Radiological / Quality Control Technician

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

Kairos Power is seeking a driven and experienced Radiological and Quality Control Technician, with an attention to detail to support Kairos Power TRISO Pebble Fuel fabrication and radiological operations. In this role, you will ensure the safety of our personnel, the public and the environment by monitoring and controlling radiation and contamination, and inspecting, testing and assessing product across all stages of fabrication to ensure product meets quality standards and requirements. You will review radiological tasks from conception to completion of work activities and develop radiologically sound, cost-effective means of keeping radiological exposures as low as reasonably achievable, while delivering high-quality results all while maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation and compliance of the Radiation Protection, Quality Assurance and other Management Programs across the facility.
• Conduct routine monitoring of work areas, personnel, items, and equipment using appropriate instruments to measure and document radiation levels and quality control parameters.
• Participate in audits, self assessments and inspections to support regulatory compliance and continuous improvement of the Management Programs.
• Implement contamination control measures and perform personnel and equipment decontamination in accordance with facility procedures.
• Assist in developing, implementing and maintaining radiological control procedures and quality assurance documentation, including standard operating procedures, travelers, work permits, etc.
• Support incident investigations and root cause analyses for radiological events, contributing to corrective and preventive action development.
• Record and analyze radiological and quality data, identify trends, prepare compliance reports, and ensure adherence to all applicable regulations and standards.
• Provide training to personnel on radiation safety and quality assurance practices and the correct use of monitoring and measuring equipment.
• Oversee and document controls for inventory and radioactive materials, including receipt, in-process handling, and interdepartmental transfers.
• Meticulous documentation and record keeping of radiation monitoring, quality control and material control activities with attention to detail.
• Communicate effectively with team members, supervisors, management, and regulatory bodies.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant codes, standards and regulations, and assess site compliance.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders on radiological safety and quality control topics, and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical support associated with the recognition, measurement, evaluation, and control of potential radiological hazards from ionizing radiation, radioactive material and radiation generating devices.
• Provide support in reviewing, implementing and overseeing travelers, radiological work permits and job hazards analysis for activities and ensuring the highest standard of safety and operational excellence.
• Maintain calibration and functionality of various measuring and test equipment, and coordinate repairs or replacements as needed.
• Operation of survey instruments (Ion Chambers, Geiger-Mueller, extendable probe instruments, etc.), and count rate meters (e.g. Friskers) and perform radiation and contamination surveys.
• Operation of various measuring and test equipment and tools for in-process testing and inspection.
• Post and remove radiological signage and barriers in accordance with survey results.
• Prescribe and enforce radiological controls for various radiological activities and provide radiological job coverage.
• Monitor radioactive materials and ensuring radiation exposure is kept as low as reasonably achievable.
• Perform radiological surveys of personnel, personal items and equipment leaving radiological areas for contamination.
• Respond to onsite radiological incidents and emergencies and ensure the safety of personnel and the environment.
• Conduct and direct decontamination of areas, equipment and personnel as needed.
• Monitor hazardous chemical and radioactive material storage, shipment readiness and waste handling.
• Lead cleanup activities and removal of hazardous chemical and radioactive waste.
• Monitor and coach personnel behavior in radiologically controlled areas (e.g., ingress/egress practices).
• Ensure calibration and proper functioning of measurement, test and inspection equipment.
• Perform other duties as assigned from time to time.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Radiation Protection, Nuclear Technology, Health Physics, or a related field (preferred).
• Formal coursework or training in physics, chemistry, mathematics (including algebra), and radiation science (desired).
• ANSI 3.1 qualified Senior Radiological Control Technician (SRCT) (preferred).
• Minimum of 5 years experience in radiological control, handling radioactive materials or performing radiation safety work in a regulated setting.
• Previous experience as a Radiological Control Technician (RCT) or equivalent.
• Minimum of 2 years quality control and/or production experience.
• Experience using databases and information management systems to track radiological data and compliance.
• Experience working in highly collaborative multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience working in challenging environments such as ionizing radiation/contamination environments, laboratories, production facilities, decommissioning projects, active construction zones, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of federal and state radiological safety regulations (e.g., NRC, EPA or OSHA regulations).
• Understand and apply information from specifications and other technical documents.
• Proficient skills in computer applications and specifically for recording of information or data.
• Proven team player with excellent verbal, written communication/presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail and ability to follow procedures.
• Strong commitment to safety and compliance with regulations.
• Ability to work with 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.
• Familiarity with production and laboratory environments.

Physical Demands

• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces or moving from one worksite to another.
• Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts and the like.
• Adjusting, moving, transporting, installing, positioning, or removing objects up to 50 pounds in all directions.
• Operating motor vehicles, heavy equipment or machinery.
• Use hand tools.
• Communicating with others to exchange information.

Environmental Conditions

• General office environment.
• Hazardous chemical and radioactive material environments.
• High radiation environments.
• High and low temperatures.
• Noisy environments.
• Elevated heights.
• High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced.

Safety and PPE

• Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs.
• Reporting issues relating to equipment or unsafe conditions.
• Color identification: detecting, distinguishing, recognizing, and identifying colors.
• Wearing proper PPE, including respirators, face masks, face shields, gloves, safety shoes, Tyvek suits, etc.
• Handling hazardous chemical substances including radioactive materials.

Travel

• Some travel may be required from time to time.

Certification

• Certification by the National Registry of Radiation Protection Technologists (NRRPT) (preferred).
• Current HAZWOPER certification: 40-hour or refresher as applicable (desired).

Additional Requirements

• Occasionally requires working weekends.
• Occasionally requires schedule flexibility.
• Occasionally requires non-standard work-week hours.
• Occasionally requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines.

• Onsite: #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.

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