Mechanical Engineer, Reactor Vessel Auxiliary Systems

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 

The Reactor Vessel Auxiliary Systems team is seeking a highly motivate Mechanical Engineer to join the growing Reactor Systems department where you will have the opportunity to work directly on the design, testing, and deployment of reactor internal components in a first-of-a-kind FHR. These reactor internals are essential for reactivity control and ensuring nuclear safety of the KP-FHR technology.

In this role, you will manage and coordinate the detailed design of reactor internal components ranging from control rods to reactor instrumentation. The position requires a strong aptitude for mechanical design, engineering analysis, and high temperature materials under irradiation. You will be expected to regularly interface with multi-disciplinary teams including nuclear design, reactor thermal hydraulics, fuels and materials, safety analysis, remote handling, testing, and manufacturing. You will work closely with the Drive Mechanisms group and Reactor Vessel System team iterating on component design, collaborating on design trades, and deploying hardware for FHR demonstration reactors.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the mechanical design of reactor internal components for KP-FHR reactor vessel auxiliary systems.
• Design custom 3D models of components to be compatible with interfacing systems, structures, and components; support thermal, stress, and failure analyses; and aid in design for manufacturing and assembly reviews.
• Create and review engineering documentation such as mechanical drawings, test plans, memos, specifications, and technical reports.
• Independently perform engineering analyses such as thermal analyses, structural analyses, and failure mode and effects analyses or guide these analyses when performed by Kairos Power teams.
• Regularly interface and communicate component requirements with other disciplinary teams including nuclear design, reactor vessel design, safety analysis, and manufacturing.
• Plan and work with testing teams on prototype, development, and qualification testing of reactor internal components.
• Maintain knowledge of and assess compliance with applicable codes and standards such as ASME, ANSI, ASTM, and others.
• Engage with manufacturing and operations teams to support component fabrication, assembly, testing, and operations.
• Perform design verification and validation activities to ensure component performance meets functional and safety requirements.
• Participate in hazard and failure analyses (HAZOP, FMEA, FTA) and incorporate safety insights into design iterations.
• Support supplier and vendor engagement, including reviewing fabrication drawings, manufacturing processes, and inspection reports.
• Contribute to configuration management by maintaining design baselines, revision control, and traceability of changes.
• Assist in cost, schedule, and risk assessments related to mechanical design and testing activities.
• Participate in peer design reviews and technical audits to ensure compliance with quality and performance objectives.
•  Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, materials engineering or related field.
• 4+ years of relevant industry or R&D experience in hands-on engineering design and deployment within the nuclear, aerospace, oil and gas, chemical, or power industries.
• Experience with design and manufacturing of nuclear reactor internals such as fuel and control rod assemblies.
• Experience in reactor component fabrication and life cycle management processes including equipment qualification, in-service inspection, and other programs.
• Experience in mechanical design and 3D CAD modeling (Solidworks or equivalent).
• Experience working to a quality standard, such as ASME NQA-1 or ISO 9001.
• Experience in drafting fabrication and assembly drawings, design for manufacturing, and GD&T/ASME Y14.5.
• Familiarity with applicable codes and standards such as ASME B&PV Section VIII Division 1 and 2, and Section III Division 5.
• Experience with configuration management systems or PLM tools.
• Experience with prototype or test rig development for mechan