Jobs Private USA → Engineering, Construction and Energy → Manufacturing and hardware engineering → Senior Mechanical Engineer, Fuels Program

Senior Mechanical Engineer, Fuels Program

Q: What is the Senior Mechanical Engineer, Fuels Program job at Kairos Power?

A senior level role in engineering, construction and energy (manufacturing and hardware engineering) listed yesterday. The full description is on this page and on The Muse.

Q: How do I apply?

Use the "View this job and apply on The Muse" button. AtiveSite does not receive applications.

Q: How much does it pay?

The listing does not publish pay. For the closest occupation (Mechanical engineers) the national median is $104,110 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Q: What is the cost of living there?

Median rent in Albuquerque is $1,145 a month and median household income $68,317 (ACS 2020–2024).

Q: How old is this listing?

It was posted on 2026-11-07 (yesterday). Jobs older than 90 days are not shown.

Q: Are there similar jobs?

Yes: browse manufacturing and hardware engineering jobs in New Mexico.

Kairos Power · Albuquerque, NM · posted yesterday

In short: Senior Mechanical Engineer, Fuels Program at Kairos Power in Albuquerque, NM, posted yesterday.

By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 08/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.

Kairos Poweremployer

Albuquerque, NMlocation

Manufacturing and hardware engsub-niche

yesterdayposted

🆕 Work guides: live jobs + official data, law, permits, pay and cost of living. United States · New Mexico · Bernalillo County · Albuquerque · all 40 cities + map → · all 33 counties → · New Mexico rankings · all 51 states → · 200 largest companies · 240 best job niches · Federal jobs in New Mexico

The job

LIVE Live feed (private-sector employer) Source: The Muse public API · Data: listed 2026-11-07

Employer	Kairos Power
Location	Albuquerque, New Mexico
Field	Engineering, Construction and Energy › Manufacturing and hardware engineering
Level	Senior Level
Source category	Science and Engineering
Posted	2026-11-07 (yesterday)
Work arrangement	On-site at the location listed
Pay	Not published in the source listing

Job description

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 Mechanical Engineer with expertise in the development and implementation of chemical and physical processes stream related equipment, to support the Kairos Power fuels program. In this role, you will work within an engineering team to design, construct, commission and optimize performance of the process equipment necessary for TRISO annular fuel pebble fabrication. You will also work cross-functionally with facility operations, facility engineers, quality assurance, and EHS to enable supporting functions.

Responsibilities

Design, build and test prototype assemblies to demonstrate functionality and performance under prototypic conditions.
Lead and participate in design, manufacture, installation, commissioning, and operation of First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) equipment supporting KP Annular Fuel Production Systems.
Performs and reviews engineering calculations, analyses and design evaluations necessary to substantiate equipment and system designs.
Monitor equipment performance, recommend and perform design modifications to enhance system reliability based on operational feedback.
Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and maintenance documentation to ensure consistent and safe operations.
Lead and participate in system integration across mechanical, electrical, controls, and software teams to deliver seamless, high-performing solutions.
Ensure compliance of all systems with applicable industry codes, safety regulations and site-specific standards..
Identify opportunities for automation within the Pebble Development Laboratory, implement solutions and measure impact using defined cost-savings metrics.
Lead investigations into technical issues, perform root cause analyses, implement corrective actions, and support engineering changes and verification processes.
Leverage internal manufacturing team and management of external vendors to manufacture/procure mechanical and automated systems, applying defined equipment selection criteria and manufacturability analysis.
Lead and participate in design and safety reviews to validate designs prior to fabrication or implementation.
Generate and maintain design records, equipment specifications and test reports compliant with internal quality and regulatory standards.
Manage project timelines, budgets and deliverables for assigned systems or subprojects.
Train and mentor team members, fostering technical growth and collaboration.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or similar discipline.
6+ years of relevant engineering experience in a chemical, pharmaceutical, industrial, manufacturing, or comparable process-based setting.
Experience designing, developing, commissioning, or supporting mechanical or process equipment in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
Experience in generating Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), Heat & Material Balances (H&MBs), Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), equipment lists, and utility consumption lists.
Experience working with hazardous processes and chemicals, including the implementation of appropriate safety controls.
Experience in commissioning new vendor supplied equipment, as well as being able to commission in-house designed equipment.
Mechatronics or electromechanical experience is desirable.
Hands-on experience with process automation systems (e.g., PLCs, DCS, or SCADA systems) is desirable.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Proficient with engineering software programs including CAD, SolidWorks and modeling software.
Team player with excellent verbal, written communication/presentation and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work with highly collaborative teams.
Ability to identify opportunities for improvement of existing equipment.
Ability to verify process designs against mechanical designs, in keeping with operational and maintenance interfaces to ensure that systems and facility are optimal from an installation, integration, operational and maintenance perspective.
Ability to apply engineering judgment to evaluate equipment and system designs for reliability, manufacturability, maintainability, operability, and performance.
Ability to troubleshoot complex equipment and process-system issues, conduct root cause analysis and develop effective corrective actions.
Ability to coordinate mechanical systems with electrical, controls, instrumentation, and automation interfaces in multidisciplinary engineering environments.
Familiar with process documentation, including PFDs and P&IDs, and how they inform industrial system operations and integration.
Strong problem-solving and organizational skills, able to manage multiple priorities in dynamic environments while maintaining attention to detail.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly document plans and effectively convey information across engineering, operations and leadership teams.
Ability to be proactive and adaptable.
Prioritizes and ensures safety of oneself 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 10 pounds in all directions.
Communicating with others to exchange information.
Use hand tools.

