nuclearhustle

Lead Operator, Engineering

Kairos Power·Albuquerque, NM·Posted today
Nuclear industryUS only

About this role

Lead Operator, Engineering at Kairos Power oversees commissioning, testing, and operations of the Engineering Test Unit (ETU) and salt production facility supporting deployment of fluoride-salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor technology. This role manages complex plant operations, develops procedures, and collaborates with engineering teams on test execution and hazard mitigation.

Responsibilities

  • Lead successful commissioning, testing, and operations of the Engineering Test Unit (ETU) alongside other Lead Operators
  • Develop procedures and training material for the Engineering Test Unit and Salt Production Facility plants
  • Troubleshoot equipment, electrical, and instrumentation issues
  • Lead and conduct Pre-Job briefs to various stakeholders within the organization
  • Collaborate with Engineering Teams to understand the scope of test and hazards associated with the test
  • Operate SCADA/HMI/Control Boards, high temperature pilot systems, pumps, valves, heaters, blowers, compressors
  • Make periodic rounds of the plant to visually check equipment and validate proper operation
  • Follow standard operating and emergency procedures until issues are resolved
  • Develop testing procedures
  • Prioritize and ensure safety of oneself and others

Qualifications

  • B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or similar field
  • 7+ years of experience working within an operations environment
  • Experience with commissioning and operations activities associated with complex plants
  • Expertise in several NDT methods (e.g., ultrasonic testing including phased-array methods, radiography including computed tomography, eddy current methods, potential drop methods)
  • Excellent verbal, written communication/presentation, and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work with highly collaborative team
  • Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently
  • 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

Desired

  • Preferred experience with high temperature test systems, including molten salt applications
  • Experience with writing, revising, and executing procedures while utilizing formal procedure writing and performance methods

Location

Onsite; up to 10% travel; occasional weekends and non-standard hours required. Physical demands include ladder/scaffold climbing, working in confined spaces, standing/sitting for prolonged periods, lifting up to 50 lbs, exposure to high/low temperatures, elevated heights, noisy environments, and handling hazardous materials including Beryllium. Requires respiratory protection and Tyvek PPE.

Job details

FieldOperations
LocationAlbuquerque, NM
IndustryNuclear energy
PostedJun 2026

About the company

Kairos Power

A developer of the fluoride salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (KP-FHR), building the Hermes demonstration reactor in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

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Lead Operator, Engineering

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