Mechanical and Manufacturing 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 Mechanical Engineering teams for Summer 2026! Contributions on each team will be instrumental to Kairos Power's mission on delivering an innovative technology that will impact climate change.

Areas with potential internship opportunities:

- Engineering Test

- Manufacturing Engineering

- Mechanical Design

- Reliability Engineering

- Systems Integration Engineering

- Quality Engineering

General Responsibilities

- Assist in the design, analysis, testing, and optimization of mechanical systems, components, and processes.

- Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineers, technicians, and project managers, to support project goals and timelines.

- Conduct experiments, collect data, and perform analysis to validate designs and inform decision-making.

- Develop and document standard operating procedures (SOPs), technical reports, and engineering drawings.

- Contribute to the development and improvement of manufacturing processes and equipment.

- Participate in troubleshooting and problem-solving activities to resolve engineering challenges.

- Assist in the fabrication, assembly, and testing of prototypes to support design validation.

- Participate in engineering and design reviews, contributing ideas and feedback to improve product design and reliability.

- Assist with inspections, quality checks, and documentation to ensure compliance with engineering standards and requirements.

- Support reliability engineering efforts by analyzing failure modes and proposing solutions to improve system performance.

- Engage in continuous learning to stay updated on industry trends, technologies, and best practices.

- Ensure compliance with safety regulations and company policies in all engineering activities.

- Present findings, progress, and recommendations to the engineering team and management.

- Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

- Current student enrolled and pursuing Bachelors, Masters, or PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Systems Engineering, Nuclear 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 prototyping, fabrication, or testing equipment.

- Exposure to engineering standards, drawings, and GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing).

- Basic proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD) and simulation tools (e.g., ANSYS, MATLAB).

- Familiarity with manufacturing processes, quality control, and engineering testing methodologies.

- Demonstrated problem-solving skills with the ability to apply critical thinking to engineering challenges.

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

- 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

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

- Setting up and transferring temporary structures (e.g. scaffolding, ladders)

- 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 20 pounds in all directions

- Communicating with others to exchange information

- Use hand tools

- Repetitive assembly operations of manufacturing test fixtures and test setups in collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams

Environmental Conditions

- General office environment

- 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

- Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions

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

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