Welding Engineering Manager

Job Highlights

Title	Manager/Welding Engineering
Type	Full Time
Experience	Required
Function	Management/Manufacturing
Location	Albuquerque, NM, United States
Company	Kairos Power

Company Profile

Kairos Power is a mission-driven engineering and new nuclear energy technology company. It focuses on the delivery of a clean, affordable, and safe energy solution through the integrated design, licensing, and demonstration of advanced reactor technology.

Job Profile

The company is hiring a Welding Engineering Manager who will oversee welding operations for large, fabricated vessels and structures, primarily made of austenitic stainless steel, for our Hermes iterative development program.

Manage weld engineering personnel, monitoring & driving fabrication progress, managing WPS and PQRs, monitoring welder performance, and performing inspections of weldments to support manufacturing and assembly operations.

Support design engineering for vessels, tanks, reactor internals, and structural hardware and responsible for new weld processes and their qualification.

Lead your team in identifying, developing, and deploying methods to improve quality, reduce cost, and optimize build sequences and schedules.

Educational Level

• Bachelor’s Degree in weld engineering, or related field from a College/University

Work Experience

• 3+ years of experience managing direct reports
• Current AWS CWI or SCWI certification + 10 years of experience in welding operations, weld inspection, and fabrication of large assemblies
• Experience in petrochemical, nuclear, power generation, or aerospace manufacturing environment preferred
• Experience working in a dynamic research and development (R&D) environment
• NDT certifications (preferred but not necessary)
• Welding/inspection experience of austenitic stainless steels and other high alloyed steels

Duties/Responsibilities

• Hire, coach, manage career development, and assess the performance of team members
• Collaborate within manufacturing and engineering to develop welding specifications and procedures adhering to applicable codes and standards.
• Apply robust, consistent, and reliable engineering fundamentals and processes to ensure the highest quality of manufacturing engineering
• Identify, develop, refine, and deploy new manufacturing methods to improve quality, reduce cost, and optimize the build schedule
• Advise engineering teams, welding teams, and vendors on welding methods and interpreting weld symbols.
• Lead the Design for Manufacturing (DfM) and Design for Inspect ability (DfI) reviews of proposed engineering designs of weldments. Provide feedback to design engineers to improve designs towards reduced fabrication cost and improved in-service inspection ability where needed.
• Provide feedback from the welding team to design engineers regarding recommendations for improved manufacturability. Review engineering drawings and documentation to ensure the correct materials are used and specifications are met.
• Ensure compliance with welding specifications of all welding activities at our Albuquerque, NM facility.
• Provide quality assurance supervision over welding and non-destructive testing (NDT) vendors.
• Identify and troubleshoot potential issues in our welding processes.
• Coordinate across the company and vendors to successfully deliver projects.
• Review, validate, and manage WPS & PQRs, as well as inspection outcomes and material test reports from vendors.
• Coordinate and conduct in-process inspections of weldments according to internal and industry specifications (ASME Section III, V, VIII, IX, AWS D1.1, D1.6, B31.1, B31.3)
• Work with design engineers to define the scope and intent of development projects to align with design teams’ expectations and protect the feasibilities of the fabrication team while managing to avoid scope creep and cost overruns
• Oversee training of technicians and welders in welding equipment including mechanized weld equipment.
• Identify, procure, and commission new weld equipment including mechanized or automated hardware.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and foster a culture of inclusion
• 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
• Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently
• Ability to work with a highly collaborative team
• Dedication to safety to mitigate industrial hazards
• Prioritizes and ensures the safety of oneself and others
• Radiographic film interpretation
• Strong verbal and written communication skills

Physical Requirements

• Adjusting, moving, transporting, installing, positioning, or removing objects up to 50 pounds in all directions
• Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom Setting up and transferring temporary structures (e.g. scaffolding, ladders)
• Communicating with others to exchange information
• lifts and the like
• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another
• Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces
• Operating motor vehicles, heavy equipment, or machinery
• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods
• Repetitive assembly operations of manufacturing test fixtures and test setups in collaboration with engineering and manufacturing teams
• Use hand tools

Work Conditions

• Accessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned
• Evaluated heights
• General office environment
• High temperatures
• High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced
• Low temperatures
• Noisy environments
• Odors or fumes from chemicals or chemical reactions
• Outdoor environment or elements such as precipitation and wind
• Small or enclosed spaces
• Some travel may be required 20%

Safety/PPE

• Manipulating, cleaning, and disposal of hazardous materials
• Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs
• Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions
• Wearing proper PPE, including face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes

Additional Requirements

• Occasionally requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines
• Occasionally requires overtime
• Occasionally requires schedule flexibility
• Seldom requires non-standard work-week hours
• Seldom requires working weekends

Benefits/Perks

• 401(k) and pre-tax health insurance, dependent care, and commuter benefits (FSA)
• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits for employees and their dependents
• Paid Vacation

Employer’s Statement

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.