Controls Engineer IV

NES Fircroft; North Carolina; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

NES Fircroft is seeking a Senior/Lead Nuclear IV&V Engineer in North Carolina to lead verification and validation of complex digital I&C systems for nuclear applications. You will translate requirements into test objectives, develop verification strategies, execute testing, review evidence, and support FAT activities.

The role requires deep domain knowledge, independent work, and collaboration across multidisciplinary teams, with mentoring responsibilities for junior engineers.

Qualifications

• Eight+ years of engineering experience in verification, validation, testing, design, or systems engineering.
• Experience with requirements-based verification documentation and traceability.
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead independent IV&V activities for nuclear digital I&C systems.
• Develop test requirements, verification strategies, and test plans.
• Execute and evaluate FAT, regression, and system testing.
• Review software/hardware documentation for compliance.
• Interface with customers during FAT and technical reviews.

Skills

IV&V planning

embedded systems

Digital I&C

Test reporting

Education

Electrical Engineering

Computer Engineering

Nuclear Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Systems Engineering

Computer Science

Related discipline

Tools

LabVIEW

ATS200

Automated test platforms

Job description

Senior / Lead Nuclear Digital I&C IV&V Engineer

About the Opportunity Our client is seeking a highly experienced Senior / Lead Nuclear Digital I&C IV&V Engineer to play a critical role in the verification and validation of advanced nuclear instrumentation and control (I&C) systems.

This position is responsible for independently leading Verification & Validation (IV&V) activities for complex digital I&C systems, embedded control platforms, software-controlled hardware, and system-level testing programs. The successful candidate will serve as a technical owner, translating requirements into testable objectives, developing verification strategies, executing testing activities, evaluating technical evidence, and supporting customer-facing Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) activities.

This is not a procedure-only testing role. We are looking for an engineer who understands the complete requirements-to-evidence lifecycle and can determine what should be tested, how it should be tested, what constitutes acceptable evidence, and when technical issues require escalation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead independent IV&V activities for nuclear digital I&C systems.
• Perform requirements analysis, design reviews, interface evaluations, traceability assessments, and verification evidence reviews.
• Develop test requirements, verification strategies, test plans, procedures, traceability matrices, reports, and supporting documentation.
• Execute, witness, and evaluate component, subsystem, system, FAT, and regression testing activities.
• Analyze test results, identify anomalies, document findings, and support technical issue resolution.
• Review software, firmware, FPGA/PLD, and embedded system documentation to ensure compliance with requirements.
• Participate in design, baseline, and technical reviews across multiple engineering disciplines.
• Support FMEA, hazard analyses, cybersecurity assessments, safety analyses, and security evaluations.
• Assist with development and validation of simulators, automated test equipment, test environments, and manufacturing test procedures.
• Drive compliance with GE Vernova/GEH and industry-recognized software and systems lifecycle processes.
• Support corrective action programs and resolution of conditions adverse to quality.
• Interface directly with customers during FAT execution, technical reviews, and issue management activities.
• Contribute to project planning, scheduling, resource forecasting, proposal development, and execution strategies.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and training to junior engineers and test personnel.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with systems, software, hardware, FPGA, quality, manufacturing, project management, suppliers, customers, and laboratory teams.

Required Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's Degree in:

• Electrical Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Computer Science
• Or a related technical discipline

Experience

• 8+ years of engineering experience in verification, validation, testing, design, systems engineering, nuclear I&C, embedded systems, or similar technical disciplines.
• 5+ years developing, executing, or evaluating:
  • Test plans
  • Test procedures
  • Test reports
  • Requirements-based verification documentation
• 3+ years working with:
  • Digital I&C systems
  • Embedded systems
  • Software-controlled hardware
  • Complex control systems
• Demonstrated experience with requirements analysis and requirements-to-test traceability.
• Experience reviewing technical specifications, design documentation, interface documentation, and software or hardware release packages.
• Proven ability to evaluate test results, identify anomalies, and support resolution activities.
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills.
• Experience working within formal quality, configuration management, and controlled engineering environments.
• Ability to work independently while effectively managing technical risk and escalation.

Technical Expertise

Candidates should demonstrate strength in several of the following areas:

• Requirements-based testing and traceability
• IV&V planning and execution
• Test procedure and test report development
• Component, subsystem, system, FAT, and regression testing
• Digital I&C systems and embedded control systems
• Software-controlled hardware verification
• Interface analysis and design review
• Technical review and comment resolution
• Change impact assessments and regression planning
• Anomaly investigation and technical documentation
• Corrective action and quality program support
• Configuration management and test environment control
• Customer-facing technical communication

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate will also bring experience in one or more of the following:

• 10+ years of nuclear I&C, digital controls, embedded systems, IV&V, FAT, or safety-related testing experience.
• Nuclear I&C platforms such as:
  • NUMAC
  • RCMS
  • RC&IS
  • PRNM
  • ATIP
  • DSS-CD
  • SRNM
  • WRNM
  • Similar systems
• Previous experience as a:
  • System IV&V Engineer
  • Lead Test Engineer
  • Responsible Engineer
  • FAT Lead
• Nuclear utility, plant modification, commissioning, startup, or supplier experience.
• FPGA/PLD verification, testing, simulation, and documentation review.
• Embedded processor experience including Intel, ARM, DSP, microcontrollers, or similar architectures.
• PCB-level design review and hardware troubleshooting.
• LabVIEW, ATS200, automated test platforms, simulators, or manufacturing test systems.
• FMEA, hazard analysis, safety analysis, cybersecurity assessments, and requirements traceability programs.
• Knowledge of IEEE, IEC, EPRI, NRC, CNSC, and other nuclear industry standards.
• Proposal development, bid support, scheduling, and resource planning experience.
• Mentoring, training development, and onboarding leadership.
• Corrective action programs, root cause analysis, and quality issue management.
• Prior nuclear site experience as an operator, I&C technician, maintenance engineer, system engineer, or commissioning/startup engineer.
• Experience with nuclear suppliers delivering safety-related digital I&C equipment.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining andManufacturingsectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.