Associate Operator, Engineering Test Unit

Job Summary

Kairos Power is seeking a motivated and technically capable Associate Operator to support the safe and efficient operation of the Engineering Test Unit (ETU) - a critical facility for advancing the company’s nuclear technology development. As an Associate Operator, you will be part of a high-performing team responsible for executing plant operations, monitoring equipment, collecting operational data, and supporting maintenance and testing activities. This role offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in an advanced engineering test facility and contribute directly to the development of next-generation nuclear energy systems.

Responsibilities

Procedure Writing:

• Develop, maintain, and improve comprehensive operating procedures, control room manuals, and emergency response protocols.
• Review and update technical documentation to reflect changes in plant design, control strategies, and operational practices.
• Ensure all procedures meet regulatory, safety, and operational standards and are accessible and understandable for all operations personnel.

Plant Commissioning:

• Participate actively in pre-commissioning and commissioning activities, including system walk-downs, loop checks, function testing, and validation of control systems.
• Coordinate with engineering, construction, and vendor teams to ensure proper integration and functionality of control systems

Plant Operations: 

• Follows policies, principles, procedures, standards, and practices to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation of plant areas.
• Operates and field checks process equipment in accordance with established policies, procedures, and standards to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operation.
• Monitors process conditions, key performance metrics, equipment and control systems and makes appropriate decisions to maintain and/or achieve desired rates and conditions aligned with Kairos’ goals.
• Performs scheduled operational and related tasks and respond effectively to unplanned events and abnormal conditions.
• Works with shift team members and other shift teams to leverage skills and knowledge to balance workload ensuring assigned tasks are completed by due dates.
• Conducts effective shift relief, as defined in facility specific operating discipline and tools, to ensure effective communication and handoff to arriving shift team.
• Maintains qualification in assigned areas, per Kairos’ policy, and completes training goals in a timely manner; this includes using discretionary time to address skills and knowledge gaps.
• Performs Immediate Response activities, as assigned.
• Initiates and documents preliminary investigations in accordance with plant-specific processes and participates in formal and informal root cause analyses for assigned or relevant events.
• Monitors and applies key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to plant operations to optimize performance and identify improvement opportunities; uses process knowledge to enhance plant efficiency and operational discipline, proactively recommending improvements through established facility improvement, management of change, and communication processes.
• Performs minor maintenance, including minor repairs and preventative maintenance, utilizing appropriate policies, procedures, processes, and disciplines.
• Commissions and operates mechanical and electrical equipment.
• Prepares, reviews, and executes system and component level commissioning, and operating procedures.
• Performs acceptance testing following new equipment installation including hydrostatic, pneumatic, I/O checks, and electrical component calibration checks.
• Supports day-to-day operations of the assigned facility including startup, monitor, and shutdown processes and auxiliary equipment.
• Performs chemistry sampling and analysis using standardized analytical instruments and procedures.
• Performs equipment troubleshooting as necessary.
• Perform Lockout/Tagout of mechanical and electrical equipment.
• Reviews and executes hazardous operations per standardized operating procedures.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in a Nuclear Technology or related program or equivalent or 2+ years of experience as a plant operator or technician (mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, chemicals, power plant, military, or similar backgrounds are highly desired)
• Experience with Instrumentation and Controls systems

 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to understand, follow and create technical procedures.
• Ability and interest in being cross trained and learning different processes to perform other jobs as needed.
• Ability and willingness to work with hazardous materials in PPE including SCBA, full-face respirator and Tyvek suit.
• Familiarity with basic hand tools
• Mechanically inclined with an ability to operate plant equipment, hands-on experience with plant equipment and operations desired
• Computer skills including spreadsheet use.
• Ability to communicate with others effectively.
• Ability to read P&ID and mechanical/electrical drawings.
• Always works in a safe and compliant manner.
• Ability to work with highly collaborative team
• Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently
• Prioritizes and ensures safety of one self and others
• Ability to proactively collect, manage and transfer knowledge
• Ability to seek different and novel ways to create efficiencies when working on problems, challenges and issues

Physical Conditions

• Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts and the like
• Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces
• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods
• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another
• Adjusting, moving, transporting, installing, positioning, or removing objects up to (50) pounds in all directions
• Communicating with others to exchange information
• Operating motor vehicles, heavy equipment or machinery
• Use hand tools

Environmental Conditions

• General office environment
• Low temperatures
• High temperatures
• Outdoor environment or elements such as precipitation and wind 
• Noisy environments
• Small and/or enclosed spaces
• Odors or fumes from chemicals or chemical reactions
• Elevated heights
• Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned
• High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced

Safety and PPE

• Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs
• Manipulating, cleaning and disposal of hazardous materials
• Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions
• Color identification: detecting, distinguishing, recognizing and identifying colors
• Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes, self-contained breathing apparatus, full-face respirator, Tyvek suit, etc.
• Handling of Beryllium (Be)

Travel

• Some travel may be required (5%) 

Certification

• Capable of obtaining forklift and boom lift certification 

Additional Requirements

• Regularly requires overtime 
• Regularly requires working weekends 
• Regularly requires schedule flexibility 
• Regularly requires non-standard work-week hours 
• Regularly requires working 2nd shift, beginning at 3:00pm local time 
• Regularly requires working 3rd shift, beginning at 11:00pm local time 
• Regularly requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines

 #LI-Onsite