Senior Mechanical Engineer, Remote Handling and Full Scale Integration

Kairos Power is a new nuclear energy technology and engineering company whose mission is to enable the world’s transition to clean energy. They are seeking a highly motivated Senior Mechanical Engineer focused on Remote Handling Special Components to design, integrate, and validate remote handling technologies for nuclear reactors.

Responsibilities:

• Apply lifecycle design principles including maintainability, inspectability, and decommissioning
• Integrate remote handling requirements into hardware architecture and system interfaces
• Develop and maintain interface control documentation supporting plant-level integration
• Design, build, and evaluate 1:1 scale mockups and integration test articles to validate handling concepts
• Develop structured test plans and acceptance criteria for full-scale demonstrations
• Coordinate test readiness reviews with QA and Systems Engineering
• Implement design updates based on mockup results, demonstrations, and operational feedback
• Support project planning and cost estimation for integration and testing activities
• Interface with vendors to ensure manufacturability and feasibility of specialized components
• Conduct risk and reliability assessments for maintenance systems
• Ensure compliance with nuclear regulations, safety standards, and applicable codes
• Maintain configuration-controlled design documentation
• Develop remote handling hardware enabling efficient component repair and replacement
• Lead hands-on design-build-test cycles to mature handling approaches
• Execute full-scale integration mockups to validate reach, clearances, tooling alignment, ergonomics, and sequencing
• Collaborate with reactor systems and operations teams to define online and offline maintenance strategies
• Identify integration risks early and mitigate through rapid prototyping and physical demonstration
• Align demonstration opportunities with reactor and facility schedules
• Develop execution plans for rapid, high-value physical demonstrations
• Support inspections, installations, shakedown, tuning, and commissioning activities
• Capture lessons learned from mockups and integration testing to inform future designs
• Partner with engineering, laboratory, shop, and materials teams to execute accelerated hardware development
• Coordinate cross-disciplinary integration efforts to ensure cohesive system performance
• Publish engineering reports documenting design details, mockup results, and integration findings
• Contribute to design basis documentation and regulatory submittals
• Share technical knowledge and best practices across the organization
• Mentor junior engineers in hardware design, integration, and prototype testing
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
• 8+ years of experience developing hardware for demanding applications
• Demonstrated experience with full-scale prototypes, physical integration, and hardware demonstrations
• Expertise in high-temperature systems
• Strong hands-on mechanical aptitude in laboratory and shop environments
• Experience developing physical mockups and rapid prototypes
• Knowledge of pressure and fluid systems
• Familiarity with non-destructive inspection techniques
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills
• Ability to collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams
• Practical, test-driven problem-solving approach
• Commitment to safety and operational rigor
• Experience integrating mechanical and electrical systems for remote operation
• Experience in nuclear, aerospace, defense, or other regulated industries
• Working knowledge of ASME codes and piping standards
• Familiarity with data acquisition tools (LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python)
• Experience mentoring junior engineers
• Familiarity with radiation effects and material degradation in extreme environments
• Molten salt or advanced reactor experience
• Background in low-voltage systems, optical systems, and compact packaging
• Experience with servos, motors, electromagnets, or related power electronics