Process Engineer, TRISO Fuels Facility

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 Process Engineer to support the design, construction, commissioning, and startup of a TRISO Fuels Facility. This role will be responsible for developing and implementing chemical and physical process systems required to support nuclear fuel manufacturing operations.

The Process Engineer will work within a multidisciplinary engineering team to translate process requirements into operable, maintainable, and constructible facility solutions. Responsibilities span process design, equipment definition, utility integration, vendor coordination, commissioning, and operational readiness.

During the early phases of the project, the successful candidate will work closely with engineering, procurement, and project teams to develop the facility design and support equipment procurement and factory acceptance testing. As the project transitions into construction and commissioning, the role will become increasingly field-oriented, supporting installation, startup, and operational readiness activities.

Work Location

This position will initially be based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the facility engineering and design activities are being executed. The successful candidate will be expected to relocate to Gillette, Wyoming when construction of the facility begins, where they will support construction, commissioning, startup, and ongoing operations. Relocation assistance will be provided in accordance with company policy.

The successful candidate will play a key role in advancing process technology while ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable fuel fabrication operations.

Responsibilities

Develop process designs and technical deliverables including Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Heat and Material Balances (H&MBs), Process Design Basis documents, Utility Consumption Lists, and Process Narratives.

Develop and maintain Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) in coordination with mechanical, electrical, controls, and facility engineering disciplines.

Define process design requirements and develop equipment specifications for tanks, vessels, pumps, valves, process skids, thermal systems, chemical handling systems, and supporting utilities.

Prepare equipment lists, process datasheets, process calculations, and design inputs for procurement and facility integration.

Support layout development and review facility arrangements to optimize operability, maintainability, constructability, personnel flow, and future expansion capability.

Work closely with architecture and engineering partners, equipment vendors, and internal stakeholders to develop integrated process solutions.

Lead process hazard evaluations and support implementation of engineered and administrative controls associated with hazardous chemical and industrial processes.

Support development of operating philosophies, commissioning plans, startup procedures, and operational readiness activities.

Provide technical oversight during equipment fabrication, factory acceptance testing, installation, commissioning, and startup.

Coordinate with Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), Safeguards, and Construction teams to ensure successful deployment of process systems.

Evaluate process and operating data and drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve throughput, reliability, quality, and process efficiency.

Support troubleshooting, root cause investigations, and implementation of corrective actions during commissioning and operations.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Related Relevant Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or closely related engineering discipline.

10+ years of process engineering experience in chemical processing, industrial manufacturing, nuclear, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, or similar highly regulated industries.

Experience developing process deliverables including PFDs, H&MBs, P&IDs, equipment specifications, equipment lists, and utility consumption calculations.

Experience with facility design and integration across process, mechanical, electrical, controls, and civil disciplines.

Experience with commissioning and startup of industrial process equipment and systems.

Experience working with hazardous chemicals and implementing appropriate process safety controls.

Experience supporting vendor equipment procurement, technical reviews, and acceptance testing.

Experience using engineering and modeling tools such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, process simulation software, or equivalent platforms.

Nuclear industry, fuel cycle, chemical processing, or advanced manufacturing experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Strong understanding of process engineering fundamentals and industrial system integration.

Ability to interpret process requirements and translate them into practical equipment and facility solutions.

Ability to review mechanical and facility designs to ensure alignment with process intent and operational requirements.

Familiarity with industrial utility systems including process gases, chilled water, cooling systems, exhaust, wastewater, and chemical distribution systems.

Ability to develop and interpret PFDs, H&MBs, P&IDs, process calculations, equipment datasheets, specifications, and other process engineering documentation.

Ability to review equipment, mechanical, and facility designs for alignment with process intent, operability, maintainability, constructability, and operational requirements.

Knowledge of process hazards and appropriate engineered and administrative controls for hazardous chemical and industrial processes.

Ability to apply structured problem-solving and root cause analysis methods to process and equipment issues.

Ability to analyze operating and process data to identify opportunities for improved throughput, reliability, quality, and process efficiency.

Ability to develop clear technical documents, calculations, specifications, evaluations, and engineering recommendations.

Ability to coordinate technical requirements and interfaces across engineering disciplines, vendors, contractors, commissioning teams, and Operations.

Strong technical writing and documentation skills.

Excellent verbal communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Ability to manage multiple priorities in dynamic project environments.

Ability to identify opportunities for process optimization and continuous improvement.

Strong problem-solving and analytical capabilities.

Ability to proactively collect, organize, and transfer technical knowledge.

Prioritizes and ensures safety of oneself and others.

Physical Conditions

Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts, and similar access equipment.

Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments.

Remaining in a stationary position for prolonged periods.

Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.

Adjusting, moving, transporting, installing, positioning, or removing objects up to 10 pounds in all directions.

Communicating with others to exchange information.

Environmental Conditions

General office environment.

Industrial and manufacturing environments.

Construction and commissioning environments.

Noisy environments.

Exposure to odors or fumes associated with chemicals and industrial operations.

High concentration, demanding, and fast-paced work environments.

Safety and PPE

Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs.

Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions.

Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes, etc.

Travel

Travel between Albuquerque, NM and Gillette, WY will be required during the design and construction phases of the project.

Occasional travel to equipment vendors and engineering partners for design reviews, factory acceptance testing (FAT), and project meetings.

Following relocation to Gillette, travel is expected to be less than 10%.

Additional Requirements

Occasionally requires schedule flexibility.

Seldom requires weekend work.

May require extended hours during commissioning, startup, and critical project milestones.

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About our Benefits

We know that we have some of the most talented and dedicated employees, and we believe in rewarding them accordingly. If you work here, full-time employees (excludes interns) expect to have access to the benefits below:

Competitive compensation packages

Medical, dental and vision benefits for employees and their dependents

Paid Vacation

401(k) and pre-tax health insurance, dependent care, and commuter benefits (FSA)

Kairos Power is committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the communities where we do business. Kairos Power is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We actively welcome people of different experiences, abilities, and perspectives.

Kairos Power participates in E-Verify.

Candidates only, no recruiters or agencies please.

Note: You are applying for a position that is located in a facility that handles information that is subject to export control restrictions by the Department of Energy under 10 CFR Part 810. To work in this facility, you need to be authorized by the Department of Energy to access Part 810-controlled information. Foreign nationals who are citizens of countries that are not on the Department of Energy’s general authorization list (link below) are not permitted to work in our facility unless the Department of Energy issues an export control license to the company to permit that individual to have access to Part 810-controlled information. The following questions are intended to determine the licensing requirements that may apply. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/10/appendix-A_to_part_810