Investigations for events involved in or by request.
• Tracks and utilizes the plant's key performance Indicators on shift that are applicable to the Operating the Plant role to optimize operations and identify improvement opportunities. Uses process knowledge and skills to make improvements in plant performance and operating discipline. Proactively identifies improvements and opportunities utilizing the facility improvement processes, appropriate management of change processes and communication tools.
• Performs minor Maintenance, including minor repairs and preventative maintenance, utilizing appropriate policies, procedures, processes, and disciplines.
• Commissions, and operate mechanical and electrical equipment.
• Prepares, reviews, and executes system and component level commissioning, and operating procedures.
• Performs acceptance testing following new equipment installation including hydrostatic, pneumatic, I/O checks, and electrical component calibrations checks.
• Supports day-to-day operations of the assigned facility including startup, monitor, and shutdown processes and auxiliary equipment.
• Performs chemistry sampling and analysis using standardized analytical instruments and procedures.
• Performs equipment troubleshooting as necessary.
• Perform Lockout/Tagout of mechanical and electrical equipment.
• Reviews and executes hazardous operations per standardized operating procedures.
• Supports inventory management for operational consumables and spare parts, including monitoring usage and requesting replenishment.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Radiological Control Technician (RCT) is highly desired.
• Associate degree in Process Technology, Nuclear Technology, Instrumentation, or a related technical field, or 2+ years of hands-on experience as a plant operator or technician (mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, chemical processing, power generation, military, or similar environments are highly desirable).
• Mechanically inclined with an ability to operate plant equipment, hands-on experience with plant equipment and operations desired.
• Experience with Instrumentation and Controls systems.
• Experience working in a high-reliability environment such as nuclear, aerospace, or chemical processing is desirable.
• Certification in OSHA 10/30, HAZWOPER, or similar safety training is desirable.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to understand, follow and create technical procedures.
• Ability and interest in being cross trained and learning different processes to perform other jobs as needed.
• Ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials in PPE including SCBA, full-face respirator and Tyvek suit.
• Familiarity with basic hand tools
• Computer skills including spreadsheet use.
• Ability to communicate with others effectively.
• Ability to read P&ID and mechanical/electrical drawings.
• Ability to work with highly collaborative team.
• Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently.
• Always works in a safe and compliant manner.
• 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.
• Ability to perform under pressure in time-sensitive or emergency situations.
• Basic understanding of thermodynamics, fluid systems, or heat transfer principles.

Physical Demands

• Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts and the like
• 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 50 pounds in all directions
• Communicating with others to exchange information
• Operating motor vehicles, heavy equipment or machinery
• Use hand tools
• Repetitive assembly operations of manufacturing test fixtures and test setups in collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams

Environmental Conditions

• Shop floor environment
• 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
• High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced
• General office environment

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 (up to 10%)

Certification

• Capable of obtaining forklift and boom lift certification
• Certification in OSHA 10/30, HAZWOPER, or similar safety training is desirable

Additional Requirements

• Regularly requires overtime
• Regularly requires working weekends
• Regularly requires schedule flexibility
• Regularly requires non-standard work-week hours
• Regularly requires night shift, beginning at 6:00pm local time
• Regularly requires extended hours
• Regularly requires working 2nd shift, beginning at 3:00pm local time
• Occasionally requires working 3rd shift, beginning at 11:00pm local time

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