Director, IC&E for Next-Gen Nuclear Plant

AlleyCorp; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 225,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership in a rapidly growing,

Comprehensive medical benefits

Unlimited PTO

Free daily lunch and dinner onsite

PPE stipend

Opportunity for rapid career growth

Job summary

Valar Atomics is seeking a Director of IC&E to own the instrumentation, control, and electrical architecture for a High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGR). You will lead the IC&E team, shape design decisions, safety system philosophy, and regulatory strategy while collaborating with engineers across disciplines.

You will drive design philosophy, interface controls, and verification across phases from conceptual design to commissioning, engaging with regulators and industry partners to deliver

Qualifications

• 15+ years in instrumentation, control systems, and/or electrical design for safety-critical industrial facilities.
• Demonstrated experience leading IC&E or I&C engineering teams on major capital projects.
• Deep expertise in process control architectures, SIS, and plant protection logic.
• Familiarity with functional safety standards (IEC 61511, IEC 61513, or equivalent).
• Experience engaging with regulators, certifying authorities, or third-party verification bodies.
• Proven ability to work across design, procurement, and construction phases of a major project.

Responsibilities

• Own the IC&E design basis for the HTGR, including I&C architecture, safety system logic, plant control systems (PCS), reactor protection systems (RPS), and electrical power distribution.
• Develop and maintain the IC&E design philosophy, functional requirements, and interface control documents (ICDs) across reactor systems.
• Define instrumentation requirements for high-temperature, helium-cooled environments including sensor selection, qualification, and placement strategy.
• Lead development of the control room concept, human factors engineering (HFE) approach, and operator interface design.
• Establish electrical systems design: normal and emergency power, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
• Serve as IC&E technical lead in DOE & NRC engagement.
• Support development of PSAR/SAR chapters pertaining to I&C and electrical systems.
• Ensure IC&E designs comply with applicable standards.
• Build, lead, and mentor the IC&E engineering team while hiring, developing, and retaining top talent.
• Define team structure, staffing plans, and competency requirements as the program scales.
• Manage IC&E scope, schedule, and budget within the broader reactor development program.
• Select and manage IC&E vendors, subcontractors, and system integrators; define qualification and acceptance requirements.
• Partner cross-functionally with reactor physics, mechanical, structural, nuclear safety, and systems engineering teams.

Skills

Instrumentation

Control systems

Electrical design

Safety instrumented systems

Regulatory engagement

Project leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

IEEE nuclear I&C standards

DOE/NRC licensing processes

Job description

Valar Atomics is seeking a Director of IC&E to own the instrumentation, control, and electrical architecture for a High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGR). You will lead the IC&E team, shape design decisions, safety system philosophy, and regulatory strategy while collaborating with engineers across disciplines.

You will drive design philosophy, interface controls, and verification across phases from conceptual design to commissioning, engaging with regulators and industry partners to deliver