Fuels Process Engineer

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 seeking a highly motivated Process Engineer with expertise in the development and implementation of chemical and physical processes stream related equipment, to support the Kairos Power fuels program. In this role, you will work within an engineering team to design, construct, commission, and optimize performance of the process equipment necessary for TRISO particle fabrication. You will also work cross-functionally with facility operations, facility engineers, quality assurance, and environmental, health and safety (EHS) to enable supporting functions.

Responsibilities

- Interpret process engineering information communicated via Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), including heat and material balances, process envelopes, and their integration into mechanical designs.

- Develop equipment specifications and size equipment such as tanks, vessels, valves, lines, and pumps based on process needs.

- Prepare equipment lists and data sheets for equipment.

- Develop and/or approve manufacturing drawings for custom-designed equipment.

- Interface with vendors for procurement of equipment and instruments.

- Work with the Lead Responsible Engineer to develop the equipment commissioning plan and procedures.

- Coordinate with facility operations to implement, test, and optimize TRISO fuel fabrication processes.

- Provide technical oversight of fuel fabrication processes and incorporate best practices for continuous improvement.

- Work with other engineers and technologists to understand mechanical deficiencies and opportunities for process equipment improvements, incorporating those learnings into design improvements.

- Partner with manufacturing team and participate in equipment manufacturing, assembly, and test certification of process equipment skids.

- Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or similar discipline.

- 5+ years performing duties in a process or mechanical engineering role in a chemical, pharmaceutical, industrial, or manufacturing setting.

- Experience in generating Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Heat & Material Balances (H&MBs), Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), equipment lists, and utility consumption lists.

- Experience working with hazardous processes and chemicals, including the implementation of appropriate safety controls.

- Experience in commissioning new vendor-supplied equipment, as well as being able to commission in-house designed equipment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

- Proficient with engineering software programs including CAD, SolidWorks, and modeling software.

- Ability to work with highly collaborative teams.

- Ability to identify opportunities for improvement of existing equipment.

- Ability to verify process designs against mechanical designs, in keeping with operational and maintenance interfaces to ensure that systems and facility are optimal from an installation, integration, operational and maintenance perspective.

- Familiar with process documentation, including PFDs and P&IDs, and how they inform industrial system operations and integration.

- Strong problem-solving and organizational skills, able to manage multiple priorities in dynamic environments while maintaining attention to detail.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly document plans and effectively convey information across engineering, operations, and leadership teams.

- Ability to be proactive and adaptable.

- 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 Demands

- Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts and the like.

- Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces.

- Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods.

- Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.

- Adjusting, moving, transporting, installing, positioning, or removing objects up to 10 pounds in all directions.

- Communicating with others to exchange information.

Environmental Conditions

- General office environment.

- Noisy environments.

- Odors or fumes from chemicals or chemical reactions.

- 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.

Travel

- Some travel may be required, up to 5%

Additional Requirements

- Seldom requires working weekends.

- Occasionally requires schedule flexibility.

- Seldom requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines.

- 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.

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