System Engineer III

Kairos Power•Alameda, CA

About The Position

Kairos Power is seeking a Systems Engineer III to support the development and integration of advanced nuclear energy systems. The role applies systems engineering methods to translate program objectives, stakeholder needs, design inputs, and regulatory considerations into clear, verifiable requirements and integrated system solutions. The engineer develops and maintains requirements, functional and system architectures, interfaces, and verification strategies across multiple levels of product and plant architecture. The role collaborates with engineering disciplines, project management, licensing, quality, operations, suppliers, and external partners to identify integration concerns and resolve cross-functional technical issues. It also leads focused systems engineering activities, coordinates multidisciplinary reviews, assesses system-level change impacts, and supports management of technical risks, assumptions, issues, and dependencies throughout the engineering lifecycle. The engineer mentors less-experienced engineers and contributes to improving systems engineering processes, tools, templates, training, and command media. The position may be based in Alameda, California, Albuquerque, New Mexico, or remotely in the United States. Some travel may be required, up to 10%. Occasional schedule flexibility or extended hours may be needed for critical project milestones, technical reviews, testing, or integration activities. Work is primarily in a general office environment, with periodic work in prototyping, laboratory, test-facility, manufacturing, or industrial environments. Required personal protective equipment and safety procedures apply when entering designated areas.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in systems engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related technical field.
Relevant professional experience applying systems engineering methods to complex engineering programs or products.
Experience developing, allocating, maintaining, and tracing technical requirements.
Experience in at least one of the following: functional analysis and decomposition; system architecture development; interface definition and management; system integration; requirements verification and validation; or technical change-impact assessment.
Experience coordinating technical reviews or leading focused cross-functional engineering activities.
Strong technical writing, communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to evaluate complex systems holistically and recognize interactions, dependencies, and unintended consequences.
Ability to work collaboratively across engineering disciplines, organizations, and levels of technical authority.
Ability to balance technical rigor with program cost, schedule, risk, and execution needs.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain attention to detail in a fast-paced engineering environment.
Ability to proactively collect, organize, manage, and transfer technical knowledge.
Authorization by the Department of Energy to access Part 810-controlled information is required to work in the facility. Foreign nationals from countries not on the Department of Energy’s general authorization list require an export control license for access.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the nuclear industry, power generation, aerospace, defense, energy, or another highly regulated industry.
Experience using requirements management tools such as Jama Connect.
Experience with model-based systems engineering methods and tools.
Familiarity with applicable nuclear quality, licensing, safety, or regulatory practices.
Experience supporting design reviews, trade studies, configuration management, or technical baseline management.
Familiarity with systems engineering standards and guidance such as ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 or the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook.
Knowledge of systems engineering lifecycle processes and technical management practices.
Knowledge of requirements development, decomposition, allocation, traceability, verification, and validation.
Knowledge of functional, logical, and physical architecture development.
Knowledge of interface identification, definition, documentation, and control.
Knowledge of system integration, configuration management, and engineering change-control principles.
Knowledge of technical risk, assumption, issue, opportunity, and dependency management.
General knowledge of engineering design, licensing, quality, operations, and project execution within complex technical programs.
Skill in writing clear, concise, implementation-independent, and verifiable technical requirements.
Skill in functional analysis, architecture development, interface analysis, and change-impact assessment.
Skill in using requirements management, modeling, analysis, and documentation tools.

Responsibilities

Develop, allocate, maintain, and trace technical requirements across multiple levels of product and plant architecture.
Translate program objectives, stakeholder needs, design inputs, and regulatory considerations into clear, complete, consistent, and verifiable requirements.
Perform and support functional analysis and decomposition to define required system behavior and establish traceability among functions, requirements, architecture, and verification activities.
Develop and maintain functional, logical, and physical system architectures.
Define, document, coordinate, and manage internal and external interfaces between systems, organizations, suppliers, facilities, and external partners.
Develop verification strategies, methods, plans, acceptance criteria, and evidence needed to demonstrate requirements have been satisfied.
Coordinate and facilitate multidisciplinary requirements, architecture, interface, integration, and verification reviews.
Maintain knowledge of and support compliance with applicable company procedures, codes, standards, and regulatory requirements.
Lead focused systems engineering activities and assess system-level impacts of proposed changes.
Support management of technical risks, assumptions, issues, and dependencies throughout the engineering lifecycle.
Mentor less-experienced engineers and contribute to continuous improvement of systems engineering processes, tools, templates, training, and command media.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Report equipment issues, hazards, and unsafe conditions; follow applicable safety procedures; wear required personal protective equipment; and prioritize safety.
Travel as needed, up to 10%.
Provide occasional schedule flexibility or extended hours to support critical project milestones, technical reviews, testing, or integration activities.