Senior Control Room Operator

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 Senior Control Room Operator to support the commissioning and operation of the Engineering Test Unit (ETU) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This role is a key control room leadership position responsible for safe, compliant, and efficient operation during test and commissioning activities. Upon successful completion of the ETU project, this position will relocate to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where the individual will enter the licensed operator training program and transition into operations of the Hermes reactor, Kairos Power’s fluoride salt–cooled, high-temperature reactor demonstration. This role is ideal for an experienced nuclear operator who thrives in first-of-a-kind facilities, commissioning environments, and evolving operational frameworks.

Responsibilities

Procedure Writing:

- Develop and maintain comprehensive operating procedures, control room manuals, and emergency response protocols.

- Review and update technical documentation to reflect changes in plant design, control strategies, and operational practices.

- Ensure all procedures meet regulatory, safety, and operational standards and are accessible and understandable for all operations personnel.

Plant Commissioning:

- Participate actively in pre-commissioning and commissioning activities, including system walk-downs, loop checks, function testing, and validation of control systems.

- Coordinate with engineering, construction, and vendor teams to ensure proper integration and functionality of control systems

Plant Operations:

- Follows policies, principles, procedures, standards, and practices to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation of plant areas.

- Operates and field checks process equipment. Monitors process conditions, key performance metrics, equipment and control systems and makes appropriate decisions to maintain and/or achieve desired rates and conditions aligned with Kairos’s goals.

- Performs scheduled operational and related tasks and tasks that arise because of resolving unplanned events.

- Works with shift team members and other shift teams to leverage skills and knowledge to balance workload ensuring assigned tasks are completed by due dates.

- Conducts effective shift relief, as defined in facility specific operating discipline and tools, to ensure effective communication and handoff to arriving shift team.

- Maintains qualification in assigned areas, per Kairos’s policy, and completes training goals in a timely manner. This includes using discretionary time to address skills and knowledge gaps.

- Mentors and trains new and existing operations personnel on process operation, troubleshooting and the use of operating discipline in alignment to Kairos’s training process.

- Performs Immediate Response activities, as assigned.

- Initiates and documents preliminary investigations according to plant specific process/criteria and participates in formal and informal Root Cause Investigations for events involved in or by request.

- Tracks and utilizes the plant's key performance Indicators on shift that are applicable to the Operating the Plant role to optimize operations and identify improvement opportunities. Uses process knowledge and skills to make improvements in plant performance and operating discipline. Proactively identifies improvements and opportunities utilizing the facility improvement processes, appropriate management of change processes and communication tools.

- Performs minor Maintenance, including minor repairs and preventative maintenance, utilizing appropriate policies, procedures, processes, and disciplines.

- Commissions, and operate mechanical and electrical equipment.

- Prepares, reviews, and executes system and component level commissioning, and operating procedures.

- Performs acceptance testing following new equipment installation including hydrostatic, pneumatic, I/O checks, and electrical component calibrations checks.

- Supports day-to-day operations of the assigned facility including startup, monitor, and shutdown processes and auxiliary equipment.

- Performs chemistry sampling and analysis using standardized analytical instruments and procedures.

- Performs equipment troubleshooting as necessary.

- Perform Lockout/Tagout of mechanical and electrical equipment.

- Reviews and executes hazardous operations per standardized operating procedures.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

- Associate degree in an Nuclear Technology or related program or equivalent or 5+ years of experience as a plant operator or technician (mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, power plant, military, or similar backgrounds are highly desired)

- Ability to understand, follow and create technical procedures.

- Ability and interest in being cross trained and learning different processes to perform other jobs as needed.

- Ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials in PPE including SCBA, full-face respirator and Tyvek suit.

- Familiarity with basic hand tools

- Mechanically inclined with an ability to operate plant equipment, hands-on experience with plant equipment and operations desired

- Experience with Instrumentation and Controls systems

- Computer skills including spreadsheet use.

- Ability to communicate with others effectively.

- Ability to read P&ID and mechanical/electrical drawings.

- Ability to work with highly collaborative team.

- Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently.

- Always works in a safe and compliant manner.

- 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.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

- Knowledge of nuclear facility operations, including reactor and non-reactor nuclear systems, balance-of-plant systems, and supporting auxiliary systems.

- Knowledge of control room operations, conduct of operations principles, and human performance tools used in high-reliability organizations.

- Knowledge of commissioning, startup, and testing activities for first-of-a-kind or prototype nuclear and industrial facilities.

