Senior Engineer, Power Plant Operational Design

Job Summary

Kairos Power is seeking a highly motivated Senior Engineer, Power Plant Operations Design will be part of the team focused on the development and maturation of the Concept of Operations for the KP-FHR, with near term applicability for the Hermes Demonstration Reactor. You will work in close collaboration with systems, nuclear, mechanical, process, and I&C engineering groups to ensure major plant functional and operational needs are translated into the design to ensure successful plant operation. If you have power, chemical, or process plant operational and design experience, see how you can leverage it to support the next generation of clean energy.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine the plant’s detailed operational strategy, including operating modes, envelopes, and key state points, leveraging deep knowledge of plant performance requirements.
• Translate operational goals into actionable system- and component-level requirements for Structures, Systems, and Components (SSCs), balancing performance expectations and design constraints.
• Define anticipated and planned plant transients and collaborate with simulation teams to model and assess system responses and design adequacy.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional design teams to inform and guide plant-level decisions, ensuring operational requirements and control strategies are incorporated.
• Support design optimization efforts aimed at enhancing plant performance, reliability, and availability while mitigating technical risks.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree with 8+ years experience or Masters degree with 6+ years experience in Mechanical, Nuclear, Chemical, or other related engineering disciplines
• Demonstrated ability of applying engineering knowledge to deliver results while being able to thrive in an environment with evolving requirements.
• Strong technical writing skills, with the ability to clearly document operational philosophies, assumptions, and technical decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team on problems as well as lead/coordinate the timely resolution of issues in cross functional teams
• Fundamental understanding of power or industrial process plant operation and equipment and the interrelationships between them.
• Strong interpersonal skills and able to be independent, resourceful, and proactive in the face of the lack of information or unknowns.
• Desire and ability to function in a fast-paced small company environment while wearing multiple hats.
• Plant Performance - Proficient knowledge in power plant steady state performance, environmental effects on performance, tradeoffs, and understanding a variety of plant operational variability and uncertainties is strongly desired.
• Plant Dynamics – Proficient knowledge in power plant maneuvering, control of closed-loop heat transport systems, transient thermodynamics and T-H, with a general understanding of plant dynamics, as well as familiarity with basic nuclear reactor kinetics operational constraints is strongly desired.
• Plant Performance – Intermediate knowledge of economics of plant operation and plant reliability and availability management is strongly desired.
• Plant Design – Intermediate knowledge of design constraints of key Structures, Systems, and Components (SSCs) including how operation drives component design, knowledge of how plant operational objectives and requirements drive overall plant design, and knowledge of regulatory operational requirements are strongly desired.
• Intermediate knowledge of nuclear systems fundamentals such as thermal hydraulics, neutronics, dynamics, and general reactor transient behavior is desired.
• Working experience with plant simulation tools (e.g., APROS or other simulation platform) is desired
• Ability to work with highly collaborative team.
• Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently.
• Prioritizes and ensures safety of one self 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

• Remaining in a stationary position for prolonged period

Environmental Conditions

• General office environment
• 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
• Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes

Travel

• Some travel may be required (up to 20%)

Certification

• Capable of obtaining forklift and boom lift certification 

The salary range for this position is $140,600 to $165,400 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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