--- title: 'Process Engineer, TRISO Fuels Facility at Kairos Power' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/process-engineer-triso-fuels-facility-kairos-power-albuquerque-fg2shdha1bbt' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-03' --- # Process Engineer, TRISO Fuels Facility at Kairos Power - **Company:** Kairos Power - **Location:** Albuquerque, NM - **Posted:** 2026-10-29 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-03 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kairospower/jobs/6208084004 ## Job description 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. 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 ## About Kairos Power ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Kairos Power is developing fluoride salt–cooled high‑temperature reactors (KP‑FHR) to deliver safe, affordable, and reliable clean energy at commercial scale. - **Entity Type**: Private (Venture‑backed startup) - **Headquarters**: Alameda, California, USA - **Founded**: 2016 - **Founders**: Mike Laufer (CEO, Co‑Founder) and Edward Blandford (CTO, Co‑Founder) [kairospower.com/about](https://www.kairospower.com/about) ## Core Business - **Primary industries**: Advanced nuclear energy, clean‑energy technology, vertical manufacturing. - **Target customers**: B2B – utilities (e.g., TVA), large‑scale energy buyers (e.g., Google), power generators, grid operators. - **Mission / purpose**: “To deliver reliable, affordable energy at scale” while combating climate change by reimagining the entire energy system. [kairospower.com](https://www.kairospower.com/) ## Products & Services - **KP‑FHR (fluoride salt–cooled high‑temperature reactor)**: The core technology – a next‑generation nuclear reactor that uses molten‑salt coolant and TRISO‑based pebble fuel. It is designed for competitive baseload power without carbon emissions. - **Hermes Demonstration Reactors**: - **Hermes 1**: The first non‑water‑cooled reactor to receive an NRC construction permit. Now under construction in Oak Ridge, TN. - **Hermes 2**: A commercial‑scale demonstration plant that will supply electricity to the grid. - **In‑house manufacturing**: Kairos Power builds reactor components, fuel, molten salt, and plant equipment internally to control quality, cost, and schedule. Facilities in Albuquerque, NM produce modular systems and perform salt production, TRISO fuel and pebble fabrication. - **Engineering Test Units (ETU)**: Iterative non‑nuclear test rigs (ETU 2, ETU 3) used to validate systems, reduce risk, and fine‑tune technology before nuclear operation. ## Market Standing - **Valuation**: Not publicly available in provided sources. - **Key metric**: **Headcount >500** (as of 2025/2026); **Total funding** – not disclosed in provided sources. - **Notable investors & partners**: Google (world’s first corporate agreement for multiple advanced reactor deployments – up to 500 MW by 2035), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), KP‑OMADA alliance (North American nuclear utilities and generating companies). [kairospower.com/our-approach](https://www.kairospower.com/our-approach) - **Growth signals**: - First nuclear company ever named a **BloombergNEF Pioneer**. - Recognized **six times as a Forbes Best Startup Employer**. - Hermes 1 construction permit granted – a regulatory milestone. - Expansion of manufacturing capabilities in Albuquerque and reactor campus in Oak Ridge. - Active partnerships with leading U.S. utilities and tech companies. ## Competitive Advantages - **Vertical integration**: Unifies engineering, manufacturing, testing, and licensing in‑house – reduces supply‑chain risk and accelerates deployment. - **Iterative development model (“test‑to‑learn”)**: Build, test, iterate with thousands of hours of operational data; progressively de‑risks nuclear construction, fuel supply, and operations. - **Proactive regulatory engagement**: First non‑water‑cooled reactor to secure an NRC construction permit, de‑risking the licensing path for future units. - **Strong commercial partnerships**: Google and major utilities provide both credibility and a clear off‑take pathway for commercial fleets. - **Technology differentiator**: Fluoride salt cooling enables lower pressure, inherent