Mechanical Engineer, Fuels Handling Equipment Design

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 Fuel Handling Equipment Design Engineer with expertise relevant to design, development, testing and manufacturing of automated systems for fuel handling and storage equipment. The successful candidate will be a critical member of the FHR fuel handling and storage system and own the design and prototyping of a critical subsystem of the fuel handling and storage equipment.

Responsibilities

• Create high fidelity non-standard, custom 3D equipment models, including rotating equipment dynamic analysis and thermal/stress analysis, to support analysis, system assembly models, and manufacturing drawing creation that meet the KP-FHR and test system requirements
• Design, build, and test prototype assemblies and testing platforms, including high temperature platform for the exploration of design features that require maturation, to demonstrate concept functionality and performance in prototypic conditions
• Generate 3D design layouts and 2D drawings for electro-mechanical equipment including the desired interface with the nuclear vessel head and other locations in the primary system
• Perform stress analysis, fatigue calculations, bearing design and life analysis, seal design and analysis, reliability and health monitoring on designs of fuel handling equipment and other moving components. Analysis includes assessment of effects from potentially severe environmental conditions including high temperature and radiation
• Create or direct the creation of manufacturing drawings for KP-FHR custom fuel handling equipment, and other moving components and coordinate the fabrication with internal manufacturing operation and suppliers
• Contribute to make/buy analysis, supplier selections and the development of manufacturing plans
• Generate detailed verification and acceptance test plans for all standard and custom components
• Provide on-site support during startup and commissioning with operation and troubleshooting of custom components

Qualifications

• BS or MS degree in Mechanical Engineering, or similar discipline preferred
• 5+ years of experience performing hands on prototyping and testing of novel electromechanical systems is highly preferred
• 5+ year experience designing for Nuclear, Energy, Chemical, Petrochemical, Defense, or Aerospace applications preferred
• SolidWorks and ANSYS experience desired, CAD/CAE and rotating equipment dynamic analysis competency preferred
• High temperature, corrosive environment operation design experience desired
• 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
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and attention to detail

Physical Conditions

• Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts
• 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

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%)