Process Engineer, TRISO Fuels Facility

Kairos Power•Albuquerque, NM

2h•Onsite

About The Position

Kairos Power is seeking a highly motivated Process Engineer to support the design, construction, commissioning, and startup of a TRISO Fuels Facility. The role develops and implements chemical and physical process systems for nuclear fuel manufacturing, translating process requirements into operable, maintainable, and constructible facility solutions. Work spans process design, equipment definition, utility integration, vendor coordination, commissioning, and operational readiness. During early project phases, the engineer will work with engineering, procurement, and project teams on facility design, equipment procurement, and factory acceptance testing. As the project advances into construction and commissioning, the work will become more field-oriented, supporting equipment installation, startup, and operational readiness. The position will initially be based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the employee is expected to relocate to Gillette, Wyoming when facility construction begins. Relocation assistance is provided in accordance with company policy. Travel between the locations is required during design and construction; travel is expected to be less than 10% after relocation to Gillette. The position works across engineering disciplines and with vendors, contractors, Operations, Maintenance, Quality, Environmental Health & Safety, Safeguards, and Construction teams. It also supports safe, efficient, and reliable fuel fabrication operations through process safety, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement. The role may involve office, industrial, manufacturing, construction, and commissioning environments, including noisy or demanding work settings and exposure to chemical or industrial odors or fumes. Schedule flexibility is occasionally required; weekend work is seldom required, and extended hours may be needed during commissioning, startup, or critical project milestones.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
10 or more years of process engineering experience in chemical processing, industrial manufacturing, nuclear, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, or a similar highly regulated industry.
Experience developing 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 commissioning and starting up 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.
Strong understanding of process engineering fundamentals and industrial system integration.
Ability to translate process requirements into practical equipment and facility solutions and to review designs for 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 process documentation, calculations, equipment datasheets, and specifications.
Knowledge of process hazards and engineered and administrative controls for hazardous chemical and industrial processes.
Ability to apply structured problem-solving and root cause analysis to process and equipment issues, and to analyze operating data for improvement opportunities.
Strong technical writing, documentation, verbal communication, cross-functional collaboration, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to coordinate technical requirements and interfaces across engineering disciplines, vendors, contractors, commissioning teams, and Operations.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in dynamic project environments, identify process optimization opportunities, and proactively collect, organize, and transfer technical knowledge.
Prioritize and ensure the safety of oneself and others.
Expected to relocate from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Gillette, Wyoming, when facility construction begins.
Occasional schedule flexibility; seldom required to work weekends; may need to work extended hours during commissioning, startup, and critical project milestones.
Must be authorized by the Department of Energy to access information controlled under 10 CFR Part 810 at the facility. Foreign nationals who are citizens of countries not on the DOE general authorization list may not work at the facility unless DOE issues the company an export control license.

Nice To Haves

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

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 for operability, maintainability, constructability, personnel flow, and future expansion capability.
Work 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 for 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 deploy process systems successfully.
Evaluate process and operating data and drive continuous improvement to improve throughput, reliability, quality, and process efficiency.
Support troubleshooting, root cause investigations, and corrective actions during commissioning and operations.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Travel between Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Gillette, Wyoming, during design and construction; occasionally travel to equipment vendors and engineering partners for design reviews, factory acceptance testing, and project meetings.
Follow safety practices, report unsafe conditions or equipment issues, interpret hazardous warning signs, and wear appropriate personal protective equipment.