Software Engineer, Cyber Physical Systems

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 an early- to mid-career Software Engineer to join the Cyber-Physical Systems team within the Instrumentation, Controls, & Electrical department. In this role, you will build and maintain software that connects applications, data systems, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) workflows, and physical infrastructure. You will support operations and test systems, industrial plant computer infrastructure, data acquisition, analysis, and tools used in advanced nuclear technology development. This role is a good fit for a software engineer who enjoys building practical, reliable tools close to hardware, data, and real-world systems.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain software for test systems, industrial operations, SCADA workflows, data acquisition, and analysis.
• Develop operator and engineering tools using Inductive Automation Ignition Perspective or similar SCADA/HMI platforms.
• Create and maintain PostgreSQL-backed applications, including schemas, queries, integrations, and data quality improvements.
• Build APIs and integrations between software tools, databases, SCADA systems, PLCs, and plant data systems.
• Support software interfaces with PLC-controlled systems, including environments using Rockwell Automation Studio 5000.
• Develop software that connects applications, data systems, and hardware systems.
• Support live applications used during industrial facility operations.
• Design and test tools or algorithms that help identify trends, anomalies, or off-normal system behavior.
• Improve software delivery through automated testing, CI/CD pipelines, deployment tooling, documentation, and developer workflow improvements.
• Collaborate with engineers, operators, and other stakeholders to deliver practical, maintainable software solutions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Data Science, or equivalent experience.
• 2-4 years’ experience developing software applications, services, scripts, APIs, or data integrations.
• Programming experience in one or more languages such as Python, Java, React, JavaScript, or TypeScript.
• Experience with Ignition Perspective or similar SCADA/HMI platforms is preferred but not required.
• Experience with PostgreSQL or other SQL-based relational databases. Additional non-relational database experience is a plus.
• Familiarity with SCADA, HMI, electronic procedures, plant simulators, or control-system programming is preferred but not required.
• Familiarity with PLC systems, preferably Rockwell Automation Studio 5000, Allen-Bradley PLCs, industrial protocols, or PLC-to-SCADA integration is preferred but not required.
• Experience with automated testing, CI/CD, deployment automation, DevOps workflows, including tools such as Github Actions and Docker is preferred but not required.
• Experience with data acquisition, control, analysis, visualization, AI/ML, anomaly detection, or analytics applied to engineering or operational data is preferred but not required.
• Experience in laboratory, research, test, industrial, manufacturing, energy, aerospace, semiconductor, robotics, or other hardware-oriented environments is preferred but not required.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity, access control, data governance, backup/recovery, observability, or regulated technical environments is preferred but not required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of software development principles and practices, including modular design, version control, code review, testing, technical documentation, and maintainable software design.
• Skill in developing, integrating, and troubleshooting software applications, services, APIs, scripts, databases, and hardware-connected systems.
• Working knowledge of relational databases, SQL, data modeling concepts, and data quality practices.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve issues that span software applications, data systems, APIs, data acquisition systems, and industrial control environments.
• Ability to interpret engineering or operational data and develop software tools that support analysis, visualization, trending, or anomaly identification.
• Ability to apply automated testing, deployment, and software delivery practices to improve application reliability and maintainability.
• Ability to translate engineering and operational requirements into practical software solutions.
• Ability to document technical designs, interfaces, configurations, troubleshooting procedures, and software behavior clearly and accurately.
• Ability to communicate technical information effectively and collaborate with software engineers, controls engineers, operators, and other multidisciplinary stakeholders.
• Ability to organize work, work independently when appropriate, and exercise sound technical judgment when supporting deployed applications and operational systems.
• Ability to learn and apply new software platforms, industrial technologies, and development tools as required by assigned work.

Physical Conditions

• Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, scissor lifts, articulated boom lifts and the like.
• Setting up and transferring temporary structures (e.g. scaffolding, ladders).
• Moving self in different positions to accomplish tasks in various environments including tight and confined spaces.
• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing, or sitting for prolonged periods.
• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.
• Adjusting, moving, transporting, installing, positioning, or removing objects up to 10 pounds in all directions.
• 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.
• Outdoor environment or elements such as precipitation and wind.
• Noisy environments.
• Small and/or enclosed spaces.
• Odors or fumes from chemicals or chemical reactions.
• Evaluated heights.
• 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.
• Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions.
• Wearing proper PPE, to include face mask, face shields, gloves, safety shoes, etc.

Travel

• Some travel may be required (10%).

Additional Requirements

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

The salary range for this position is $92,454 to $108,769 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.

• Onsite: #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.