Chemical and Materials Engineering Internship - Summer 2026

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 offering exciting opportunities for students to join various Engineering teams in Salt Chemistry, Fuels and Materials teams for Summer 2026! This is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience and contribute to our mission on delivering an innovative technology that will impact climate change.

Areas with potential internship opportunities:

- Chemical Test Engineering

- Materials Test Engineering

- Characterization Engineering

- Process Design Engineering

- Process Development Engineering

- Process Safety and Operations Engineering

General Responsibilities

- Collaborate with engineering teams on projects and research

- Apply technical skills in laboratory and field settings

- Assist with data collection, analysis, and interpretation

- Contribute to process design, development, and safety initiatives

- Support the development and implementation of new technologies and solutions

- Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks, records, and project documentation to ensure reproducibility and compliance

- Participate in team meetings, technical reviews, and cross-functional collaborations to broaden understanding of multidisciplinary engineering challenges

- Engage in training, mentorship, and learning opportunities to develop technical and professional skills

- Prepare and deliver presentations on project findings to peers, mentors, and leadership at the conclusion of the internship

- Assist with troubleshooting, maintenance, or improvement of laboratory and testing equipment under supervision

- Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

- Currently enrolled and pursuing a B.S, M.S, or PhD in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Material Science, Materials Engineering or related field

- Demonstrated application of technical skills outside of classroom setting through laboratory, research, extracurricular projects, personal projects, or prior internship/work experience is highly preferred

- Familiarity with engineering software (e.g., MATLAB, AutoCAD, Python)

- Understanding of basic engineering principles and practices

- Experience with experimental design, data collection, and analysis

- Proficiency in Microsoft Office application (Outlook, Excel, Word, etc.)

- Self-starter, critical thinking and problem-solving skills

- 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 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

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

- Odors or fumes from chemicals or chemical reactions

- Accessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned

- High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced

Safety and PPE

- Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs

- Manipulating, cleaning and disposal of hazardous materials

- Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions

- Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes

- Handling of Beryllium (Be)

The hourly range for this position is $28-$32 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