Senior Process Engineer, Helium Systems for Nuclear Power

Valar Atomics; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Unlimited PTO

Free meals onsite

PPE stipend

Autonomy

Career growth

Collaboration with operators

Ground-up energy tech

Job summary

Valar Atomics seeks a Senior Process Engineer for the Numenor reactor program. You will own the helium process systems from concept through design, build, test and commissioning on the first unit, and then scale them into repeatable production.

You are hands-on and hardware-first, bringing rigorous design discipline to meet the system definitions while collaborating with mechanical, safety, quality, IC&E, and supply chain teams. Mentoring junior engineers is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years designing industrial process systems, gas handling systems, thermal-fluid systems, or related energy systems.
• Proven track record taking complex engineered systems from concept through build, test, and commissioning.
• Strong foundation in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and process engineering principles.
• Experience developing PFDs, P&IDs, process calculations, equipment specifications, and operating procedures.
• Familiarity with industrial instrumentation, process controls, and gas analysis systems.

Responsibilities

• Own the process architecture and design of helium systems from concept through design freeze.
• Perform process analyses including mass and energy balances, pressure drop, heat transfer, equipment sizing, gas flow, and transient system behavior.
• Develop PFDs, P&IDs, equipment and piping specifications, engineering calculations, and operating procedures.
• Specify and integrate process equipment, including pressure vessels, heat exchangers, adsorption systems, compressors, valves, piping, instrumentation, and gas analyzers.
• Present designs at design reviews and participate in HAZOPs, FMEAs, and system safety analyses.

Skills

Helium systems design

Process design & analysis

Thermodynamics & fluid mechanics

PFDs & P&IDs

Education

Bachelor’s in Chemical/Mechanical/Nuclear Engineering

Tools

ASME codes (Section VIII, B31.3)

Job description

Valar Atomics seeks a Senior Process Engineer for the Numenor reactor program. You will own the helium process systems from concept through design, build, test and commissioning on the first unit, and then scale them into repeatable production.

You are hands-on and hardware-first, bringing rigorous design discipline to meet the system definitions while collaborating with mechanical, safety, quality, IC&E, and supply chain teams. Mentoring junior engineers is expected.