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Principal Engineer, Heat Transport System

Alameda, CA; Albuquerque, NM; Oak Ridge, TN; Remote

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 Principal or Distinguished Engineer to lead the technical deployment of KP-FHR heat transport system equipment, including integration of commercial molten salt steam generators, salt pumps, valves, and associated equipment. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Engineering Integration, you will develop technical design solutions to enable the rapid deployment and integration of KP-FHR Power Generation Systems (PGS) Structures, Systems and Components (SSCs). This role requires a leader with extensive experience in thermal systems and power conversion technologies to ensure efficient, safe and reliable operation of the plant's energy conversion processes.

Responsibilities

  • Design and deploy the Nuclear Heat Recovery Steam Generator (NHRSG), focusing on molten salt steam generators, salt pumps, valves, and related auxiliary systems that meet Kairos Power’s FHR deployment objectives.
  • Lead design trades, performance analyses and optimization of the NHRSG to meet commercial and regulatory needs.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate the NHRSG with overall plant design and operations.
  • Manage and coordinate external partners, suppliers, regulators and vendors in the area of power generation.
  • Oversee the preparation of technical specifications, design documents and system drawings for all NHRSG components.
  • Perform feasibility studies and risk assessments related to commercial molten salt technologies and subsystems.
  • Support building a small engineering team including mentoring, guiding and promoting professional growth and innovation in molten salt system solutions.
  • Present findings and recommendations to senior management and stakeholders, ensuring clear communication of technical concepts and strategies.
  • Support commissioning, testing and troubleshooting of the NHRSG during the plant's startup phase.
  • Stay abreast of industry advancements, best practices and emerging molten salt technologies.
  • Lead or support formal design reviews, interface reviews, hazard reviews, and technical readiness reviews for NHRSG components and subsystems.
  • Support supplier technical oversight, including review of supplier deliverables, technical deviations, test plans, and component qualification evidence.
  • Develop or maintain system requirements, interface control documents, design bases, and verification/validation plans for NHRSG components.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

  • M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering or a related field.
  • M.S. & 10+ years experience in the design and development of power conversion systems, particularly in the nuclear or thermal power sectors.
  • Demonstrated experience in managing complex engineering projects and leading technical teams, with thorough understanding of evaluation, design and licensing of a new technology.
  • Demonstrated experience of physical hardware deployment in heat transfer systems.
  • Experience with heat transport systems using molten salt or other high temperature fluids is a plus.
  • Experience with requirements management, systems engineering or design control processes for complex engineered systems.
  • Experience reviewing or developing technical specifications, procurement documents, test plans, or acceptance criteria for major equipment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

  • Strong understanding of heat transfer principles, thermodynamics and fluid mechanics as they relate to molten salt systems.
  • Knowledge of regulatory requirements and industry standards for molten salt systems.  Experience with nuclear-specific or concentrating solar power applications are a plus.
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a track record of optimizing system performance in novel applications.
  • Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills; must be able to interact and communicate effectively at all levels of the organization including external partners.
  • Ability to work with a highly collaborative team.
  • Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently.
  • Prioritizes and demonstrates a nuclear safety culture.
  • 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.
  • Knowledge of system integration, interface management and verification/validation practices.
  • Ability to apply safety, quality and configuration management principles to engineering design activities.

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.
  • 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 personal protective equipment (PPE), such as face mask, face shields, gloves, safety glasses, safety shoes, hard hats, or other PPE as required.

Travel

  • Some travel may be required, up to 25%

Additional Requirements

  • Requires occasional schedule flexibility.
  • Requires occasional extended hours to support testing, commissioning and critical project timelines.

 

The salary range for this position is $175,000 - $218,000 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 maybe used to determine your actual salary may include your education, experience, knowledge, skills, ability, and the market data for your work location, and a comparison to other employees already in the role. 

• Remote: #LI-Remote
• Hybrid: #LI-Hybrid
• 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.

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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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