Job Summary 

The Chemistry Control Team is seeking an exceptionally talented, and passionate Senior Mechanical and Process Design Engineer to join the growing Reactor Coolant Auxiliary Systems Department where you will have the opportunity and work directly on the design, testing, and deployment of a first-of-a-kind FHR Chemistry Control System. The maintenance of coolant chemistry is essential for mitigating corrosion and ensuring nuclear safety of the KP-FHR technology.

In this role, you will manage and coordinate the detailed system design including, high-temperature molten salt chemical processing components, vessels and piping, instrumentation/sensor interfaces, and system structures. The position requires a strong aptitude for mechanical design, engineering analysis, systems integration, high-temperature components development, and industrial or pilot scale system deployment. You will be expected to regularly interface with multi-disciplinary teams including pipe stress analysis, ASME pressure vessel design, process design, I&CE engineering, and manufacturing. You will work closely with the Lead Engineer and Molten Salt Chemistry Team iterating on the design, conducting trade studies, and responding to the latest R&D and testing data.

Responsibilities

• Manage the mechanical and system design of molten salt chemistry monitoring and processing systems and components.
• Design custom 3D models of components and equipment to support thermal/stress analyses, system assembly and fit up analyses, failure analyses, and design for manufacturing reviews.
• Create and review engineering documentation such as mechanical drawings, P&IDs, PFDs, operation and I&C plans, memos, and design reports.
• Independently perform engineering analyses such as thermal analyses, fluid analyses, structural analyses, and FMEA or guide these analyses when performed by Kairos Power teams.
• Design or guide the design for molten salt system components like pumps, valves, instruments, piping, tanks, and heaters with Kairos teams and occasionally outside vendors.
• Plan and work with testing and R&D teams on technology development campaigns to improve and optimize molten salt system components by supporting the design of test platforms and by defining the key data needs, areas for component reliability improvement, and test metrics.
• Develop system control narratives, operating procedures, and acceptance plans for plant level systems and components.
• Regularly interface and communicate system requirements with other disciplinary teams with manufacturing, plant integration, process design, IC&E, safety analysis, and modeling and simulation.
• Lead and consolidate engineering studies; prepare technical presentations and briefings for interfacing teams and stakeholders, leadership teams, vendors, and independent reviewers.
• Support and coordinate system and component fabrication, commissioning, operation, and troubleshooting across multiple Kairos sites.     

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or advanced degree in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, nuclear engineering or a related field.
• 10+ years of relevant industry or R&D experience in hands-on engineering design and deployment within the chemical, oil and gas, power, aerospace, or nuclear industries.
• Experience with high-temperature processes, molten salt systems, or similar high-temperature fluid systems.
• Hands-on experience designing and deploying pilot or industrial-scale fluid systems or machinery.
• Proven track record of driving projects from concept to successful deployment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop novel solutions or designs to solve complex engineering problems and satisfy product requirements.
• Experience in 3D CAD modeling, Solidworks, PTC Creo, Autodesk or equivalent.
• Experience in CAE/FEA and for engineering analysis for thermal and structural analysis (ANSYS Mechanical, Abaqus, Comsol Multiphysics or similar).
• Experience in drafting fabrication and assembly drawings, design for manufacturing (DFM), and GD&T/ASME Y14.5
• Experience with design, development, and manufacturing of high-temperature fluid processing apparatuses, process monitoring sensors, pumps, valves for corrosive environment.
• Experience developing or working under QA or QC procedures and practices.
• CFD codes or software experience is a plus (ANSYS CFX, Fluent, Star CCM or similar).
• Experience designing components or nuclear service or radiation environments is a plus.
• Familiarity with ASME vessel/piping standards and AWS welding standards is a plus.
• Exceptional motivation for delivering a first of a kind energy technology for the betterment of humanity.
• Strong analytical problem-solving abilities to resolve complex design issues efficiently.
• Flexibility to consistently deliver tangible results a rapid and dynamic work environment.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills as well as strong attention to detail
• Ability to work collaboratively with others including, but not limited to Project Managers, Engineers and Designers in a multi-discipline project team environment to resolve design or drawing issues as appropriate and to accomplish objectives.
• Self-motivated with strong time management skills and ownership mentality
• Capability to mentor and train junior engineers
• Dedication to safety and risk management in handling high-temperature and chemically challenging systems

Physical Conditions 

• Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts and the like
• Adjusting, moving, transporting, installing, positioning, or removing objects up to 30 pounds in all directions
• Use of machine and hand tools

Environmental Conditions 

• General office environment
• Laboratory environment
• Occasional manufacturing and industrial plant 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

Travel 

• Some travel may be required (10-15%) 

Additional Requirements

• Occasionally requires schedule flexibility 
• Occasionally requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines 

The salary range for this position is $133,900 to $157,500 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.

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