---
title: 'Senior Plant Reliability Engineer at Kairos Power'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-plant-reliability-engineer-kairos-power-albuquerque-8phd56dyf0qn'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-20'
---

# Senior Plant Reliability Engineer at Kairos Power

- **Company:** Kairos Power
- **Location:** Albuquerque, NM
- **Posted:** 2026-10-16
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-20
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kairospower/jobs/6177821004

## 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 Senior Plant Reliability Engineer to independently lead integrated reliability assessments and investigations supporting the design, manufacturing, testing, commissioning, and operation of nuclear and non-nuclear hardware demonstration projects. In this role, you will contribute to the development and commercialization of Kairos Power reactors.

## Responsibilities

- Independently lead integrated reliability assessments, hazard evaluations and technical investigations, partnering with cross-functional teams to integrate reliability considerations into hardware design, manufacturing, testing, commissioning, and operation. Update applicable assessments as needed based on changes to system design, configuration or operating conditions.
- Evaluate whether results of risk analyses meet acceptance criteria and characterize any remaining risk.
- Communicate technical conclusions, uncertainties and residual risks clearly to technical teams and leadership.
- Capture, evaluate and communicate operating experience and equipment performance data to inform component and system reliability, plant availability and improvements to current and future projects.
- Mentor Reliability engineers in the application of reliability and risk analysis methods.
- Improve Reliability program methods, guidance and work processes based on project needs and lessons learned.
- Provide Reliability support for selected major hardware demonstration projects during commissioning and operations, including shift coverage as needed.
- Collaborate with teams across Kairos Power sites, including travel as needed to support project activities.
- Perform other duties as assigned, which may include hands-on work involving hardware fabrication, assembly, testing, commissioning, and operation.

## Qualifications

- BS degree in Nuclear Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Systems Engineering, or another relevant technical discipline.
- At least 10 years of engineering experience supporting the reliability and performance of plant systems and components, including experience performing integrated reliability and risk analyses.
- Demonstrated ability to independently lead technical assessments or investigations and develop documented conclusions in a fast-paced environment with incomplete or evolving information.
- Experience applying qualitative and quantitative analysis methods such as FMEA, HAZOP, what-if analysis, fault tree analysis, event tree analysis, dependency analysis, or equivalent methods.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical work and build alignment across disciplines and organizational levels.
- Experience providing technical review and mentoring other engineers.
- Preferred experience analyzing operating, failure, maintenance, and outage data to evaluate component and system reliability, equipment unavailability and plant availability.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

- Ability to assess how component failures, system dependencies and operating conditions affect plant reliability and availability.
- Ability to select and apply reliability and risk analysis methods appropriate to the question, decisions being supported and maturity of the hardware.
- Ability to identify, document and communicate assumptions, data limitations and uncertainties in technical assessments.
- Ability to interpret equipment performance and operating experience and identify reliability implications that inform engineering decisions
- Ability to communicate technical findings and residual risks clearly to multidisciplinary teams and leadership.

Physical Conditions

- Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts, and similar equipment.
- 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 weighing up to 25 pounds.
- Communicating with others to exchange information.
- Using hand tools.

Environmental Conditions

- General office environment.
- Prototyping, testing, industrial, manufacturing, and construction environments in alignment with projects and assignments.
- Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of assigned work.

Safety and PPE

- Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs.
- Reporting equipment issues or unsafe conditions.
- Wearing required PPE, including face masks, face shields, gloves, safety shoes, and other protective equipment as applicable.

Travel

- Approximately 25% travel may be required to support work across Kairos Power sites and other project locations. Travel may be concentrated during major project activities.

Additional Requirements

- Requires schedule flexibility to support selected major hardware demonstration projects, including shift coverage and extended hours as needed.
- 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

## 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)

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