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Senior Electrical Engineer - Plant Electrical Systems

Albuquerque, NM or Oak Ridge, TN

Company Overview

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.

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Senior Electrical Engineer to lead the design, development, and implementation of electrical distribution systems and switch yards for an advanced nuclear power plant. Reporting to the Director, Instrumentation, Controls & Electrical (IC&E), this role is responsible for ensuring reliable, efficient, and safe electrical systems that integrate seamlessly with instrumentation and control systems, meeting project specifications, nuclear industry standards, and regulatory requirements. The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in power generation, high-voltage systems, and electrical engineering principles, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver complex projects on time and within budget.

Responsibilities

  • Designs and develops electrical distribution systems, including medium- and high-voltage power distribution networks, to support the nuclear power plant’s operational needs
  • Engineers switch yard layouts, including bus configurations, transformers, circuit breakers, disconnect switches, and grounding systems, ensuring compatibility with plant-wide electrical and control infrastructure
  • Specifies and selects electrical equipment (e.g., transformers, switchgear, protective relays) based on project requirements, nuclear safety classifications, and performance criteria
  • Incorporates safety protocols, including arc flash mitigation, grounding system design, and seismic considerations, to protect personnel, equipment, and plant operations
  • Performs load flow analysis, short-circuit studies, and coordination studies using software tools such as ETAP, SKM Power Tools, or equivalent to optimize system performance and reliability
  • Conducts root cause analysis of electrical system failures and implement corrective and preventive actions
  • Leads risk assessments related to electrical system design and operation
    Develops and implements maintenance strategies for long-term reliability of electrical infrastructure, including predictive maintenance using digital monitoring tools
  • Collaborates with cybersecurity experts to ensure electrical systems are compliant with critical infrastructure protection (CIP) standards
  • Leads the electrical engineering scope of power plant projects, from conceptual design through detailed engineering, procurement, and construction support
  • Coordinates with civil, mechanical, and IC&E team members (e.g., Senior Manager, Plant Control Systems; Principal Engineer, Plant Process & IC&E Interface) to integrate electrical designs into the overall plant infrastructure
  • Provides technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers, drafters, and support staff within the IC&E department
  • Ensures all electrical designs comply with nuclear regulatory requirements (e.g., NRC standards), industry codes (e.g., IEEE, NEC, ANSI), and reliability standards (e.g., NERC)
  • Supports licensing and permitting processes by preparing technical documentation and responding to regulatory inquiries related to electrical systems
  • Prepares detailed engineering deliverables, including single-line diagrams, schematics, wiring diagrams, and equipment specifications, ensuring alignment with IC&E integration needs
  • Develops bills of materials (BOMs) and cost estimates for electrical distribution systems and switch yard components, supporting project budgeting and procurement
  • Reviews vendor drawings, data sheets, and proposals to ensure compliance with design intent and nuclear quality standards
  • Provides technical oversight during the installation, testing, and commissioning of electrical distribution systems and switch yards, ensuring adherence to design specifications
  • Troubleshoots and resolves field issues related to electrical systems during construction, startup, and handover phases, collaborating with construction and operations teams
  • Verifies system performance and reliability, ensuring smooth integration with control systems and a successful transition to plant operations
  • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or a related field (master’s degree preferred)
  • 10+ years of experience in electrical engineering, with at least 5 years focused on power plant electrical distribution systems, switch yard design, or similar high-voltage applications
  • Experience in nuclear power or a similarly regulated industry is highly desirable
  • Proven track record of leading electrical engineering projects from design through commissioning
  • Proficiency in power system analysis software (e.g., ETAP, SKM Power Tools, PSS/E) for load flow, short-circuit, and coordination studies
  • Strong knowledge of high-voltage equipment (e.g., transformers, switchgear, circuit breakers), protective relaying, and power distribution principles
  • Familiarity with CAD software (e.g., AutoCAD, MicroStation) for drafting, design review, and integration with plant layouts
  • Understanding of nuclear safety standards (e.g., IEEE 384, IEEE 741) and electrical system integration with control systems
  • Familiarity with NERC/CIP cybersecurity standards as applied to electrical systems in critical infrastructure
  • Experience with digital modernization of electrical systems, including smart relays
  • Working knowledge of risk assessments and analysis and how they apply to electrical system design
  • Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities to address complex electrical challenges
  • Strong communication skills, with the ability to present technical concepts to diverse stakeholders, including engineers, operators, and regulators
  • Proven leadership and project management experience, with a collaborative approach to working in multidisciplinary teams
  • 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
  • Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another
  • Communicating with others to exchange information

Environmental Conditions

  • General office environment
  • Low temperatures
  • High temperatures
  • Outdoor environment or elements such as precipitation and wind 
  • Noisy environments
  • 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

Travel

  • Up to 10% travel should the person be in Albuquerque, NM. Up to 25% travel should the person be in Oak Ridge, TN. 

Certification

  • Professional Engineer (PE) license highly desirable
  • Additional certifications (e.g., NETA, PMP) are a plus

Additional Requirements

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

#LI-Onsite

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.

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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

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