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Senior Electron Beam Welding Engineer
$120k – $140k/yr Albuquerque, US on-site full time senior Sep 22, 2025
About this role
Company Overview
Kairos Power is a new nuclear energy technology and engineering company whose mission is to enable the world’s transition to clean energy, with the ultimate goal to dramatically improve people’s quality of life while protecting the environment. This goal will be accomplished through the commercialization of the fluoride-salt-cooled, high-temperature reactor (FHR) that can be deployed with robust safety, affordable costs, and flexible operation to accommodate the expansion of variable renewables.
Job Summary
Kairos Power is seeking a highly motivated Senior Electron Beam Welding Engineer that will be responsible for in-house electron beam welding (EBW) capability development and technology maturation. In this role, you will work on the Welding Development team to assist in the advancement and implementation of welding and manufacturing capabilities. The candidate will partner with design, testing, materials, modeling & simulation, and reliability engineers to develop weld joint design, weld techniques, weld specifications, and inspection methods needed for welded KP-FHR and test platform assemblies.
Responsibilities
Procedure Development & Qualification
Design, develop, and maintain EBW procedures and supporting documentation (WPS/PQR) to meet material, joint, and quality requirements in compliance with applicable codes, standards (e.g., AWS, ASME, API), and regulatory expectations.
Develop and execute weld qualification plans, including test coupons and validation trials, in coordination with quality and materials teams
Anticipate future welding needs by aligning EBW procedures and qualification strategies with evolving product designs, manufacturing processes, and regulatory demands.
Quality Assurance & Process Optimization
Oversee and review EBW inspections to verify compliance with design specifications and applicable quality standards.
Analyze weld test data to identify trends, determine root causes of defects, and implement corrective actions to enhance welding performance and reliability.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives to optimize EBW processes, increase efficiency, reduce cost, and maintain high-quality output.
Collaboration & Training
Partner with design engineers, production teams, and key stakeholders to integrate EBW processes into the manufacturing workflow effectively.
Provide hands-on training and mentorship to welding technicians and operators on EBW techniques, safety protocols, and industry best practices.
Technical Documentation & Reporting
Develop and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including process instructions, work procedures, and detailed reports.
Ensure accurate recordkeeping of EBW procedures, inspection results, and quality control data to support traceability and continuous improvement.
Equipment Ownership & Maintenance
Ensure performance, reliability, and availability of EBW systems, including high-vacuum chambers, beam control units, and power supplies.
Monitor and calibrate critical parameters (e.g., beam alignment, focus, power output, vacuum integrity) to maintain process consistency and compliance with specifications.
Lead maintenance and upgrade initiatives, including preventive planning, troubleshooting, vendor coordination, and system improvements to enhance automation and long-term equipment reliability.
Other Duties as Assigned
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree or higher in Welding Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field
Minimum 5 years of welding engineering experience, with substantial hands-on experience in EBW required
Experience with weld inspection methods, including both destructive testing and non-destructive examination (NDE) techniques
Hands-on experience working with austenitic stainless steels, carbon steels, piping systems, and pressure vessels
Experience leading cross-functional projects or mentoring junior engineers and technicians is preferred.
Experience with manual and CNC machining operations is preferred
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Strong knowledge of EBW processes, high-vacuum systems, and high-voltage equipment operation
Proficient in reading and interpreting complex engineering and assembly drawings, including weld symbols and geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T)
Familiarity with ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and AWS structural welding standards
Skilled in using CAD software such as SolidWorks for part modeling and drawing generation
Proficient with computers and digital tools used in technical documentation, data analysis, and process development
Familiarity with the calibration, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting of EBW systems and associated instrumentation.
Strong problem-solving skills and ability to drive continuous improvement through data-driven analysis and collaboration
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, agile manufacturing or development environment
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to collaborate effectively across engineering, production, and quality teams
Ability to collect, manage, and transfer technical knowledge across teams or documentation systems
Committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and high-performing workplace
Ability to work with highly collaborative team.
Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently.
Prioritizes and ensures safety of oneself and others.
Ability to seek different and novel ways to create efficiencies when working on problems, challenges and issues.
Physical Demands
Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts and the like
Setting up and transferring temporary structures (e.g. scaffolding, ladders)
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
Repetitive assembly operations of manufacturing test fixtures and test setups in collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams
Environmental Conditions
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
Accessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned
High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced
General office environment
Manufacturing/Industrial Environment
Safety and PPE
Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs
Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes, etc.
Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions
Travel
Some travel may be required (up to 20%) to other Kairos Power offices or external suppliers
Additional Requirements
Occasionally requires overtime
Occasionally requires working weekends
Occasionally requires schedule flexibility
Occasionally requires non-standard work-week hours
Occasionally requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines
#LI-Onsite
About our Benefits
We know that we have some of the most talented and dedicated employees, and we believe in rewarding them accordingly. If you work here, full-time employees (excludes interns) expect to have access to the benefits below:
Competitive compensation packages
Medical, dental and vision benefits for employees and their dependents
Paid Vacation
401(k) and pre-tax health insurance, dependent care, and commuter benefits (FSA)
Kairos Power is committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the communities where we do business. Kairos Power is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We actively welcome people of different experiences, abilities, and perspectives.
Kairos Power participates in E-Verify.
Candidates only, no recruiters or agencies please.
Note: You are applying for a position that is located in a facility that handles information that is subject to export control restrictions by the Department of Energy under 10 CFR Part 810. To work in this facility, you need to be authorized by the Department of Energy to access Part 810-controlled information. Foreign nationals who are citizens of countries that are not on the Department of Energy’s general authorization list (link below) are not permitted to work in our facility unless the Department of Energy issues an export control license to the company to permit that individual to have access to Part 810-controlled information. The following questions are intended to determine the licensing requirements that may apply. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/10/appendix-A_to_part_810
Offices: Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States (New Mexico (5201 Hawking Drive SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106));