Mechanical Technician, Process Gas Systems

Valar Atomics Inc.; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Free meals onsite

PPE stipend

Career growth

Collaborate with engineers

Ground-up tech impact

Job summary

Valar Atomics Inc. seeks a Mechanical Technician for process gas skid builds and tests in a high‑purity environment. You will work with piping, valves, flanges, and vessels, ensuring safety and quality throughout assembly, testing, and startup.

You will read drawings and specs, coordinate with engineers, and support commissioning, while maintaining strict PPE and FME requirements. This role offers ownership and impact in a startup setting.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 4+ years of hands-on mechanical experience in process plants or similar environments.
• Able to read P&IDs, isometrics, and mechanical drawings.
• Experience bending and installing stainless steel tubing and making up compression fittings.
• Experience with hydrostatic and pneumatic tests on high‑pressure systems.

Responsibilities

• Build and test pressurized process gas skids per drawings and specs.
• Maintain safety, quality, and workmanship standards; coordinate with other technicians.
• Review drawings for buildability; flag discrepancies or unsafe conditions early.
• Assemble piping, flanges, valves, and vessels to defined torque values.
• Install and align equipment such as compressors, pumps, chillers, and heat exchangers.
• Support commissioning and startup activities and assist in system turnover.

Skills

4+ years experience

P&ID reading

Tube bending

Pressure tests

Troubleshooting

Lockout/Tagout

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

ASME B31.3

BPVC Section VIII

PCC-1

Job description

Mechanical Technician, Process Gas Systems

About Valar Atomics

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 Engineering organization, Mechanical Engineering designs and develops the mechanicalsystems, components, and equipment that power Valar's advanced nuclear technologies. The teamensures designs are robust, manufacturable, and optimized for long-term performance.

The Role

The Mechanical Technician builds, tests, and commissions pressurized process gas skids for our advanced nuclear reactor. The work spans tube bending, piping, compressors, chillers, heat exchangers, and pressure vessels, from first fit-up through leak testing, pressure testing, and startup. You will maintain high standards for quality, safety, and workmanship and partner closely with engineering to turn designs into reliable, buildable hardware.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and test process system skids in accordance with approved drawings,specifications, procedures, and work instructions; work independently andcoordinate with other technicians to support the build schedule.
• Maintain high standards for safety, workmanship, cleanliness, and procedureadherence throughout tube bending, fitting makeup, bolted joint assembly, testing,and commissioning activities.
• Work closely with engineering, quality, and operations; review drawings andprocedures for buildability and raise drawing discrepancies, design conflicts, orunsafe conditions early.
• Build process system skids to P&IDs, isometric and general arrangement drawings,specifications, and work instructions.
• Measure, bend, cut, debur, and install stainless steel and alloy tubing; make upand inspect compression fittings with gap gauges per the manufacturer's
• instructions.
• Install and fit up piping, flanges, valves, regulators, relief devices, filters, andpressure vessels; assemble flanged joints with correct gaskets and controlledtorque sequences (ASME PCC-1).
• Install, align, and connect compressors, pumps, chillers, coolers, and heatexchangers, and coordinate instrumentation installation with electrical and I&Ctechnicians.
• Maintain cleanliness and foreign material exclusion (FME) controls for high-puritygas service, and rig and move skids and equipment safely using cranes, hoists, andforklifts.
• Perform hydrostatic and pneumatic pressure tests per ASME B31.3, BPVC SectionVIII, and approved test procedures.
• Participate in mechanical completion walkdowns, punch lists, and systemturnover, and support commissioning and startup of compressors, chillers, heatexchangers, and control and relief valves.
• Diagnose mechanical problems such as leaks, vibration, and overheating, andperform preventive and corrective maintenance to minimize downtime.
• Maintain tools, calibrated test equipment, and parts inventory, and participate inincident investigations and continuous improvement of build and test processes.

Basic Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 4+ years of hands-on mechanical experience in a process plant, chemical plant, powergeneration, or similar industrial environment, with significant work on pressurized gassystems.
• Hands-on experience bending and installing stainless steel tubing and making upcompression fittings to manufacturer standards.
• Experience assembling piping, flanges, valves, and vessels, including bolted jointassembly to specified torque values.
• Experience performing hydrostatic and pneumatic pressure tests and leak tests on high-pressure systems.
• Experience installing and maintaining compressors, pumps, and chillers, and heatexchangers.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, isometric drawings, mechanical drawings,specifications, and procedures.
• Proficiency with hand and power tools, torque tools, and precision measuringinstruments.
• Strong working knowledge of safe practices for stored energy and pressurized systems,including lockout/tagout.
• Strong troubleshooting skills, attention to detail, and clear written and verbalcommunication.
• Able to lift up to 50 lbs unassisted, stand for extended periods, and work in confinedspaces, at heights, and in required PPE.
• Willing to work extended hours, weekends, and shifts as needed to support build and test schedules.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Completion of a trade school, apprenticeship, or military technical training program, or a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering technology or a related field.
• Working knowledge of ASME B31.3, BPVC Section VIII, and PCC-1; familiarity with ASME Section III is a plus.
• Experience with helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, CO2, or other high-purity process gas systems, including vacuum and cryogenic service.
• Manufacturer tube fitting and tube bending training (for example Swagelok or Parker).
• Journeyman pipefitter, steamfitter, or millwright card.
• Orbital or manual GTAW tube welding experience, or experience working closely with welders on fit-up and inspection.
• Rigging, crane signaling, and forklift qualifications
• Experience writing or redlining work instructions and test procedures.
• Experience in a fast-paced startup or first-of-a-kind build environment.

What We Offer

• Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company
• 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).

$40 - $50 USD

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Valar Atomics’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.