safety, and efficient heat transfer, making the reactor cost‑competitive with natural gas. ## Strategic Focus - **Commercial deployment**: Targeting grid‑connected operation of Hermes 2 and a fleet of up to 500 MW by 2035 (via Google agreement). - **Scaling manufacturing**: Expanding the Albuquerque Manufacturing Development Campus to produce reactor components at volume. - **Supply chain & fuel qualification**: In‑house fuel fabrication (TRISO pebbles) and salt production to ensure cost and schedule certainty. - **Alliance building**: Growing the KP‑OMADA alliance to standardize technology deployment across multiple utilities. ## Why Work Here - **Culture & recognition**: Six‑time Forbes Best Startup Employer. Employee‑led committees (Women of Kairos Power, Environmental Stewards, Culture Committee, Developing Professionals) shape a collaborative, inclusive environment. “One Kairos” program champions belonging. - **Benefits**: - 3 weeks paid vacation + 5 sick days + >20 paid holidays/year. - 100% employer‑paid medical premiums and deductibles for employee and dependents; premium dental and vision. - 401(k) with employer match, pre‑tax FSA (health & dependent care), commuter benefits. - Career development: mentorship programs, hands‑on training, career paths tailored to personal goals. - **Work model**: Multiple facilities (Alameda HQ, Oak Ridge, Albuquerque) – roles are likely on‑site or hybrid depending on function; no explicit remote‑only policy disclosed. - **Mission‑driven environment**: Direct impact on climate change; work on complex engineering challenges in nuclear energy. - **Values**: Mission‑driven, responsible, people‑centered, pioneering, collaborative, action‑oriented, direct & honest. [kairospower.com/careers](https://www.kairospower.com/careers) ## Sources 1. [kairospower.com](https://www.kairospower.com/) – Company homepage, locations, technology overview 2. [kairospower.com/about](https://www.kairospower.com/about) – Founders, leadership, history, locations 3. [kairospower.com/our-approach](https://www.kairospower.com/our-approach) – Vertical integration, iterative development, partnerships 4. [kairospower.com/careers](https://www.kairospower.com/careers) – Culture, benefits, values, employee resource groups, headcount 5. [linkedin.com/company/kairospower](https://www.linkedin.com/company/kairospower) – Company LinkedIn page (used for verification) ## Other roles at Kairos Power - [Senior Manager, Engineering Operations](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-engineering-operations-kairos-power-albuquerque-nm-and-oak-ridge-99hv5a4n8hze) — Albuquerque NM and Oak Ridge, TN - [Principal Mechanical Engineer, Fuel Handling Equipment](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-mechanical-engineer-fuel-handling-equipment-kairos-power-oakridge-k8m9bkds50h2) — Oakridge, TN - [Firmware Development Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/firmware-development-engineer-kairos-power-alameda-j529qj1p1ayp) — Alameda, CA - [System Administrator, Operational Technology](https://feeny.ai/job/system-administrator-operational-technology-kairos-power-alameda-ca-or-77mrm2n56z19) — Alameda CA OR Albuquerque, NM - [Distinguished Nuclear Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/distinguished-nuclear-engineer-kairos-power-alameda-hx01p5y1vaep) — Alameda, CA - [Electrical Engineer, Plant Electrical Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/electrical-engineer-plant-electrical-systems-kairos-power-alameda-x8sax2zjzd4n) — Alameda, CA / Albuquerque, NM / Oak Ridge, TN - [Senior Mechanical Engineer, Fuels Program](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-fuels-program-kairos-power-albuquerque-xw6h7jkh6cxs) — Albuquerque, NM - [Senior Quality Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-quality-engineer-kairos-power-albuquerque-yhghh777gmfy) — Albuquerque, NM - [Senior Plant Control Systems Engineer, Motion Control](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-plant-control-systems-engineer-motion-control-kairos-power-alameda-jtwxak1n3wmg) — Alameda, CA / Albuquerque, NM / Oak Ridge, TN - [Facilities Engineer II](https://feeny.ai/job/facilities-engineer-ii-kairos-power-oak-ridge-0ygvx85gh3ja) — Oak Ridge, TN