Lead Engineer, Structural Integrity of Graphite Core Components

As the Lead Engineer for Structural Integrity of Graphite Core Components at Kairos Power, you'll oversee the development of analysis techniques and numerical models crucial for our fluoride salt-cooled reactors. Your role includes performing thermal and mechanical FEA on graphite core components, improving design methodologies, and collaborating with engineering teams to achieve our licensing goals.

To excel as the Lead Engineer, Structural Integrity of Graphite Core Components at Kairos Power, candidates should possess a master's or PhD in Mechanical, Nuclear, or Materials Engineering, and have at least 10 years of experience in FEA related to graphite core components. Familiarity with scientific programming languages such as C++, Fortran, or Python is also essential.

The Lead Engineer for Structural Integrity of Graphite Core Components plays a vital role in Kairos Power's mission by ensuring the safety and efficiency of our innovative reactors. This position directly influences the reactor design and operational methodologies, enabling the deployment of safe nuclear energy solutions that support our transition to a cleaner energy future.

In the role of Lead Engineer, proficiency in FEA software such as Ansys or Abaqus is crucial. Additionally, experience with Usermat or UMAT for customization is preferred. Familiarity with programming languages like Python and Matlab helps support modeling and data analysis tasks efficiently.

The Lead Engineer, Structural Integrity of Graphite Core Components at Kairos Power works in a fast-paced office environment that requires collaboration with cross-functional teams. The role may occasionally involve visits to manufacturing areas, ensuring a variety of experiences and challenges that enhance one's professional growth.

When discussing your experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA), focus on specific projects where you utilized FEA to analyze graphite core components. Highlight the methodologies you employed, any challenges you overcame, and the impact of your findings on the project's success.

In interviews, explain your systematic approach to testing and validating numerical models. Discuss how you ensure accuracy through comparisons with experimental data and the methodologies you apply to refine and adjust the models for better fidelity.

Detail the specific methodologies you've implemented for damage tolerance assessments in graphite core components. This could encompass both deterministic and probabilistic approaches, highlighting any innovative techniques or software tools you utilized.

Describe your collaborative experiences, emphasizing your communication strategies and specific interactions you've had with other engineering disciplines. Give examples of how effective collaboration has led to successful project outcomes or improved processes.

Provide a structured narrative of a technical challenge related to FEA or materials analysis you've encountered. Outline the problem, your thought process in addressing it, the solution implemented, and the results achieved to showcase your problem-solving capabilities.

Discuss the software tools and techniques you've used for uncertainty quantification. Describe your experience with applying these techniques in real-world scenarios, including how it influenced project design and safety assessments.

Explain your strategies for prioritizing tasks effectively, including any organizational tools or methods you prefer. Provide examples of situations where you quickly adapted to changing project requirements while still meeting deadlines.

Talk about the specific techniques you've applied for model calibration and optimization. Include details about the iterative processes you follow, tools you use, and how these techniques lead to improved model accuracy within your projects.

Discuss your commitment to safety in engineering practices. Highlight any industry regulations or standards you adhere to and specific safety protocols you implement while conducting analyses, inspections, or discussions on structural integrity.

Express your enthusiasm for clean energy and nuclear engineering by sharing personal anecdotes or career experiences that highlight your commitment. Discuss how your work aligns with a sustainable future and the significance of contributions in this evolving field.