Environmental Conditions

General office environment.
Noisy environments.
Odors or fumes from chemicals or chemical reactions.
Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.
High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced.
Prototyping/Testing environment.
Manufacturing/Industrial Environment.
Radiological or Controlled Environment.

Safety and PPE

Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs.
Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions.
Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes, etc.
Handling of radiological materials.

Travel

Some travel may be required <5%

Additional Requirements

Occasionally requires schedule flexibility.
Requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines (occasionally).

#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

Explore around this job

Field: Engineering, Construction and Energy Sub-niche: Manufacturing and hardware engineering All jobs at Kairos Power Jobs in New Mexico Jobs in Albuquerque, NM Albuquerque city guide New Mexico state guide Bernalillo County economy Pay for this occupation (BLS) All 45 open jobs for this occupation

View this job and apply on The Muse →

You apply on The Muse or on the employer's page; AtiveSite does not receive or process applications and is not affiliated with The Muse. The description above is shown as the source published it.

About the role

This is a Senior Level role in the Engineering, Construction and Energy field (Manufacturing and hardware engineering) at Kairos Power. Senior roles usually expect substantial experience, ownership of results and often the ability to guide others.

The closest occupation in the official wage statistics is Mechanical engineers (a match by name, so treat it as an estimate). Nationally its median pay is $104,110 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), employment is projected to change by +11.2% between 2025 and 2035, and the typical entry route is: Bachelor's degree.

Pay by state and metro area for this occupation →

Does the pay work here? (estimate)

Gross salary a year Filing State income tax rate %

Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; set your own state tax rate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.

How to prepare and behave

This is editorial guidance, not information from the employer.

Read the whole description and match your examples to its requirements; use the same words the posting uses where they are true for you.
Research the employer before the interview: what it does, who its customers are and recent news; prepare two or three questions about the work.
Arrive early (or log in early for a video call), dress one step above the daily dress code, and test your camera and audio beforehand.
Answer with short stories: the situation, what you did and the result. Give numbers when you have them and never invent them.
Be honest about gaps; say what you did to learn and how fast you can close them.
Ask about the team, the first 90 days, how success is measured and the schedule; do not open with salary and time off.
When pay comes up, know the market range for the occupation and your lowest acceptable offer before you answer; ask for the full package in writing.
Send a short thank-you message within a day, mentioning one thing you discussed.

Know your rights as a candidate and an employee:

The city

The job is in Albuquerque, NM. Below is what the official statistics say about living and working there.

How Albuquerque compares. Among the 40 largest places in New Mexico, Albuquerque is #1 by population, #4 for college degrees (#1 = most), #33 for rent (#1 = cheapest), #8 for remote work (#1 = most). Its county, Bernalillo County, is #4 of 33 counties for average pay ($63,493).

The place in numbers

Albuquerque has 562,218 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 26.5% of the population of New Mexico. It covers 187 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 3,002 people per square mile. The median age is 38.8, about the same as the state median (38.8 against 39.4).

Housing

The median gross rent is $1,145 a month (rent plus utilities), 7% above the state median ($1,145 against $1,067). Over a year that is 20.1% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $291,500, which is 4.3 times the median household income ($68,317). 61.8% of households own their home, 12% below the state average (61.8% against 70.0%).

