Manager, Manufacturing Operations

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.

Kairos Power is seeking a highly motivated Manager, Manufacturing Operations to manage shop operations to build prototypes, test equipment and manufacture high quality parts. In this role, you will contribute to manufacturing and technology development programs for Kairos Power’s FHR.

Responsibilities 

• Directly supervise the daily activities of Kairos Headquarters shop personnel including machinists, fabricators, welders, etc.
• Determine priority and assignment of work orders and schedule projects
• Hire, train, develop, mentor, and inspire a team of shop employees; plan, assign, and direct work; appraise performance; reward and discipline employees; address complaints, and resolve problems
• Partner with Manufacturing Planning to develop work orders and deadlines
• Collaborate with Kairos Headquarters Engineering Technicians and Testing Engineers to build prototypical hardware and developmental tests.
• Collaborate with engineering team and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) to ensure designs are easy and cost effective to manufacture. This includes drawing reviews, including actively engaging in design reviews, providing proper GD&T requirements, etc.
• Utilize knowledge of product design, machining, fabrication, assembly, tooling and materials to identify, select and install machines and processes to deliver on our internal manufacturing needs
• Lead work order planning including estimates of machining and staffing times and ensure work instructions will result in high-quality and desired end product
• Operate and program machines and deliver parts when required to meet internal deadlines or quality requirements
• Work with environmental, health and safety teams to develop safety programs and processes to ensure the safety of personnel
• Work directly with facilities to manage infrastructure projects related to manufacturing
• Drive team building and cross-functional collaboration across multiple teams and locations for daily operational objectives
• Identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities in both process and people-oriented activities
• Champion diversity initiatives and promote inclusive values across shop operations
• Provide continuous feedback and personnel development plans for all team members
• Assist in developing and communicating shop objectives and plans
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years experience in fabrication, welding, and or CNC machining
• Minimum 5 years experience managing fabrication, welding, and or CNC machining teams
• Strong knowledge and proficiency in CNC Machining (mill, lathe, router, 3-axis, 5-axis, etc.)
• Strong knowledge and proficiency in Fabrication and Welding
• Ability to qualify in either ASME B31.3 GTAW Welding, Or D1.1 Structural GMAW Welding desired
• Expert in reading and interpreting engineering and assembly drawings
• Expert in GD&T
• Knowledge of CAD/CAM software such as Mastercam, Solidworks preferred
• Proficient in the use of personal computers to perform daily work
• Strong demonstrated experience in managing growing teams and development of other leaders and individual contributors
• Experience working with stainless steel, piping, pressure vessels and graphite
• Experience working with ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel code
• Proven team player with excellent verbal, written communication/presentation, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work with highly collaborative team
• Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently
• Prioritizes and ensures safety of ones 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 Conditions

• Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts and the like
• Setting up and transferring temporary structures (e.g., scaffolding, ladders)
• Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces
• Remaining in a