Plant Design Manager

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 Plant Design Manager to support the integrated design of advanced reactor plants. Reporting to the Senior Manager of Plant Design Integration within the Engineering Design and Integration organization, this manager-contributor will lead assigned workstreams while directly delivering critical plant-level technical integration products. The Plant Design group comprises two closely integrated teams—Plant Architecture and Operational Design—that establish, coordinate, and mature the technical baseline. Plant Architecture is responsible for: - Top-Level Requirements - Functional architecture, interfaces, and the Plant Breakdown Structure - Plant Design requirements and Basis of Design - Plant strategies, technical trades, Principal Design Criteria - Plant performance - Modularity strategy Operational Design is responsible for: - Concept of Operations - Operational strategies and requirements - Availability and lifecycle strategies - Plant performance workflow coordination - Technical Specifications basis - Workflow coordination and interdisciplinary review The Manager will oversee both teams, directly lead Operational Design, and partner with the existing Plant Architecture Lead to support effective execution across the broader function. The successful candidate will bring experience in integrated high-temperature power or process plants; technical leadership within complex engineering organizations; and the ability to resolve ambiguity, coordinate cross-functional dependencies, close technical reviews, and deliver project-critical work in a safety-focused environment. Responsibilities - Manage and directly contribute to assigned Plant Design deliverables across Operational Design, Plant Architecture and Plant Design Integration deliverables. - Support the Lead of Plant Architecture in coordinating Plant Design team resources when additional support is required. - Partner with the Senior Manager of Plant Design Integration in maintaining the Plant Design charter, roadmap, staffing model, governance framework, decision pathways, and phase-gate technical readiness model. - Coordinate plant-level technical integration across Engineering, Licensing, Safety Analysis, Reliability, Operations, Process Design, Instrumentation, Controls & Electrical (IC&E), Commissioning, Project Management, Configuration Management, and other partner organizations. - Coordinate alignment of Top-Level Requirements, Plant Architecture, Plant Breakdown Structure, Plant Design Requirements, system requirements, plant strategies, plant trades, Principal Design Criteria strategy, Plant Modularity Strategy, operational requirements, and project phase-gate deliverables. - Lead or contribute to the development, review, baseline readiness, and change management for assigned plant deliverables, including top-level requirements, plant/multi-plant requirements, Plant Architecture, Plant Breakdown Structure, Plant Design Requirements, system requirements integration, plant strategy register, plant trade register, safety classification strategy integration, Principal Design Criteria Strategy, Plant Modularity Strategy, plant configuration decision log, and phase-gate technical readiness inputs. - Lead or contribute to the development and integration of Operational Design deliverables, including Operating Objectives, Plant/Site Concepts of Operations, Unit Concepts of Operations, mission envelopes, operating phase maps, operational requirements, Availability Roadmap and Strategy, Plant Lifecycle Strategy, Plant Performance Strategy, Plant Design Duty Cycle ( PDDC), operational sequences, Process Control Narrative (PCN)basis inputs, Tech Specs basis inputs, commissioning/startup readiness, and handover products. - Coordinate the Technical Specifications basis integration workflow to ensure that Plant Design provides a clear, traceable, and reviewed basis package to Licensing; Licensing retains responsibility for writing, regulatory positioning, approval, and issuance of the formal Technical Specifications document. - Track open assumptions, actions, review comments, decisions, and closure plans; ensure appropriate escalation when decisions exceed assigned authority or threaten phase-gate readiness. - Manage, mentor, and develop direct reports and coordinate matrixed contributors as assigned, establishing clear expectations, timelines, responsibilities, decision rights, and review/closure standards. - Promote safety, quality, psychological safety, accountability, cross-functional collaboration, intellectual honesty, and scalable ways of working. - Other duties as assigned. Qualifications: - S. degree in Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline; M.S. degree or higher in a relevant engineering or technical discipline is preferred. - 10 years or greater of relevant experience in complex engineered systems, nuclear power, advanced reactors, power generation, process systems, systems engineering, plant design, technical integration, or equivalent technical environment. - Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and coordinating work across engineering, licensing, safety analysis, reliability, operations, process design, controls, project delivery, and commissioning functions. - Experience with requirements development, requirements traceability, design basis integration, configuration control, design reviews, phase-gate reviews, technical readiness reviews, or equivalent