Senior Process Engineer: Helium Systems for Next‑Gen Nuclear

Valar Atomics Inc.; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 144,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Unlimited PTO

Free meals onsite

PPE stipend

Career growth

Direct collaboration

Job summary

Valar Atomics is seeking a Senior Process Engineer to lead the design, development, testing, and operation of helium process systems for HTGR technology. You will own the process system architecture from concept through manufacturing and commissioning.

The role requires 5+ years in industrial process system design and strong fundamentals in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. You will collaborate with manufacturing, suppliers, and contract manufacturers in a high-autonomy startup environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of experience designing industrial process systems, gas handling systems, thermal-fluid systems, or related energy systems.
• Proven experience delivering complex engineered systems from concept through commissioning or operational deployment.
• Strong foundation in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and process engineering principles.

Responsibilities

• Own the design, procurement, fabrication, assembly, and commissioning of helium process systems from concept through operation.
• Lead manufacturing execution for assigned systems, including vendor selection, fabrication oversight, inspections, issue resolution, and acceptance testing.
• Develop process system documentation including PFDs, P&IDs, equipment specifications, piping specifications, operating procedures, and engineering calculations.
• Perform process engineering analyses including mass and energy balances, pressure drop, heat transfer, equipment sizing, gas flow, and transient system behavior.
• Specify and integrate process equipment including pressure vessels, heat exchangers, adsorption systems, compressors, valves, piping, instrumentation, and gas analyzers.
• Work directly with internal manufacturing, suppliers, and contract manufacturers to resolve fabrication issues, improve manufacturability, and ensure hardware meets design intent.
• Support equipment procurement by developing technical requirements, reviewing vendor proposals, and approving manufacturing documentation.
• Lead system integration, installation, startup, commissioning, and troubleshooting of helium process systems.

Skills

Thermodynamics

Fluid mechanics

Process engineering

PFDs & P&IDs

Gas analysis systems

Cross-functional leadership

Documentation

Education

Bachelor’s in Chemical/Mechanical/Nuclear Eng

Tools

ASME B31.3

ASME Section VIII

Instrumentation & controls

Job description

Valar Atomics is seeking a Senior Process Engineer to lead the design, development, testing, and operation of helium process systems for HTGR technology. You will own the process system architecture from concept through manufacturing and commissioning.

The role requires 5+ years in industrial process system design and strong fundamentals in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics. You will collaborate with manufacturing, suppliers, and contract manufacturers in a high-autonomy startup environment.