Welding Quality Control Supervisor

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 Welding Quality Control Supervisor to oversee welding inspection activities, manage compliance with ASME Section VIII, and lead the development and maintenance of in-house welding inspection programs towards future nuclear compliance. This leadership role will provide guidance on welding-related quality management systems, focusing on non-destructive testing (NDT) methods and welding standards. The ideal candidate will bring significant experience in welding inspection, ASME compliance, and nuclear welding industry practices.

Responsibilities

ASME Section VIII Program Oversight and Compliance

- Manages the site-specific ASME Section VIII welding inspection program, ensuring compliance with relevant codes and maintaining facility certifications.

- Ensures all weld inspections comply with applicable industry standards (e.g., ASME, AWS) and regulatory requirements.

- Provides input on ASME Section VIII compliance by reviewing processes, identifying gaps, and supporting nuclear expansion efforts in accordance with industry standards and regulations.

- Reviews and validates ASME Section VIII vessel documentation prior to hydrotesting and stamping to ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulatory standards.

Inspection and Technical Expertise

- Leverages expertise in NDE methods (e.g., RT, UT, MT, PT, VT) to lead inspections, troubleshoot issues, and provide technical guidance to the team.

- Supports the development of an in-house welding inspection program, including training, certification requirements, and infrastructure for VT, PT, RT, MT, and UT methods.

Team Management and Leadership

- Supervises and guides internal and external weld inspectors to evaluate weld quality and integrity in the shop.

- Oversees the welding inspection team’s training and certification process, ensuring all credentials are current and meet industry and regulatory standards.

- Recruits, mentors, and evaluates the performance of welding inspection team members, fostering professional development and ensuring high competency in inspection and quality control practices.

Vendor and Third-Party Coordination

- Reviews and assesses external vendors for ASME-compliant welding inspections, offering observations and recommendations for process improvements or vendor selection.

- Coordinates and leads third-party inspection activities, working with authorized inspectors and external auditors to ensure adherence to welding and ASME standards.

Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement

- Identifies opportunities to enhance welding fabrication processes, quality assurance measures, and documentation practices, collaborating with internal teams.

- Manages and processes Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs), ensuring timely communication and resolution.

- Collaborates with Engineering, Manufacturing, and other departments to share insights, maintain quality processes, and ensure regulatory compliance for welding-related activities.

- Conducts regular root cause analyses for recurring welding defects, collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement corrective and preventive measures.

Records and Documentation

- Maintains comprehensive inspection and testing records, ensuring proper documentation and retention for regulatory and audit purposes.

- Develops or refines written procedures to standardize inspection processes and sustain consistent quality throughout all welding activities

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

- Minimum of 7 years of welding inspection and quality control experience, with a strong focus on ASME Section VIII, nuclear welding, and NDE methods.

- At least 5 years of leadership experience managing or directing a team of welding inspectors, with demonstrated success in team development, performance management, and training.

- Required Level II certifications in multiple NDE disciplines; Level III certifications (e.g., RT, UT, MT, PT, VT) are preferred.

- Highly desirable certifications in ASME Section VIII, AWS, or related areas; CWI or CWS preferred.

- Deep knowledge of ASME Section VIII, Section IX, AWS, and nuclear welding standards, ideally gained through large metal fabrication in petrochemical, nuclear, or power generation industries.

- Proven ability to interact with nuclear regulators and auditors in a welding and fabrication quality context is desirable.

- Commitment to safety, with a track record of mitigating hazards and adhering to safety protocols throughout inspection processes.

- Experience in compiling and managing compliance documentation, such as weld inspection reports, non-conformance reports (NCRs), and welding procedure specifications (WPS).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

- Deep knowledge of ASME Section VIII, Section IX, AWS, and nuclear welding standards

- Advanced proficiency with welding inspection techniques, including VT, PT, RT, UT, and MT.

- Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, enabling quick resolution of welding inspection challenges.

- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including effective interaction with cross-functional teams and external inspectors.

- 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

- 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, installing, positioning, or removing objects up to 50 pounds in all directions

- Communicating with others to exchange information

- Operating motor vehicles, heavy equipment, or machinery

- 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

- 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

- Evaluated heights

- 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

- Color identification: detecting, distinguishing, recognizing and identifying colors

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

Travel

- Some travel may be required (up to 5%)

Certification

- Capable of obtaining forklift and boom lift certification

- Level II certifications in multiple NDE disciplines required

- Level III certifications (e.g., RT, UT, MT, PT, VT) are preferred

- Certifications in ASME Section VIII, AWS, or related areas are preferred

- CWI or CWS preferred

Additional Requirements

- Occasionally requires working weekends

- Occasionally requires schedule flexibility

- Occasionally requires non-standard work-week hours

- Occasionally requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines

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