technical governance processes. - Experience with plant-level or system-level architecture, design requirements, trade studies, system integration, operational design, lifecycle planning, or technical project execution. - Experience managing technical ambiguity, cross-functional dependencies, design decisions, executive-level escalations, and project-critical tradeoffs. - Experience mentoring technical contributors, developing team capability, and building scalable work processes, tools, and governance mechanisms. - At least 5 years of relevant people management, technical leadership, or comparable leadership experience preferred, including experience operating as a manager-contributor responsible for both leading people and directly contributing to high-impact technical, integration, design authority, or programmatic deliverables. - Experience in nuclear, regulated, safety-critical, first-of-a-kind technology, or complex capital project environments preferred. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: - Strong knowledge of plant-level engineering integration, systems engineering, requirements management, plant architecture, design basis development, and configuration management. - Strong knowledge of operational design concepts, including Concept of Operations, operating modes, operational requirements, plant performance requirements, lifecycle strategy, maintainability, reliability, availability, commissioning, and operations readiness. - Ability to integrate technical inputs across Plant REs, System REs, Licensing, Safety Analysis, Reliability, Operations, Process Design, IC&E, Commissioning, PMO/TPM, and other stakeholders. - Ability to manage as a manager-contributor, balancing people leadership, direct technical contribution, review closure, and cross-functional execution. - Ability to establish scalable governance, decision-making, review, escalation, requirements traceability, and deliverable maturity processes. - Ability to clarify responsibilities, timelines, review expectations, deliverable maturity, and closure plans. - Ability to communicate technical decisions, tradeoffs, challenges and readiness status clearly to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders. - Ability to lead with accountability, psychological safety, intellectual honesty, mission alignment, and respect for nuclear safety culture. - Ability to identify waste or redundancy, simplify processes, and build scalable systems and tools. - Excellent written, verbal, presentation, facilitation, and interpersonal skills. - Strong judgment in balancing technical rigor, project urgency, safety, licensing readiness, design maturity, and operational readiness. - Ability to proactively collect, manage, and transfer knowledge across teams. - Prioritizes and ensures safety of self and others. Physical Demands - Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods. - Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another. - Communicating with others to exchange information. - Assessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of assigned work. - Occasional visits to laboratory, prototyping, manufacturing, construction, or test environments may require use of appropriate personal protective equipment and compliance with site-specific requirements. Environmental Conditions - General office environment. - High-concentration, demanding, and fast-paced work environment. - May include occasional work in laboratory, prototyping/test facility, manufacturing, industrial, construction, or controlled environments, depending on project needs. - May include Radiological/Controlled Environments, depending on project needs and applicable site requirements. Safety and PPE - Follow all applicable safety protocols and stop work when needed. - Report issues with equipment, work conditions, or unsafe conditions. - Wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when required for site, laboratory, manufacturing, construction, or controlled-area access. - Read and interpret applicable hazardous warning signs and site access requirements as needed. Travel - Some travel may be required to support project execution, supplier engagement, construction, commissioning, test facilities, or cross-site coordination. Frequency to be confirmed. Certification - Systems Engineering Certificate or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is beneficial. - Reactor Operator (RO) or Senior Reactor Operation (SRO) experience in commercial or navy nuclear fleet a plus Additional Requirements - May require schedule flexibility to support critical project timelines, phase-gate reviews, design reviews, issue resolution, and executive decision-making. - May require occasional extended hours during major project milestones, design reviews, licensing readiness activities, commissioning/startup support, or urgent cross-functional escalations. - Must be able to work in a highly collaborative, technically complex, safety-focused environment. The salary range for this position is $175,019 to $218,774 for employees working onsite at our Alameda, CA headquarters. The range provided in this job posting represents the typical range or starting rate of candidates hired in California. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include your education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, the market data for your work location, and a comparison to other employees already in the role. #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