Instrumentation & Controls Electronics Test Engineer

Job Summary

Kairos Power is looking for a highly motivated innovative engineer to support in an early career role in the Plant Instrumentation, Control & Electrical (IC&E) systems design team. Primary focus is testing analog and digital electronics designs which have been developed in-house and interfacing with designers to provide feedback as necessary. These designs are at the cutting-edge of reactor technology for commercial nuclear power plants, demonstration and test facilities.

Responsibilities 

• Prepare I&C system designs for:
  1. Verification and validation through development of one-off test harnesses and tools.
  2. Real-world use by collecting test results and user feedback.
  3. Characterization of operating behavior by developing and conducting hands-on tests.
• Work with design engineers and external stakeholders to develop system requirements and means to verify the design meets these requirements during prototyping and integration stages.
• Work with hardware-in-the-loop test stands to join simulation with real-world hardware.
• Develop familiarity with FPGAs, microcontroller/microprocessor architectures, PCB-level components, and methods for testing their functionality and completeness.
• Collaborate with other disciplines to verify adequate functional and performance margin as well as robustness for industrial applications.
• Support the larger IC&E team in non-safety related control system design, implementation, and test activities.
• Fault-find and document potential vulnerabilities within devices under test.
• Produce test rigs for experiments on PCBs such as accelerated thermal aging, seismic, RF, ESD, and other areas of characterization
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree of Science in Engineering for Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics, Nuclear, Computer Science, Computer Technology (ABET accredited), Software or Systems or Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, or equivalent 4 year technical degree.
• Experience using common hardware such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Nucleo, Discovery, or similar.
• Hands-on experience with common lab equipment such as multimeters, power supplies, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, microscopes, soldering irons, etc.
• Experience writing code using languages such as Python, C, C++, or similar.
• Experience following, working with, and/or writing test procedures.
• Experience writing documentation.
• Knowledge of safe handling practices for electronics and electrical systems.
• Ability to read standards and develop testing procedures to demonstrate compliance.
• Ability to work with highly collaborative team
• Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently
• Prioritizes and ensures safety of one self 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 

• 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
• Use hand tools
• Repetitive assembly operations of manufacturing test fixtures and test setups in collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams 

Environmental Conditions

• General office environment
• Low temperatures
• High temperatures
• Noisy environments
• Small and/or enclosed spaces
• Accessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned
• High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced

Safety and PPE

• Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs
• Manipulating, cleaning and disposal of hazardous materials
• Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions
• Color identification: detecting, distinguishing, recognizing and identifying colors

Travel

• Some travel may be required, up to 10%

Additional Requirements

• Occasionally requires working weekends
• Occasionally requires schedule flexibility 
• Frequently requires non-standard work-week hours 
• Occasionally requires working 2nd shift, beginning at 3:00pm local time
• Seldomly requires working 3rd shift, beginning at 11:00pm local time 
• Seldomly requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines

The salary range for this position is $95,000 to $110,000 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.

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