Kairos PowerKP

Principal Engineer, Structural Integrity of Metallic Systems, Structures & Compo

Kairos Power is a mission-driven engineering company focused on developing and commercializing an advanced nuclear reactor technology, the Fluoride Salt-Cooled High-Temperature Reactor (KP-FHR), to provide clean, affordable, and safe energy. They aim to enable the world's transition to clean energy by offering a cost-competitive alternative to natural gas that can complement renewable energy sources.

Kairos Power

Employee count: 201-500

United States only

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

Reporting to the Manager, Structural Integrity Materials Modeling, the Principal Engineer, Structural Integrity of Metallic Systems, Structures Components (SSCs) will drive the development and deployment of novel analysis methods and numerical models used for the design, licensing and operation of the Kairos Power fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactors (KP-FHRs). They will also closely support the Materials and Engineering Design teams with ongoing and future qualification testing, design-for-construction and fitness-for-service programs.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the extension and application of structural integrity assessment methods and procedures to future commercial FHR units
  • Conduct and review defect tolerance (DTA) and fitness-for-service (FFS) assessments of KP-FHR SSCs
  • Support the company’s design-for-construction and materials qualification efforts by performing and reviewing Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of metallic SSCs
  • Lead the development, verification and validation of deformation and damage models of high carbon stainless steels
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with various engineering teams on efforts such as uncertainty quantification (UQ), software Quality Assurance (SQA), software and hardware acquisition, and support of management and work program leadership in meeting company’s licensing milestones and deliverables
  • Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

  • MS or PhD degree in Mechanical, Nuclear, or Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Mathematics, or related field strongly preferred
  • 15+ years of experience with FEA required; APDL Usermat (Ansys) or UMAT (Abaqus) experience strongly preferred
  • Knowledge of inelastic deformation and failure mechanisms of ductile structural components operating at high temperature and under irradiation required and preferred, respectively
  • Knowledge of Fracture Mechanics is required; Experience in application and knowledge of Construction and Fitness-for-Service codes (e.g., ASME III XI, API 579, UK R5/R6, BS-7910, RCC-MRx) is preferred
  • Working experience with scientific scripting programming languages (e.g., C++, Fortran, Python and Matlab)
  • Working experience with model calibration and optimization techniques as well uncertainty quantification
  • Ability to function in a fast-paced company environment with minimal direction and adjust workload based upon changing priorities
  • Proven team player with excellent interpersonal, written, presentation, and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to work with highly collaborative team
  • Ability to problem solve quickly and efficiently
  • 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
  • Prioritizes and ensures safety of oneself and others

Physical Conditions

  • 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
  • Noisy environments (if visiting manufacturing areas to collaborate)
  • Accessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned
  • High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced
  • Autonomously driven and demanding atmosphere

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, as required

Travel

  • Some travel may be required (up to 10%) to other Kairos Power offices and meeting locations.

The salary range for this position is $166,700 to $208,400 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

About the job

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Job type

Full Time

Experience level

Senior
Manager

Location requirements

Hiring timezones

United States +/- 0 hours

About Kairos Power

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Kairos Power's customers, including major energy consumers like Google and communities seeking reliable, clean energy, face the significant challenge of transitioning away from fossil fuels while meeting escalating electricity demands, particularly with the rise of AI and data centers. The intermittent nature of many renewable sources like solar and wind also presents a hurdle for maintaining grid stability and providing consistent 24/7 power. This is why Kairos Power is dedicated to commercializing the Fluoride Salt-Cooled High-Temperature Reactor (KP-FHR), an advanced nuclear technology designed to provide a safe, affordable, and dependable clean energy solution. Our customers need an energy source that is not only carbon-free but also cost-competitive with natural gas and capable of complementing variable renewables to ensure a resilient and secure energy future.

The KP-FHR technology addresses these challenges by leveraging proven concepts like TRISO fuel pebbles and a low-pressure molten fluoride salt coolant. This innovative design enhances safety, as the reactor operates at near-atmospheric pressure, eliminating the need for massive, expensive containment structures typically associated with conventional nuclear power. This inherent safety, combined with a modular design, aims to reduce construction timelines and costs, making nuclear power more accessible and predictable. Kairos Power's iterative development approach, involving multiple design-build-test cycles with both nuclear and non-nuclear systems like the Engineering Test Units (ETUs), allows us to rapidly learn, mitigate risks in technology, licensing, manufacturing, and construction, and ultimately achieve cost certainty. Our commitment to vertical integration, including in-house manufacturing of critical components and fuel, further supports this goal of delivering an affordable and reliable clean energy solution to help our customers and the world transition to a sustainable energy future, dramatically improving people's quality of life while protecting the environment.

Employee benefits

Learn about the employee benefits and perks provided at Kairos Power.

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Commuter benefits

Commuter benefits.

Paid Vacation

3 weeks of vacation.

401(k)

Employer-matched 401(k).

Paid sick leave

5 days of paid sick leave.

View Kairos Power's employee benefits
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Kairos Power

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Kairos Power hiring Principal Engineer, Structural Integrity of Metallic Systems, Structures & Compo • Remote (Work from Home) | Himalayas