Senior Nuclear I&C Engineer — Detectors & Safety Systems

Valar Atomics Inc.; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; 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 Inc. seeks a senior nuclear instrumentation and controls expert to lead design, integration, and verification for neutron detectors, signal conditioning electronics, and radiation monitoring systems.

You will mentor engineers and ensure compliance with nuclear standards across safety-related and non-safety I&C architectures. You will coordinate design reviews, calibrations, and qualification activities, interfacing with reactor protection, physics, and operations teams to deliver

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in nuclear I&C, radiation detection, reactor protection, or related areas.
• Hands-on experience with signal processing electronics and radiation monitoring instrumentation.
• Strong understanding of nuclear standards: IEEE 603, ANSI/ANS-specific radiation monitoring standards.
• Experience with safety classification, SIL analysis, FMEA, and hazard analysis.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, specification, selection, and integration of neutron detectors and associated signal conditioning electronics.
• Design and validate radiation monitoring systems including area, process, stack, and coolant activity monitors.
• Oversee detector placement, shielding design, and response characterization (in-core and ex-core).
• Perform calibration strategies and uncertainty analyses for neutron flux across ranges.
• Develop and maintain I&C architectures for safety-related and non-safety systems per IEEE 603, IEC 61508, and DOE guidance.
• Produce and review engineering deliverables: control logic, loop diagrams, instrument datasheets, architecture drawings, control narratives, and functional requirement specifications.
• Execute I&C system modeling, failure modes analysis, and safety classifications per IEC/ISA standards.
• Design interfaces to PLCs, safety-significant controllers, distributed I/O, and high-reliability digital platforms.
• Guide system integration with reactor protection and radiation monitoring systems.
• Lead Factory Acceptance Tests, Site Acceptance Tests, environmental and seismic qualifications for instrumentation.
• Develop calibration, maintenance, and surveillance procedures for detectors.
• Support performance testing, flux mapping, channel operability checks, trip setpoint verification, and acceptance criteria development.
• Ensure designs adhere to nuclear regulatory requirements including DOE Reg Guides and IAEA SSG-39.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline

Tools

Neutron detectors

Signal conditioning electronics

Radiation monitoring systems

IEEE 603, ANSI/ANS standards

Job description

Valar Atomics Inc. seeks a senior nuclear instrumentation and controls expert to lead design, integration, and verification for neutron detectors, signal conditioning electronics, and radiation monitoring systems.

You will mentor engineers and ensure compliance with nuclear standards across safety-related and non-safety I&C architectures. You will coordinate design reviews, calibrations, and qualification activities, interfacing with reactor protection, physics, and operations teams to deliver