PITA Pre-Commissioning Engineer

Kairospower; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 80,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Kairos Power in Oak Ridge, TN is seeking a Pre-commissioning Engineer to join the PITA group, coordinating field technicians, design engineers, and operations to deliver modular skids on schedule. The role emphasizes configuration control, pre-commissioning testing, and continuous improvement while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.

You will drive cross-functional collaboration, resolve build issues, and contribute to on-time delivery of complex manufacturing projects in a growing

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in construction, manufacturing operations, or quality control.
• Experience applying safety procedures in industrial or technical work environments.
• Experience transitioning designs from prototype to production.
• Experience in highly regulated or safety-critical environments (nuclear, aerospace, automotive, medical devices) is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Support pre-commissioning for modular skids and Hermes 2 project in Tennessee.
• Identify and resolve non-conformances during fabrication and assembly.
• Track milestones and schedules, coordinating with teams across PITA, design, and operations.
• Develop and maintain KPIs to monitor efficiencies, non-conformances, and data-driven decisions.
• Collaborate with field technicians, design engineers, and operations teams to ensure quality and timelines.

Skills

Process documentation

Engineering drawings interpretation

Manufacturing workflows

Cross-functional collaboration

Safety procedures

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, or Quality Engineering

Master's degree preferred

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

A Pre-commissioning Engineer in the Pre-commissioning, Install, Test, and Assembly (PITA) group supports the successful execution of complex manufacturing projects by tracking configuration control, pre-commissioning testing activities, resolving cross-functional roadblocks, and ensuring build quality and completeness. This role serves as a key liaison between those in the field (technicians, assembly engineers), design engineers, and operations teams, driving timely delivery and completion of technical systems in the form of modular skids. With a strong focus on continuous improvement and compliance, PITA Pre-commissioning Engineers promote efficient workflows, clear communication, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Support modular skid configuration management and pre-commissioning for the Hermes 2 project in Tennessee.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and propose solutions for build and construction non-conformances and other complex assembly problems that may arise during fabrication and assembly of modular skids.
• Conduct regular field walk-downs during builds to identify and document fabrication, assembly, and configuration discrepancies.
• Track task deadlines and production schedules based on project milestones.
• Coordinate resources and resolve roadblocks by collaborating with other teams within PITA, and responsible design parties.
• Support project reviews, ensuring manufacturing requirements and design decisions are clearly communicated, documented, and aligned with production goals.
• Proactively identify and resolve information gaps, discrepancies between drawings and as-built configurations, and reduce assembly rework by working cross-functionally to implement practical, technically sound solutions in fast-paced, evolving environments.
• Communicate pre-commissioning status and associated schedule risks effectively to stakeholders, including project leads, engineering, operations, and quality teams, ensuring alignment and transparency.
• Support continuous improvement by identifying inefficiencies, implementing process enhancements, and supporting training on field walk-downs and processes.
• Perform assigned fabrication, assembly, and pre-commissioning activities in accordance with applicable safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
• Support change management processes by evaluating engineering changes and assessing their impact on production timelines and resources.
• Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor efficiencies, non-conformances, and support data-driven decision-making.
• Contribute to risk assessments and mitigation planning for manufacturing integration activities, particularly during the introduction of new processes.
• Document and standardize field walk-down and build quality workflows to promote consistency, scalability, and knowledge transfer across teams.
• Collaborate on new design/project efforts, ensuring manufacturability and integration readiness from prototype to full-scale production.
• Coordinate/partner with additional resourcing from PITA (technologist support), and travel to KP-SW fabrication facilities to support pre-commissioning activities of components and skids as necessary.
• Perform other duties as assigned, supporting the team and company in a dynamic, multi-disciplinary environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, Quality Engineering, or a related technical discipline; master's degree is desirable.
• 3+ years of experience in relevant construction, manufacturing operations, or quality control environments, with a strong track record in build execution, resource coordination, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Demonstrated experience in applying established safety procedures in industrial or technical work environments.
• Experience in transitioning designs from prototype to production is desirable.
• Experience working in a highly regulated or safety-critical environment (e.g., nuclear, aerospace, automotive, medical devices) is desirable.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Deep understanding of process documentation, including PFDs and P&IDs, and how they inform industrial system operations and integration.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and specifications and translate them into actionable manufacturing requirements.
• Familiarity with manufacturing workflows, supply chain logistics, and inventory control, with experience supporting t