Senior Mechanical Engineer

Responsibilities

• Apply lifecycle design principles including maintainability, inspectability, and decommissioning
• Integrate remote handling requirements into hardware architecture and system interfaces
• Design, build, and evaluate 1:1 scale mockups and integration test articles
• Develop structured test plans and acceptance criteria for full-scale demonstrations
• Lead hands-on design-build-test cycles to mature handling approaches
• Execute full-scale integration mockups to validate reach, clearances, and tooling alignment
• Partner with engineering, laboratory, shop, and materials teams for hardware development
• Mentor junior engineers in hardware design and prototype testing

Requirements

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent
• 8+ years of experience developing hardware for demanding applications
• Demonstrated experience with full-scale prototypes and physical integration
• Expertise in high-temperature systems
• Strong hands-on mechanical aptitude in laboratory and shop environments
• Knowledge of pressure and fluid systems

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in nuclear, aerospace, or defense industries
• Experience integrating mechanical and electrical systems for remote operation
• Background in low-voltage systems, optical systems, or compact packaging
• Experience with servos, motors, or power electronics
• Working knowledge of ASME codes and piping standards
• Familiarity with LabVIEW, MATLAB, or Python
• Molten salt or advanced reactor experience

About the Company

Kairos Power is a new nuclear energy technology and engineering company whose mission is to enable the world’s transition to clean energy through the commercialization of fluoride-salt-cooled, high-temperature reactors (FHR).