Mechanical Design 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 looking for a driven Mechanical Engineer eager to contribute to the design, rapid prototyping, and performance testing of components for high-temperature fluid systems of a GEN IV nuclear power plant. In this role, you’ll lead the development of the design and testing of molten salt-facing mechanical components, including pumps, sensors, sampling systems and high temperature piping for the cutting-edge FHR molten salt chemistry control system. This role also provides the unique opportunity for exposure on all aspects of the system lifecycle, leveraging Kairos’ in-house, vertically integrated design, fabrication, and commissioning capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Design and prototyping of first-of-a-kind components of the KP-FHR chemistry control system such as molten salt loops, sampling systems, pumps, and sensors.
• Create high-fidelity 3D equipment models that meet the KP-FHR requirements and specifications. Create or guide the creation of manufacturing drawings. Coordinate the fabrication with internal manufacturing capabilities and external vendors.
• Take full ownership of design scope for high-temperature components, including static and thermal stress analysis, development of process and instrumentation diagrams (PI&D), sizing of heaters and insulation, selection of instrumentation and definition of the control strategy.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, commissioning, and plant operations teams at the KP Manufacturing Development Campus in Albuquerque to support assembly, pre-commissioning, troubleshooting and gather operational insights from the full-scale chemistry control equipment in the field.
• Develop comprehensive documentation of design requirements and solutions to ensure high-quality engineering outcomes and support future development efforts.
• Build and test prototypes to demonstrate functionalities designs, conduct engineering calculations, and analyze performance to continuously refine and improve products.
• Collaborate with internal Kairos Power R&D and testing teams, to develop testing matrix to further validate functionalities at laboratory and industrial scale.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor or Master of Science in Mechanical, Nuclear or Aerospace Engineering with 3+ years of industry experience.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) including emails, preparing slide presentations, and presenting technical concepts to multi-disciplinary teams.
• SolidWorks (or comparable CAD software) experience required, ANSYS or other FEA experience is desired.
• Experience with drafting, design for manufacturing, and GD&T.
• Experience designing mechanical systems for high-temperature molten salt or other high-temperature fluid systems design experience preferred.
• Experience designing and deploying in quality-controlled environments with high attention to detail such as Nuclear, Energy, Chemical, Petrochemical, Defense, or Aerospace applications.
• Experience prototyping around complex mechanisms or phenomena in order to de-risk design requirements and provide fundamental data informing down-stream design efforts. High-temperature systems or processes test engineering is preferred (heater design, control, and implementation).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.
• Desire to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while maintaining flexibility.
• 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

• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods
• Communicating with others to exchange information
• Use hand tools

Environmental Conditions

• General office environment
• Odors or fumes from chemicals or chemical reactions
• 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
• Manipulating, cleaning and disposal of hazardous materials
• Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions
• Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes

Travel

• Some travel up to 20% to other Kairos Power offices may be required

The salary range for this position is $101,300 to $119,100 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. link