Work and pay

The Albuquerque, NM metropolitan area has 404,700 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $48,060 a year, 6% below the national median ($48,060 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (54,860 jobs, median $45,850); food preparation and serving related (38,230 jobs, median $30,990); sales and related (31,990 jobs, median $35,960). The area is most specialised in architecture and engineering (2.0 times) and construction and extraction (1.2 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are architecture and engineering ($131,720) and management ($108,920). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Bernalillo County was 4.6%. 63.5% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Bernalillo County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.

Getting around

Among workers, 70.7% drive alone, 0.9% use public transit, 2.0% walk, 14.9% work from home. 7.5% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 42% below the state average (7.5% against 12.8%).

People and education

39.2% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 27% above the state share (39.2% against 31.0%). 10.6% of residents were born outside the United States, 13% above the state share (10.6% against 9.4%). The poverty rate is 15.5%, 13% below the state rate (15.5% against 17.8%).

Climate

The warmest month is Jul, averaging 79°F (26.2°C), and the coolest is Jan at 35°F (1.6°C). About 258 mm (10 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Jul is the wettest month (51 mm) and Mar the driest (11 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.

Nearby cities to compare

Closest cities in this guide: North Valley (5 miles, rent 22% lower); South Valley (7 miles, rent 17% lower); Corrales (9 miles, similar rent); Rio Rancho (13 miles, rent 32% higher). Rent differences are against Albuquerque; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.

Full guide to Albuquerque →New Mexico guide All jobs in Albuquerque

Official links for Albuquerque

These links go to official sources and open in a new window. The first one is the government's or company's own site as listed in Wikidata (property "official website"); check it before relying on it.

Where to live

CITY Official statistics Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year (via Census Reporter) · Data: ACS 2020–2024

Places within 50 miles (straight line) of Albuquerque, NM that have a guide, with what living there costs. The last-but-one column divides a year of rent by the median pay of the closest occupation ($104,110 a year), an estimate, not this employer's pay.

Sort:

Place ⇅	Distance from the job city ⇅	Median rent ⇅	Median home value ⇅	Median household income ⇅	Commute 45+ min ⇅	Rent as % of occupation pay ⇅	Open jobs there ⇅
Albuquerque, NM	0 mi	$1,145	$291,500	$68,317	7.5%	13.2%	Jobs
North Valley, NM	5 mi	$893	$302,700	$61,498	6.1%	10.3%	—
South Valley, NM	7 mi	$954	$224,300	$58,224	10.0%	11.0%	—
Corrales, NM	9 mi	$1,143	$571,500	$102,307	14.4%	13.2%	—
Rio Rancho, NM	13 mi	$1,514	$310,200	$89,596	21.6%	17.5%	—
Bernalillo, NM	15 mi	$902	$255,500	$63,880	14.0%	10.4%	—
Los Lunas, NM	22 mi	$1,110	$262,900	$62,330	13.2%	12.8%	—
Edgewood, NM	24 mi	$1,114	$306,400	$84,761	28.0%	12.8%	—
Belen, NM	25 mi	$916	$166,100	$42,627	21.1%	10.6%	—

Career paths

Occupations close to Mechanical engineers in the official classification, with pay, outlook and whether there are open jobs for them on this site right now.

Sort:

Occupation ⇅	National median pay ⇅	Growth 2025–35 ⇅	Openings a year (US) ⇅	Open jobs here ⇅
Industrial engineers	$102,440	+12.4%	23,100	7 open
Engineers, all other	$122,930	+3.7%	8,800	none right now

Distances

CITY Calculation (straight line) Source: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (coordinates) · Data: 2024

How far Albuquerque, NM is from the 20 largest US cities, in straight-line miles (not driving distance). Click a column to sort.

Sort:

From ⇅	Straight-line distance (miles) ⇅	Population of that city ⇅
Phoenix, AZ	328 mi	1,642,323
Denver, CO	336 mi	718,877
Oklahoma City, OK	516 mi	697,125
Fort Worth, TX	556 mi	963,194
Dallas, TX	588 mi	1,307,930
San Antonio, TX	614 mi	1,479,835
Austin, TX	614 mi	979,539
San Diego, CA	621 mi	1,389,526
Los Angeles, CA	673 mi	3,857,263
Houston, TX	752 mi	2,328,253
San Jose, CA	858 mi	990,138
San Francisco, CA	928 mi	830,235
Chicago, IL	1,123 mi	2,711,226
Indianapolis, IN	1,167 mi	885,860
Seattle, WA	1,183 mi	754,195
Columbus, OH	1,335 mi	914,802
Charlotte, NC	1,454 mi	903,844
Jacksonville, FL	1,485 mi	977,670
Philadelphia, PA	1,750 mi	1,579,706
New York, NY	1,814 mi	8,483,844

The employer

Kairos Power is the employer in this listing. See all its open jobs here →

We do not hold headcount or revenue for this employer. Check its careers site and, if it is listed on a stock exchange, its public filings (SEC EDGAR search).

