Firmware Development Engineer

Kairos Power is looking for an entry-level firmware engineer to join the Plant Instrumentation, Control & Electrical (IC&E) systems design team. Working under the technical guidance of the Reactor Protection System (RPS) Lead Engineer and experienced team members, this person will develop, test, and document firmware for reactor protection and related plant systems supporting the KP-FHR reactor technology. The role provides hands-on experience with embedded systems, hardware integration, and disciplined development practices for safety-related applications.

Primary Responsibilities

The person will work with an integrated design team to perform the following duties:

• Support firmware development for plant instrumentation and control systems, including:
• Safety-related reactor protection systems, including signal acquisition, protection logic, diagnostics, and equipment interfaces.
• Related plant investment protection and non-safety control or test systems, as required.
• Implement and debug embedded firmware in C/C++ and support FPGA logic development, as applicable to the selected platform, using approved requirements, designs, and coding practices.
• Assist with firmware requirements, interface definitions, design descriptions, and traceability between requirements, implementation, and verification evidence.
• Develop and execute unit, integration, and regression tests; record results, investigate anomalies, and support independent verification and validation activities.
• Support laboratory hardware bring-up and firmware integration using schematics, component datasheets, debuggers, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers under appropriate supervision.
• Use version control, configuration management, code reviews, and change control to maintain reproducible builds and documented firmware releases.
• Collaborate with hardware, controls, systems, and test engineers to resolve interface issues and support system testing and commissioning activities as assigned.
• Learn and follow applicable nuclear quality assurance, software lifecycle, and cybersecurity procedures; promptly raise technical concerns and incorporate review feedback.

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