Senior Mechanical Engineer, Remote Handling and Full Scale Integration
Kairos PowerOak Ridge, TN
Good fit if
- You have 8+ years of experience.
- You can travel 25% of the time.
Credentials that matter
Skills and tools
- ASME Codes
- Molten Salt Reactor
- Radiation Effects
- NDE / NDT
Required qualifications
- 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
- Strong hands-on mechanical aptitude in laboratory and shop environments
- Knowledge of pressure and fluid systems
- 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
About this role
Senior Mechanical Engineer at Kairos Power leading design, integration, and full-scale demonstration of remote handling systems for advanced molten salt reactors. You will drive hands-on prototype development and validation efforts that derisk maintenance strategies prior to reactor deployment, working directly with hardware mockups and integration test articles.
Responsibilities
- Design, build, and evaluate 1:1 scale mockups and integration test articles to validate remote handling concepts and sequences
- Integrate remote handling requirements into component architecture and system interfaces to enable efficient assembly and maintenance
- Develop and maintain interface control documentation and design basis documentation supporting plant-level integration
- Lead hands-on design-build-test cycles to mature handling approaches, focusing on reach, clearances, tooling alignment, and ergonomics
- Develop structured test plans, acceptance criteria, and execution plans for full-scale demonstrations
- Conduct risk and reliability assessments for maintenance systems and identify integration risks early through rapid prototyping
- Coordinate test readiness reviews with QA and Systems Engineering; support commissioning and shakedown activities
- Collaborate with reactor systems, operations, and engineering teams to define online and offline maintenance strategies
- Interface with vendors to ensure manufacturability and feasibility of specialized remote handling components
- Apply lifecycle design principles including maintainability, inspectability, and decommissioning considerations
- Ensure compliance with nuclear regulations, safety standards, and applicable codes (ASME codes, piping standards)
- Publish engineering reports documenting design details, mockup results, and integration findings
- Mentor junior engineers in hardware design, integration, and prototype testing
- Maintain configuration-controlled design documentation and support project planning and cost estimation
Preferred qualifications
- Experience integrating mechanical and electrical systems for remote operation
- Background in nuclear, aerospace, defense, or other regulated industries
- Molten salt or advanced reactor experience
- Experience with servos, motors, electromagnets, or related power electronics
- Background in low-voltage systems, optical systems, and compact packaging
- Working knowledge of ASME codes and piping standards
- Familiarity with data acquisition tools (LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python)
- Familiarity with radiation effects and material degradation in extreme environments
- Familiarity with non-destructive inspection techniques
- Experience mentoring junior engineers
- Expertise in high-temperature systems
Location, schedule, and travel
Remote-eligible with regular onsite work required at Kairos Power laboratory and shop facilities. Must be able to work on ladders, scaffolding, in confined spaces, and transport objects up to 30 pounds. Fast-paced, high-concentration environment including noisy facilities.
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