Director, Power Conversion IC&E - Equity & Impact

Valar Atomics; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership in a rapidly growing$

Unlimited PTO

Free daily lunch and dinner onsite

Generous PPE stipend

High-impact startup environment

Job summary

Valar Atomics is seeking a Director of Instrumentation, Controls & Electrical (IC&E) for Power Conversion to lead the full IC&E architecture across the HTGR power conversion system. You will guide design from R&D through commissioning, and build a high-caliber IC&E team focused on safety, reliability, and performance in a first-of-a-kind energy program.

You will own turbomachinery control systems, guidance on instrumentation strategies in high-speed environments, and coordination with

Qualifications

• 15+ years of engineering experience in instrumentation, control systems, and/or electrical design for rotating machinery, turbomachinery, or high-performance industrial systems.
• Hands-on turbomachinery control systems experience — speed governing, surge protection, bearing monitoring, trip logic, or equivalent.
• Experience leading IC&E scope on test facilities, development rigs, or capital construction projects.

Responsibilities

• Own IC&E design basis for power conversion components, including control systems for the main loop.
• Define instrumentation strategy for high-speed rotating machinery and environmental conditions.
• Lead development and deployment of control architectures for startup, shutdown, and load following.
• Lead IC&E scope for development generator sets, protection, grid interface, and synchronization.
• Manage electrical distribution design, switchgear, VFDs, and power electronics.
• Oversee test facility design, commissioning, calibration programs, and data quality standards.
• Build and mentor the IC&E engineering team and define program staffing and competency roadmap.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to ensure integrated plant control architecture.

Skills

Turbomachinery control

IC&E leadership

Vendor management

Communication with executives

Education

PE license (Instrumentation, Control, or Electrical)

Job description

Valar Atomics is seeking a Director of Instrumentation, Controls & Electrical (IC&E) for Power Conversion to lead the full IC&E architecture across the HTGR power conversion system. You will guide design from R&D through commissioning, and build a high-caliber IC&E team focused on safety, reliability, and performance in a first-of-a-kind energy program.

You will own turbomachinery control systems, guidance on instrumentation strategies in high-speed environments, and coordination with