KP-SAM Code Development 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 Systems Code Developer Intern with experience relevant to software development, safety analysis, and verification and validation (V&V) of numerical models. In this role, you will contribute to the development of KP-SAM code, an advanced thermal hydraulic and radioactive source term system simulation code for the Kairos Power Fluoride Salt-Cooled High Temperature Reactor (KP-FHR) design. The code will be used by Kairos Power safety analysts to perform all safety related transient analyses and by other teams for design analysis and simulation. Your contributions will include the assessment and development of new models and methods, verification and validation, and documentation. KP-SAM is based on Argonne National Lab developed SAM code. 

Responsibilities

• Assess new models and features, and add additional minor improvement and enhancement.

• Verify and validate the developed model, and demonstrating its use in relevant transient scenarios.

• Document the newly developed models in theory manual, assessment report, and user manual.

• Support broader KP-SAM development activities, including troubleshooting, defect resolution, and code maintenance under guidance from the team.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Currently pursuing Masters or PhD Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

• Programming experience:  C/C++, Git, FORTRAN, LaTeX

• Experience with DOE MOOSE framework a plus

• Experience with system analysis codes, SAM, RELAP, SASYYS a plus

• Demonstrated coursework or experience in numerical methods, thermal-fluids/heat transfer, or computational modeling is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledgeable of nuclear reactor system analysis

• Working knowledge of software development workflows to support controlled changes

• Strong analysis skill

• An excellent technical communicator: Actively listen for and identify the team’s needs, anticipate priorities and keep the team apprised of relevant information

• Ability to work with a highly collaborative team

• Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently

• 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

• 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

Environmental Conditions

• General office environment

• High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced

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

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 rate for this position is $32-34 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 maybe used to determine your actual salary may include your education, experience, knowledge, skills, ability and the market data for your work location, and a comparison to other employees already in the role. 

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