- Knowledge of nuclear safety fundamentals, including defense-in-depth, conservative decision-making, and safety culture principles.

- Knowledge of operating procedures, abnormal operating procedures, emergency operating procedures, and alarm response methodologies.

- Knowledge of plant instrumentation and control systems, including control logic, alarms, interlocks, and automated protection features.

- Knowledge of system interactions and plant response to normal, abnormal, and off-normal operating conditions.

- Knowledge of applicable regulatory frameworks, including NRC regulations, DOE standards, and/or industrial nuclear safety requirements, as applicable.

- Knowledge of technical specifications, limiting conditions for operation, and operational boundaries.

- Knowledge of configuration management, lockout/tagout, work control, and clearance processes.

- Knowledge of commissioning documentation, test procedures, and operational readiness requirements.

- Knowledge of radiological fundamentals, industrial safety principles, and hazard controls relevant to nuclear and test facilities.

- Knowledge of training, qualification, and requalification processes for nuclear operators, including licensed operator training concepts.

- Knowledge of effective shift turnover, logging, and communication practices to ensure continuity of operations.

- Knowledge of emergency response organization roles, event classification, and operator responsibilities during facility events.

- Skilled in operating nuclear and industrial facility systems from a control room environment in accordance with approved procedures and conduct-of-operations standards.

- Skilled in executing commissioning, startup, and testing evolutions, including adherence to test procedures, hold points, and data verification requirements.

- Skilled in monitoring plant parameters, recognizing adverse trends, and taking timely, conservative actions to maintain safe operating conditions.

- Skilled in responding to abnormal and off-normal conditions using abnormal operating procedures, alarm response procedures, and conservative decision-making practices.

- Skilled in clear, concise, and effective verbal and written communication, including command-and-control communications during operational events.

- Skilled in shift turnover practices, including maintaining accurate logs, briefing on plant status, and communicating operational risk.

- Skilled in mentoring and directing control room operators and field personnel during operations and testing activities.

- Skilled in coordinating with engineering, maintenance, radiation protection, and safety personnel to resolve operational issues.

- Skilled in use of plant instrumentation, control systems, and computerized monitoring tools for data acquisition and analysis.

- Skilled in procedure use and adherence, including place-keeping, peer checking, and independent verification.

- Skilled in participating in procedure development, review, validation, and continuous improvement.

- Skilled in applying human performance tools such as pre-job briefs, three-way communication, and self-checking.

- Skilled in supporting operational readiness activities, drills, and training scenarios.

- Ability to maintain situational awareness in complex, fast-paced, and high-consequence operational environments.

- Ability to make timely, conservative decisions under pressure, including during abnormal or emergency conditions.

- Ability to lead control room activities and coordinate multiple work groups to achieve safe and efficient outcomes.

- Ability to adapt to evolving systems, procedures, and operational requirements typical of first-of-a-kind facilities.

- Ability to quickly analyze plant conditions, diagnose problems, and determine appropriate corrective actions.

- Ability to proactively identify operational risks and raise concerns consistent with a strong nuclear safety culture.

- Ability to learn and retain detailed technical information required for licensing, qualification, and requalification.

- Ability to work effectively within highly collaborative, multidisciplinary teams.

- Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to diverse audiences.

- Ability to manage workload and priorities across shift-based operations and changing schedules.

- Ability to transfer operational knowledge and lessons learned to peers, trainees, and future operators.

- Ability to maintain professional composure, attention to detail, and operational discipline during extended or demanding work periods.

Physical Demands

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

- 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 stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods

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

- Adjusting, moving, transporting, positioning, or removing objects up to 50 pounds in all directions

- Communicating with others to exchange information.

- Operating motor vehicles, heavy equipment, and machinery.

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

Environmental Conditions

- Shop floor environment

- Low temperatures

- High temperatures

- Outdoor environment or elements such as precipitation and wind

- Noisy environments

- Small and/or enclosed spaces

- Odors or fumes from chemicals or chemical reactions

- Elevated heights

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

- High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced

- Radiological/Controlled Environments

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)

- Handling of radiological materials

Travel

- Some travel may be required (5% travel)

Certification

- Capable of obtaining forklift and boom lift certification

Additional Requirements

- Regularly requires overtime

- Regularly requires working weekends

- Regularly requires schedule flexibility

- Regularly requires non-standard work-week hours

- Regularly requires night shift, beginning at 6:00pm local time

- Regularly requires extended hours

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