Principal Engineer, Power Generation System

The Principal Engineer at Kairos Power is responsible for leading the development of the Power Generation System (PGS), which includes designing and optimizing steam cycles, turbines, condensers, and related auxiliary systems. They collaborate with interdisciplinary teams for integration, manage external partners, and oversee technical documentation preparation, ultimately ensuring the project aligns with Kairos Power's FHR deployment objectives.

To be considered for the Principal Engineer position at Kairos Power, candidates must have an M.S. or Ph.D. degree in Nuclear or Mechanical Engineering, along with over 15 years of relevant experience in power conversion system design. Familiarity with thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, regulatory standards, and engineering simulation tools is crucial to succeed in this role.

As a Principal Engineer at Kairos Power, you will lead complex engineering projects, focusing on technical design solutions for the KP-FHR Power Generation System. This includes performance analyses, design optimizations, and collaborating with various teams to ensure the seamless integration of innovative power conversion technologies within the nuclear energy sector.

In the Principal Engineer role at Kairos Power, you'll have the opportunity to mentor and guide engineering team members, fostering their professional growth and encouraging innovation in power conversion solutions. This leadership aspect is critical to maintaining a high-performance team that drives the company's mission forward.

The work environment for a Principal Engineer at Kairos Power is collaborative and innovative, often involving high-concentration tasks in a general office environment. The role may require some travel and schedule flexibility to support project timelines, but it largely emphasizes teamwork and communication with various stakeholders in the clean energy sector.

In responding to this question, you might want to share a personal story that highlights your passion for engineering, especially in the clean energy sector. Discuss how your interest evolved through your education and experiences, leading you to Kairos Power and the vision it has for nuclear energy.

When discussing your experience with steam cycle design, provide specific examples of projects where you developed or optimized these systems. Highlight your understanding of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and your approach to balancing efficiency and safety within those designs.

For this question, emphasize your organizational skills and methodologies, like Agile or Lean principles. Explain how you set priorities based on project deadlines, resource availability, and the importance of each task to the overall mission, and illustrate how you communicate with team members during these processes.

You should stress the value of collaboration in engineering projects, particularly in interdisciplinary teams like those at Kairos Power. Discuss specific interactions where teamwork led to innovative solutions, and illustrate how you effectively communicate technical concepts to non-engineers.

Describe your engagement with professional networks, conferences, webinars, or publications. Emphasize how this ongoing education informs your work and allows you to contribute the latest knowledge and innovations to your role at Kairos Power.

Share a specific example that showcases your leadership skills—what the challenge was, how you approached it, and what the final outcome was. Focus on your problem-solving strategies and any technical or regulatory hurdles you overcame during the project.

Talk about your approach to constructive feedback, highlighting how you view critiques as opportunities for growth. Share an example demonstrating how feedback led to improvements in your work or project outcomes.

Discuss your proficiency with engineering simulation and analysis software like Aspen Plus and Thermoflex, explaining how these tools assist in modeling and optimizing power generation systems. Mention any other relevant tools that enhance your productivity and efficiency.

Explain your systematic approach to risk assessments, including how you identify potential issues in power conversion systems and the methodologies you employ for evaluating and mitigating these risks, emphasizing the importance of safety in nuclear energy.

In your answer, connect your personal values and career aspirations with Kairos Power's mission of enabling a transition to clean energy. Highlight specific aspects of their projects or culture that resonate with you and explain how you can make a meaningful contribution to their goals.