What it is like to work at a company (culture, schedules, benefits) is not in the source data, so we do not describe it. Read the description and ask the questions under "How to prepare".

Other open jobs at Kairos Power

Senior Quality Engineer

Kairos Power · Albuquerque, NM · Senior Level · Manufacturing and hardware engineering · posted yesterday

Senior Quality Engineer

Kairos Power · Albuquerque, NM · Senior Level · Manufacturing and hardware engineering · posted yesterday

Senior Plant Reliability Engineer

Kairos Power · Albuquerque, NM · Senior Level · Manufacturing and hardware engineering · posted yesterday

Senior Mechanical Systems Licensing Engineer

Kairos Power · Alameda, CA · Senior Level · Manufacturing and hardware engineering · posted yesterday

Senior BIM Designer/Specialist, Civil Structures

Kairos Power · Alameda, CA · Senior Level · Design and UX · posted yesterday

Senior Licensing Engineer, Civil Structural

Kairos Power · Alameda, CA · Senior Level · Construction and field engineering · posted yesterday

Process Engineer, TRISO Fuels Facility

Kairos Power · Albuquerque, NM · Senior Level · Manufacturing and hardware engineering · posted yesterday

Process Engineer, TRISO Fuels Facility

Kairos Power · Albuquerque, NM · Senior Level · Manufacturing and hardware engineering · posted yesterday

Similar jobs

Same sub-niche: Manufacturing and hardware engineering

Principal Mechanical Engineer

Leidos · Albuquerque, NM · Senior Level · Manufacturing and hardware engineering · posted yesterday

More jobs in Albuquerque, NM

Merrill Advisor Development Program - Financial Advisor: Desert Mountain Market

Merrill · Albuquerque, NM · Mid Level · Banking and wealth advisory · posted yesterday

Principal Mechanical Engineer

Leidos · Albuquerque, NM · Senior Level · Manufacturing and hardware engineering · posted yesterday

Relationship Manager I - Business Banking

PNC · Albuquerque, NM · Senior Level · Banking and wealth advisory · posted yesterday

Senior/Principal MESA Post-Fab Production Engineer, Hybrid

Sandia National Laboratories · Albuquerque, NM · Senior Level · Manufacturing and hardware engineering · posted yesterday

Intern, R&D Undergraduate Summer - Design Engineering Mechanical Design, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories · Albuquerque, NM · Internship · Manufacturing and hardware engineering · posted yesterday

Cleared R&D Manager, Threat Intelligence Sensors - 5944, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories · Albuquerque, NM · Senior Level · Cybersecurity · posted yesterday

All Manufacturing and hardware engineering jobs → · All Engineering, Construction and Energy sub-niches →

FAQ

What is the Senior Mechanical Engineer, Fuels Program job at Kairos Power?

A senior level role in engineering, construction and energy (manufacturing and hardware engineering) listed yesterday. The full description is on this page and on The Muse.

Where is this job?

Albuquerque, NM.

How do I apply?

Use the "View this job and apply on The Muse" button. AtiveSite does not receive applications.

How much does it pay?

The listing does not publish pay. For the closest occupation (Mechanical engineers) the national median is $104,110 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

What is the cost of living there?

Median rent in Albuquerque is $1,145 a month and median household income $68,317 (ACS 2020–2024).

How old is this listing?

It was posted on 2026-11-07 (yesterday). Jobs older than 90 days are not shown.

Are there similar jobs?

Yes: browse manufacturing and hardware engineering jobs in New Mexico.

Sources and terms

Job data: The Muse public API (listing dated 2026-11-07). The job disappears from this site when it disappears from the source.
Wages and projections: BLS OEWS (May 2025) and Employment Projections 2025–35.
City and county figures: Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024, BEA, BLS QCEW and LAUS, NASA POWER climatology; distances from Census Gazetteer coordinates.

AtiveSite is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Muse, the employer or any government agency, and does not process applications. Verify every detail with the employer before acting.

Sources

Jobs in other countries

🇺🇸 United States 🇩🇪 Germany 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇸🇬 Singapore