Distinguished Engineer, Reactor Systems

Responsibilities

• Provide technical authority to shape the long-term technical vision, system architecture, and engineering strategy for Reactor Systems consistent with Kairos Power’s commercialization roadmap.
• Serve as the highest-level technical authority for reactor systems design philosophy, integration strategy, and technical decision-making.
• Drive enterprise-wide technical consistency across reactor systems design, integration, analysis, testing, qualification, and deployment activities.
• Guide development and oversight of reactor system architecture, system requirements, design bases, interface definitions, verification plans, and supporting technical documentation.
• Lead resolution of complex cross-disciplinary technical issues involving reactor vessel systems, reactor internals, auxiliary systems, nuclear design, design margin, thermal hydraulics, safety analysis, I&C, manufacturing, testing, licensing, and operations.
• Develop engineering standards, technical methodologies, design principles, and best practices that improve engineering quality and organizational effectiveness.
• Influence corporate technology strategy through collaboration with executive leadership and engineering management teams.
• Identify emerging technical risks and opportunities affecting reactor technology development and commercialization.
• Communicate complex technical issues and provide direction on key design trades, technical decisions, requirements allocation, system interfaces, and design margins affecting reactor system performance and safety.
• Lead or support major design integration reviews to ensure structures, systems, and components are compatible, accessible for installation and maintenance, and aligned with safety, construction, and lifecycle requirements.
• Prepare and review reactor systems design documentation and supporting engineering analyses, including design descriptions, drawings, test plans, reports, specifications, calculations, design decision records, thermal/structural/system analyses, FMEAs, hazard analyses, and design margin assessments.
• Maintain knowledge of and assess compliance with applicable codes and standards such as ASME, ANSI, ASTM, ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, and other relevant industry standards.
• Aid in cost, schedule, and risk assessments related to reactor system design, testing, fabrication, integration, and deployment activities.
• Mentor engineers across Reactor Systems and adjacent technical teams, including coaching on design rigor, engineering judgment, documentation quality, and cross-functional integration.
• Represent Reactor Systems in high-impact technical discussions, design reviews, readiness reviews, audits, and executive-level technical briefings.
• Promote a strong engineering culture focused on safety, technical excellence, accountability, clarity, and efficient execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related technical discipline is required.
• 20+ years of progressively increasing technical leadership experience in nuclear reactor design, reactor systems engineering, advanced technology development, complex mechanical systems, high-temperature systems, or similarly regulated engineering environments is required.
• Demonstrated experience leading major technical scope across complex engineering programs, preferably involving nuclear, energy, chemical, oil and gas, or power generation systems is required.
• Recognized technical authority with demonstrated contributions to the advancement of advanced reactor technology, complex engineered systems, or related engineering disciplines through technical leadership, publications, patents, standards development, invited presentations, or equivalent achievements preferred.
• Experience working within formal configuration management, design control, or product lifecycle management systems under a recognized quality program such as ASME NQA-1, ISO 9001, or equivalent is desired.
• Experience with applicable codes and standards such as ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII Division 1 and 2, Section III Division 5, ANSI, ASTM, ASME Y14.5, or related standards is desired.
• Experience participating in or leading formal technical reviews, readiness reviews, design reviews, or safety-related engineering reviews is desired.
• Experience communicating complex technical issues to executive, regulatory, quality, manufacturing, operations, or cross-functional stakeholders is desired.