Fuels IC&E Engineer

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 an Instrumentation, Controls and Electrical (IC&E) Engineer to support the design, development, implementation, and optimization of instrumentation, controls and automation systems for the Kairos Power Fuels program. In this role, you will perform IC&E engineering activities for prototype and production systems supporting TRISO fuel fabrication, including equipment and instrumentation selection, design integration, system implementation, commissioning, and troubleshooting.

Responsibilities

• Perform IC&E design and engineering activities for prototype and production systems supporting TRISO fuel fabrication.
• Implement and configure process automation solutions in coordination with process, mechanical and other engineering disciplines based on defined process requirements, control narratives and safety design requirements.
• Develop equipment and instrumentation specifications and select appropriate IC&E components, including instrumentation, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), variable frequency drives (VFDs), motors, controllers, and input/output (I/O) components, based on process, control and operational requirements.
• Develop and review IC&E engineering requirements, equipment and instrumentation lists, data sheets, and related technical documentation.
• Review and contribute to piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs) and other process documentation to support the development and integration of IC&E designs.
• Interpret Cause-and-Effect (C&E) diagrams and translate defined control requirements into control sequences and associated IC&E implementation.
• Participate in design reviews to evaluate mechanical and process designs for IC&E integration and define cabling, instrumentation, electrical interface, and equipment-control requirements.
• Coordinate with CAD and other design personnel to develop cable routing and instrumentation and electrical interface requirements for process equipment and skid designs.
• Provide hands-on engineering support for the fabrication, assembly, installation, integration, and checkout of controls and instrumentation for assigned systems.
• Develop and support execution of commissioning plans, procedures, functional tests, and associated test documentation for instrumentation, controls and process equipment.
• Support checkout and verification of instrumentation and control system inputs, outputs, alarms, interlocks, control sequences, scaling, and calibration in accordance with approved design requirements.
• Interface with vendors and suppliers to support technical evaluation, selection, procurement, and integration of equipment and instrumentation.
• Collect, review and analyze system and operational data to identify opportunities to improve IC&E design, system performance, reliability, maintainability, safety, and operational efficiency.
• Troubleshoot process automation, instrumentation, controls, and equipment issues during fabrication, commissioning, startup, and operations and support development and implementation of appropriate technical solutions.
• Participate in process hazard analyses and design and operational safety reviews, including HAZOP and What-If analyses, as applicable.
• Prepare and review IC&E engineering reports and other technical documentation related to assigned systems and engineering activities.
• Collaborate with facility operations and engineering teams to implement, optimize and sustain TRISO fuel fabrication processes and associated automation and control systems.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, or a related engineering discipline; an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered.
• 4+ years of relevant experience in instrumentation, controls, electrical, process automation, or related engineering work in a chemical, pharmaceutical, industrial, manufacturing, or similar process environment.
• Experience developing or implementing instrumentation and control solutions for industrial or process equipment.
• Experience reading, interpreting and working with engineering documentation such as PFDs, P&IDs, equipment lists, instrumentation data sheets, control narratives, and Cause-and-Effect diagrams.
• Experience specifying or selecting instrumentation and controls equipment based on process and operational requirements.
• Experience supporting the installation, integration, testing, commissioning, or startup of instrumentation, controls, automation, or process equipment.
• Experience working with hazardous processes or chemicals and applying appropriate engineering and safety controls.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Rockwell / Allen-Bradley platforms (Studio 5000, CompactLogix or ControlLogix), including Add-On Instruction development and version management is preferred.
• Experience with Ignition or a comparable modern SCADA platform is preferred.
• Experience with EtherNet/IP remote I/O and IO-Link device architectures is preferred.
• Experience in nuclear, radiological or other regulated manufacturing environments, including their documentation and traceability expectations is preferred.
• Experience with modular skid design, fabrication and field integration, and with process unit operations such as powder handling, thermal processing, coating, compaction, or solvent recovery is preferred.
• Exposure to TRISO fuel, advanced ceramics, graphite and carbon-based materials, or high-temperature process systems is preferred.
• Experience scripting or automating engineering tasks (for example, Python or VBA) to generate controls code, tag databases, or test documentation is preferred.
• Experience with 2D or 3D design software (AutoCAD, SolidWorks or equivalent) sufficient to produce and mark up fabrication and installation drawings is preferred.
• Familiarity with process hazard analysis methods and functional safety concepts is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of instrumentation and process control principles, including measurement, control loops, alarms, interlocks, control sequencing, and basic process automation concepts.
• Knowledge of industrial controls equipment and components, including PLCs, VFDs, motors, controllers, I/O, process instrumentation, and associated electrical interfaces.
• Ability to apply instrumentation scaling and calibration principles during system design, checkout, commissioning, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to troubleshoot instrumentation, control and automation system issues using engineering documentation, system data, equipment information, and observed system performance.
• Ability to support functional testing and verification of instrumentation, controls and process equipment in accordance with approved design requirements and test procedures.
• Ability to analyze technical and operational data and use findings to support engineering decisions and system improvements.
• Ability to prepare clear and accurate engineering documentation, requirements, reports, plans, and test records.
• Ability to communicate technical information effectively and collaborate across engineering, operations, EHS, quality, and vendor or supplier teams.
• Ability to manage multiple engineering activities and priorities while maintaining accuracy, documentation quality and attention to technical requirements.
• Ability to apply established safety requirements and practices when working with process equipment, instrumentation, controls, and hazardous processes.

Physical Conditions

• Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts and the like.
• Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces.
• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting 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.
• Noisy environments.
• Odors or fumes from chemicals or chemical reactions.
• Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.
• High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced.

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 footwear, and other PPE as required.

Travel

• Some travel may be required, up to 5%

Additional Requirements  

• Seldom requires working weekends. 
• Occasionally requires schedule flexibility.
• Seldom requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines .

• Onsite: #LI-Onsite

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