Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Engineering Intern - Summer 2026

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, multi-skilled intern with experience in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling, heat transfer and validation. This role will be part of the Modeling and Simulation CFD team which supports methodology development, engineering design, and testing programs for the KP-FHR and associated components through thermal-hydraulic analysis, with a specialization in CFD. This role will perform CFD validation benchmarking to further develop modeling methodologies. This will include building CFD models of test facilities, running and post processing the simulations for test conditions, organization and performing test data analysis, performing benchmark comparisons, and supporting the development and maturation of CFD methodologies. The position requires a strong self-starting mentality and the ability to develop and deploy novel solutions in support of the company mission.

Responsibilities

• Develop CFD models of high-temperature test systems, modeling heat transfer, natural convection, radiation, melting and fluid flow.

• Perform validation of CFD with in-house produced experiment data.

• Collaborate with test and facility operations engineers in the production and post processing of test data to be used for CFD model validation.

• Mature, document and recommend improvements to CFD modeling methodologies based on validation results.

• Develop and maintain automation scripts that take inputs from various sources, perform post-processing analyses of input data, and generate applicable report files.

• Present validation results and CFD modeling methodology findings through technical documents and oral presentations.

• Collaborate with and communicate results to various teams, including Reactor Systems Design, Core Design, CFD, Safety Analysis, and Testing teams.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a BS, MS, or PhD program in Nuclear, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent

• Experience using analytical and CFD tools to perform fluid and conjugate heat transfer analyses

• 2+ years using commercial CFD tools; experience with Siemens STAR-CCM+ is preferred

• Experience with Solidworks or STAR-CCM+ 3D CAD is preferred

• Familiarity with high temperature simulations modeling natural convection and radiation is preferred

• Programming/scripting experience for automation and post-processing

• Coursework or experience in heat transfer and fluid mechanics

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Proficiency with CAD modeling

• Familiarity with verification, validation and uncertainty quantification methods

• Excellent verbal, written communication/presentation, and interpersonal skills

• Understanding of nuclear reactor systems

• Ability to work with highly collaborative teams

• 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 Demands

• Remaining in a stationary position for prolonged periods

• Communicating with others to exchange information

Environmental Conditions

• General office environment

• Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned

• High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced

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.

The hourly range for this position is $30-34 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