Senior Manager, Mechanical Engineering Design

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 Senior Manager, Mechanical Engineering Design to lead, coordinate, and deliver high-quality mechanical design solutions in support engineering systems and equipment. Reporting to the Senior Director of Engineering Integration, this impactful role combines engineering leadership with hands-on design engagement, making it ideal for a collaborative, detailed-oriented leader who thrives in a fast-paced, innovation-oriented environment.

In this role, you will lead the development of complex mechanical design deliverables and drawing packages of systems while partnering closely with the ASME pressure vessel design team. You will play a pivotal role in aligning design outputs with design requirements, supporting successful integration across engineering disciplines. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in mechanical design leadership, a strong grasp of CAD tools and standards, and a passion for fostering a high-performance design environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the designers in delivering integrated, high-performance systems, assemblies, and ASME pressure vessels in collaboration with engineering and pressure vessel specialist
• Provide design leadership across mechanical development activities, ensuring alignment with system requirements, performance goals and integration milestones
• Oversee the creation of detailed design deliverables and drawing packages, ensuring accuracy, manufacturability, and alignment with system-level objectives
• Establish and maintain robust CAD standards, design workflows, and review processes to ensure consistency, traceability, and efficiency across projects and teams
• Coordinate mechanical design efforts across engineering teams and external stakeholders, serving as a key liaison with ASME pressure vessel group
• Guide the support execution with design technical insight and problem-solving, particularly in areas involving layout integration and high-temperature componentry
• Maintain a hands-on presence in design efforts, providing direct input where needed to resolve technical or execution-related challenges
• Oversee engineering design deliverables across multiple projects, ensuring timeliness, quality standards, and scope requirements are met
• Mentor and develop a high-performing team of designers and engineers, offering coaching, providing feedback, coaching, and career development support
• Foster a collaborative design environment across teams including R&D, system engineering, manufacturing, and other functional groups to ensure cohesive integration.
• Lead resolution of complex engineering challenges with system-thinking approach.
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in either mechanical engineering, mechanical engineering technology, or related discipline. Master’s degree or PE license preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in mechanical design, including significant involvement with ASME pressure vessel design.
• 5+ years of engineering leadership experience managing cross-functional and multi-disciplinary design teams.
• Demonstrated success delivering mechanical designs from concept through to fabrication and testing.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of ASME Section VIII, B31.3, and related design and pressure vessel codes
• Familiarity with ASME BPVC Sec III, Sec VIII, ASME B31.1 and B31.3 piping codes is highly desired
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Inventor, AutoCAD Mechanical, and pressure vessel design tools such as COMPRESS, PV Elite
• Experience in design and analysis of pressure components and piping in industries such as nuclear, oil & gas, or petrochemical
• Strong understanding of manufacturing methods, welding, and materials selection for high-temperature and high-integrity systems
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and lead engineering teams, fostering collaboration across diverse technical disciplines
• Skilled at translating complex technical challenges into actional engineering workstreams
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with minimal supervision and priorities
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills with proven ability to build cross-functional relationships and communicate effectively with technicians, engineers, manufacturing, and operations teams
• A team-oriented mindset with strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication abilities
• Experience working with high temperature molten salt or other advanced high temperature fluid systems is a plus
• Ability to work with highly collaborative team
• Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently
• Prioritizes and ensures safety of one self 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

• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods

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
• Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions
• Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes, etc.

Travel

• Some travel may be required, up to 20%

The salary range for this position is $201,300 to $251,600 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. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/10/appendix-A_to_part_810