Senior Quality Engineer

Job Summary 

Kairos Power is seeking a Senior Quality Engineer to independently lead quality assurance assessments of hardware processes and projects against safety and delivery commitments for design, testing, component manufacturing, construction, and operation. The Senior Quality Engineer uses assessment results to drive continuous improvement of Kairos Power’s quality management system in partnership with design, testing, manufacturing, construction, and operations teams. 

Responsibilities 

• Partner with design, testing, manufacturing, construction, and operations teams developing quality plans, processes and procedures to support hardware development and delivery. 
• Independently lead quality assurance assessments of hardware design, testing, component manufacturing, construction, and operation processes and projects, partnering with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance, ensure work effectiveness and drive continuous improvement. 
• Translate quality assurance assessment findings from unsatisfied commitments to clearly defined and actionable corrective and preventative actions supported by causal analyses. 
• Communicate quality assurance assessment outcomes and the evaluation of process compliance and hardware effectiveness to technical teams, stakeholders, associated leaders, and senior leadership. 
• Mentor Quality Engineers in the application of quality assurance methods and analyses across the technology development lifecycle. 
• Improve the Kairos Power quality management system and quality assurance processes and guidance based on project needs and lessons learned from quality assurance assessment outcomes, nonconformances and operating experience. 
• Collaborate with teams across Kairos Power sites, including travel as needed to support project activities. 
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned, which may include hands-on work involving hardware fabrication, assembly, testing, commissioning, and operation. 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree (or greater) in engineering or other technical discipline. 
• At least 8 years of experience in quality assurance for engineering in industries with robust safety and reliability requirements, such as aerospace, automotive, medical devices and pharmaceuticals, commercial railway and shipping, petrochemicals, or large infrastructure construction.
• At least 8 years of experience using ISO-based management standards, such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, AS9100, IATF (ISO/TS) 16949, ISO 17025, ISO 13485, ISO/TS 22163, and ISO 29001 and API Q1/Q2. 
• Experience in quality management system implementation and management, including writing procedures and guidance documents, providing training and leading continuous improvement programs to revise existing program elements. 

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 

• Demonstrated ability to use regulations, codes and standards, specifications, and other requirements in quality assurance assessments to determine activity compliance and the effectiveness of activity outcomes and work products. 
• Demonstrated ability to use quality assurance methods and analyses across product development lifecycle, including design control, configuration management, inspections and tests, records management, and experience interfacing with suppliers for quality oversight and verification. 
• Demonstrated experience independently planning, conducting, documenting, and reporting findings from quality assurance assessments or audits of engineering processes or projects. 
• Excellent verbal, written communication/presentation and interpersonal skills. 
• 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 Demands 

• Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, and the like. 
• 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 weighing up to 25 pounds. 
• Communicating with others to exchange information. 

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.
• Elevated heights.
• Assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work assigned.
• High-concentration, demanding and fast-paced.
• Prototyping/Test Facilities.
• Manufacturing/Industrial Environments.

Safety and PPE 

• Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs. 
• Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions. 
• Color identification: detecting, distinguishing, recognizing and identifying colors. 
• Wearing proper PPE, which may include respiratory protection, face protection, gloves, protective clothing, safety shoes, or other PPE as required.

Travel 

• Some travel may be required, up to 25%  

Additional Requirements 

• 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 timelines occasionally.