Controls Engineer – Fuel Handling System

Kindredventures; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 121,500 - 148,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Corporate Gym Membership

Job summary

Aalo Atomics is looking for a Controls Engineer in Austin, Texas, to develop and manage the automation for nuclear fuel handling systems. The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of hands-on experience and be comfortable with both hardware and software aspects of controls.

This role involves building control cabinets, writing automation code, and ensuring reliability of the systems. A competitive salary starting at $135,000 and benefits including health insurance are offered.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience in controls, instrumentation, or electro-mechanical systems.
• Strong hands-on skills with cable routing, panel layout, and electrical troubleshooting.
• Ability to write simple automation scripts in Python or similar.

Responsibilities

• Build and wire control cabinets and test bench panels.
• Select, install, and integrate instrumentation.
• Write automation and data logging code for component tests.
• Support on-site installation and commissioning.

Skills

Hands-on experience in controls

Instrumentation expertise

Mechanical systems knowledge

Electrical schematics reading

Job description

About Aalo Atomics

Aalo Atomics is pioneering a new era in clean energy with factory-fabricated microreactors designed to deliver affordable, scalable, and reliable nuclear power. Our mission is to make nuclear energy globally accessible, starting with the Aalo-1, a 10 MWe reactor leveraging cutting‑edge safety, modularity, and efficiency. Based in Austin, TX, we’re rapidly growing as we work to deploy the world’s first fleet of advanced microreactors. Join us and help revolutionize energy for a sustainable future.

About the role

As the Controls Engineer integrated in the Fuel Handling System (FHS) team, you will own the controls, instrumentation, and automation for a remotely‑operated, encoder‑positioned machine that handles nuclear fuel assemblies in a sodium environment. The FHS will be operated entirely from outside the reactor building during normal operations, which means controls reliability is central to whether the system works at all.

This is a hardware‑leaning controls role. You will spend significant time with a multimeter, crimping tool, and wire spool—building cabinets, wiring up sensors and actuators, integrating motion controllers, and standing up test benches—in addition to writing the code that runs them. We are looking for someone who is energized by getting hardware to actually move, not someone who wants to live in a software IDE.

We are open to two candidate profiles: an experienced controls engineer who prefers hardware and is comfortable writing the automation scripts to support testing, or a senior technician with deep wiring and instrumentation experience who is hungry to grow into the engineering and coding side of the role. Either way, you will be a core member of a small, in‑person team in Austin and will work day‑to‑day with mechanical and test engineers.

Responsibilities

• Build and wire control cabinets, junction boxes, and test bench panels from schematic through commissioning
• Select, install, and integrate instrumentation: encoders, load cells, pressure and temperature sensors, limit switches, gas composition sensors, cameras
• Integrate motors, actuators, solenoid valves, and pneumatic/hydraulic systems with controllers (PLC, motion controller, or embedded)
• Write the automation, sequencing, and data logging code needed to run component test benches and the full‑system prototype (Python, PLC ladder/structured text, or similar)
• Develop motion control strategies for the gantry/trolley/hoist system, including encoder‑based positioning over fuel plug locations
• Implement interlocks, fault detection, and safe‑state behaviors for sodium and inert gas operations
• Coordinate with other controls engineers on operator HMI, panel build support, and component sourcing
• Diagnose electrical and control system faults at the test bench; own the wrench‑and‑debugger side of integration
• Document wiring, cable schedules, control logic, and operating procedures clearly enough that any team member can follow them
• Support on‑site installation and commissioning at the reactor facility in Idaho with occasional travel

Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands‑on experience in controls, instrumentation, or electro‑mechanical systems, OR equivalent technician/tech‑lead experience with demonstrated growth into coding and engineering work
• Strong hands‑on skills with cable routing, panel layout, and electrical troubleshooting
• Experience integrating sensors and actuators with at least one of: PLCs, motion controllers, microcontrollers, or industrial PCs
• Ability to write simple automation and data acquisition scripts (Structured text, ladder logic, structured text, Python or similar)
• Comfortable reading and producing electrical schematics, P&IDs, and cable schedules
• Comfortable owning a system from blank cabinet to commissioned hardware

Preferred Experience

• Motion control experience (servo drives, stepper drives, multi‑axis coordination, encoder feedback)
• Experience with safety interlocks, E­stop circuits, and fail‑safe control design
• Exposure to high‑temperature, sodium, vacuum, or inert gas systems
• Familiarity with industrial communication protocols (EtherCAT, Modbus, EtherNet/IP, CANopen)
• Background in nuclear, aerospace, semiconductor, or other high‑reliability industries
• Experience working in a flat, fast‑iterating team where the controls engineer is also the cabinet builder

Physical

• Comfortable working on the factory floor and in test labs alongside technicians, welders, and machinists
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs and stand for extended periods
• Physical dexterity for wiring, panel assembly, and hands‑on troubleshooting

Requirements

Must be based in the United States

Must be willing to work on‑site at our headquarters in Austin, Texas

What It Takes to Succeed at Aalo

Extreme Ownership

You take responsibility for outcomes, not just tasks. You proactively identify problems, drive solutions, and follow through.

A Passion for Solving Hard Problems

You are energized by challenges that others avoid and enjoy finding practical solutions to complex technical issues.

A Sense of Urgency

You move quickly, make thoughtful decisions, and maintain momentum while balancing quality and execution.

What We Offer

Competitive salary starting at $135,000

Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Corporate Gym Membership

Additional Information

Aalo Atomics provides a collaborative and supportive work environment, opportunities for professional growth, intellectually challenging careers, and competitive compensation.

Aalo Atomics is an equal opportunity employer and considers all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Persons in compliance with 10 CFR Part 810 and may not hold non‑compliant foreign citizenships.