Director of Licensing

Valar Atomics; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Unlimited PTO

Free daily lunch and dinner onsite

Generous PPE stipend

High-impact startup environment

Rapid career growth

Direct collaboration with operators,2

Job summary

Valar Atomics is seeking a Director of Licensing to lead the corporate licensing function across all facilities and projects in the United States. You will set regulatory strategy, build and direct the licensing organization, and oversee processes and regulator engagement with DOE/NRC pathways.

You will allocate resources across concurrent campaigns, maintain licensing bases, and ensure submissions are complete and compliant, driving efficiency and growth in a fast-moving startup environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related science field.
• Fifteen (15) or more years of nuclear licensing and regulatory affairs experience, or related leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing and submitting major license applications or safety basis documents and managing regulator reviews to approval.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the licensing organization: staffing, role definition, workload allocation across concurrent projects, and development of licensing engineers and project leads.
• Set the regulatory strategy for each facility and project, including selection and sequencing of authorization pathways and preservation of pathway options.
• Own the licensing function's processes and infrastructure: intake and triage workflows, review and active-approval processes, comment and commitment tracking, document production standards, and knowledge management.
• Serve as the senior company point of contact with regulator leadership; negotiate review paths, schedules, and engagement protocols before reviews begin.
• Oversee maintenance of the licensing bases for operating facilities, including change control and amendment strategy.
• Approve regulatory submittals and ensure they are complete, accurate, and consistent with licensing strategy and commitments.
• Ensure program owners receive the regulatory briefings, compliance matrices, templates, and guardrails needed to develop compliant programs without duplication.
• Establish metrics and drive continuous improvement in licensing efficiency, rigor, and rework avoidance.
• Develop and manage the licensing budget; select and manage supporting contractors and consultants.

Skills

Nuclear licensing leadership

Regulatory engagement with regulators

Licensing process ownership

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related science

Job description

At Valar Atomics, we're redefining what's possible in energy. Our mission is to make clean, high-temperature nuclear power scalable—unlocking abundant energy for industry, hydrogen, and next-generation manufacturing. We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe nuclear energy should be fast to deploy, factory-made, and built for the real world. Our first pilot plant in Orangeville, Utah will demonstrate how advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication can power the future. Joining Valar Atomics means becoming part of a company where autonomy, ownership, and impact exist at every level.

The Team

As part of the Regulations & Safety organization, Regulatory & Licensing manages engagement with regulatory authorities and supports licensing activities for Valar's technologies and facilities. The team ensures regulatory compliance while advancing strategic business objectives.

The Role

The Director of Licensing leads the corporate licensing function across all of Valar Atomics' facilities and projects. The Director sets regulatory strategy, builds and leads the licensing organization, owns the licensing processes and infrastructure, and serves as the senior company interface with regulators across DOE and NRC engagement pathways. The Director allocates licensing resources across multiple concurrent licensing campaigns while maintaining the licensing bases of operating facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the licensing organization: staffing, role definition, workload allocation across concurrent projects, and development of licensing engineers and project leads.
• Set the regulatory strategy for each facility and project, including selection and sequencing of authorization and licensing pathways and preservation of pathway options.
• Own the licensing function's processes and infrastructure: intake and triage workflows, review and active-approval processes, comment and commitment tracking, document production standards, and knowledge management.
• Serve as the senior company point of contact with regulator leadership; negotiate review paths, schedules, and engagement protocols before reviews begin.
• Oversee maintenance of the licensing bases for operating facilities, including change control and amendment strategy.
• Approve regulatory submittals and ensure they are complete, accurate, and consistent with licensing strategy and commitments.
• Ensure program owners receive the regulatory briefings, compliance matrices, templates, and guardrails needed to develop compliant programs without duplication.
• Establish metrics and drive continuous improvement in licensing efficiency, rigor, and rework avoidance.
• Develop and manage the licensing budget; select and manage supporting contractors and consultants.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or a related science field.
• Fifteen (15) or more years of nuclear licensing and regulatory affairs experience, or related experience, including leadership of licensing teams and direct interaction with regulators.
• Demonstrated experience developing and submitting major license applications or safety basis documents and managing regulator reviews to approval.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Advanced degree in engineering, science, or a related field.
• Experience across both DOE authorization (safety basis documents, technical safety requirements, unreviewed safety question processes) and NRC licensing frameworks.
• Advanced reactor, research reactor, or first-of-a-kind technology licensing experience.
• Experience building teams and processes in a startup or rapid-growth environment.

What We Offer

• Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company
• Unlimited PTO
• Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite
• Generous PPE stipend
• High-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomy
• Opportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancement
• Direct collaboration with experienced operators, engineers, and industry leaders
• The opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground up

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Valar Atomics is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We are committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment and will provide reasonable accommodation as required by law.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder).