Instrumentation and Controls Engineer

Ocean Atomics; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Ocean Atomics in Bethesda, MD is seeking an engineer to design and analyze instrumentation and control (I&C) systems for the reactor and ship plant, sensors, control logic, protection systems, and operator interfaces.

You will use the engineering simulator to develop, test, and validate control strategies and system response, defining requirements, set points, and interfaces with plant systems, while supporting safety analyses and design reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, computer, nuclear, or systems engineering.
• Experience designing or analyzing instrumentation and control for nuclear or safety-critical plants.
• Familiarity with control system modeling and engineering simulators for design validation.
• Working knowledge of reactor protection systems, sensors, and control architectures.
• Strong grounding in control theory and signal processing.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze I&C systems, considering control logic, reactor protection, and human‑machine interfaces.
• Develop and validate control strategies and system response using the engineering simulator, tuning logic and verifying behavior across normal and transient conditions.
• Define I&C requirements, set points, and instrument specifications, and establish interfaces with plant systems.
• Support failure modes, reliability, and safety analyses for control and protection functions.
• Document I&C designs, simulator validation results, and as‑built configurations, and support design reviews and integration testing.

Skills

Instrumentation & Control

Control theory

Signal processing

Engineering simulators

Reactor protection knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical/computer/nuclear or systems engineering

Tools

Engineering simulators

Control system modeling

Job description

The ocean is the largest undeveloped frontier on earth — and the next chapter of abundant energy will be written at sea. We're building the infrastructure to power it.

About Ocean Atomics

Ocean Atomics is an American company designing, licensing, and assembling a standardized nuclear electric power plant and the surrounding support systems for maritime applications. We will install these plants on any vessel built to our nuclear‑ready standards, and will provide end‑to‑end sustainment in our planned nuclear lifecycle dockyard. We will help develop the licensed operators to unlock this new capability for your energy intensive application at sea. To move fast and to lead the creation of this new market, we are leveraging the compact, proven systems enabled by water‑cooled reactors.

Our mission

Scale nuclear energy. Power generations.

Our vision

A maritime commons thriving with abundant, economical, modern, and safe nuclear‑powered activity — built, serviced, and staffed by re‑industrialized American shipyards and people.

Role Summary

Designs and analyzes the instrumentation and control (I&C) systems for the reactor and ship plant, sensors, control logic, protection systems, and operator interfaces. Uses the engineering simulator to develop, test, and validate control strategies and system response.

What You'll Do

• Design and analyze I&C systems, considering control logic, reactor protection, and human‑machine interfaces.
• Develop and validate control strategies and system response using the engineering simulator, tuning logic and verifying behavior across normal and transient conditions.
• Define I&C requirements, set points, and instrument specifications, and establish interfaces with plant systems.
• Support failure modes, reliability, and safety analyses for control and protection functions.
• Document I&C designs, simulator validation results, and as‑built configurations, and support design reviews and integration testing.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in electrical, computer, nuclear, or systems engineering required (advanced degree preferred).
• Experience designing or analyzing instrumentation and control systems, preferably for nuclear or other safety‑critical plants.
• Familiarity with control system modeling and engineering simulators for design validation.
• Working knowledge of reactor protection systems, sensors, and control architectures.
• Strong grounding in control theory and signal processing.

Don't meet every bullet? We'd still like to hear from you. If you're excited by the mission and most of this resonates, apply.

Export control notice

This role involves access to information subject to U.S. export control laws, including unclassified nuclear technology governed by the U.S. Department of Energy under 10 CFR Part 810. Depending on a candidate's status, access may require DOE authorization, which Ocean Atomics may apply for. Any offer is contingent on your ability to work in compliance with these requirements. We evaluate all applicants regardless of citizenship or national origin, except where required by law.

Why this matters

Every industry on Earth needs scalable, clean energy, and the ocean is the ideal place to unlock it. Joining Ocean Atomics means building real, lasting infrastructure — the kind that powers generations. The world needs abundant energy. Let's make it happen.

Ocean Atomics LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a workplace free of discrimination and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations; if you need an accommodation during the application process, contact [e-mail].

Compensation Range: $110K - $240K