Senior Engineer, Instrumentation & Controls Test

Alameda, CA

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.

Kairos Power is seeking a Senior Engineer specializing in Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) to lead development and deployment of automation and control systems for R&D test platforms. This individual will be a subject matter expert in I&C design, test execution, and modeling across high-complexity systems supporting KP-FHR development. This role demands deep expertise in I&C engineering, a proven track record of success in complex R&D environments, and a demonstrated ability to lead multi-phase technical efforts with minimal supervision.

The successful candidate will play a central role in cross-functional team leadership, model-based control strategy development, and institutional knowledge sharing.

• Develop and review electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and one-line drawings to guide system integration and troubleshooting.
• Specify and validate system components such as sensors, signal conditioners, data acquisition hardware, and control interfaces, ensuring alignment with test and system-level requirements.
• Oversee and support the installation, commissioning, and troubleshooting of I&C systems, collaborating with technicians, engineers, and cross-functional teams.
• Provide technical leadership for multidisciplinary instrumentation efforts, bridging mechanical, electrical, and controls engineering.
• Mentor early career engineers and technicians, developing best practices for panel wiring, instrumentation setup, and data integrity.
• Subject Matter Expert (SME) for I&C scope on major test campaigns, ensuring system readiness and test execution quality.
• Identify and resolve technical challenges involving electromechanical systems, instrumentation reliability, and control stability.
• Collaborate across departments to align test platforms with evolving design, safety, and control architecture requirements.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality, and innovation, incorporating lessons learned into future system designs and test planning.
• Other duties as assigned

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline with 10+ years of relevant engineering experience, or MS with 8+ years.
• Proven track record delivering I&C solutions in complex test, R&D, or high-reliability industries (e.g., nuclear, aerospace, automotive).
• Extensive experience in controls system design, sensor integration, DAQ systems, and industrial instrumentation.
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently and lead without close supervision.
• Experience mentoring engineers and driving technical collaboration across teams.
• Experience using Simulink, MATLAB, or similar tools for control modeling and test planning is a plus.
• Experience with LabVIEW.
• Familiarity with Solid Works Electrical or CAD tools is a plus.
• PE license in CA (Electrical) is a plus.

• Proficiency with electrical schematic creation and control panel design.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for electromechanical and automation systems.
• Makes strategic technical decisions and leads trade-off evaluations across cross-functional test, control, and instrumentation requirements.
• Expert understanding of sensor technologies, signal conditioning, and system integration for transient, real-time, and safety-critical environments.
• Applies cross-disciplinary knowledge to bridge electrical, controls, and mechanical systems in support of system-level performance and test fidelity.
• Leads collaboration across departments, mentors junior team members, and aligns teams on test strategy and execution.
• Solves complex, ambiguous technical problems involving multi-system interactions, control dynamics,…