Senior Reactor Operator

Aalo Atomic; Idaho Falls (ID); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Aalo Atomics in Idaho Falls is seeking a Senior Reactor Operator to oversee the operation of Aalo-X from the control room under the Shift Manager. You will monitor reactor conditions, direct operators, perform reactivity manipulations, and support safe startup, testing, power operation, and shutdown while upholding rigorous safety standards.

This role requires five or more years in nuclear reactor operations, preferred NRC Senior Reactor Operator license, and strong knowledge of reactor theory,

Qualifications

• Five or more years of nuclear reactor operations experience.
• NRC Senior Reactor Operator license strongly preferred; DOE SRO certification or Navy EOOW experience may be considered.
• Commercial nuclear control-room experience strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of reactor theory, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and instrumentation & controls.

Responsibilities

• Operate or direct operation of the reactor and associated systems within qualified authority.
• Perform startups, shutdowns, power changes, reactivity manipulations, testing, and abnormal/emergency response.
• Oversee plant maintenance and testing to ensure safety and compliance.
• Coach operators and participate in training, simulations, drills, and exams.
• Support event analysis, corrective actions, and operating experience reviews.

Skills

Nuclear reactor operations

Reactor theory & thermodynamics

Safety & operating procedures

Control-room experience

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Aalo Atomics is pioneering a new era in clean energy with factory-fabricated microreactors designed to deliver affordable, scalable, and reliable nuclear power. Our mission is to make nuclear energy globally accessible, starting with the Aalo-1, a 10 MWe reactor leveraging cutting‑edge safety, modularity, and efficiency. Based in Austin, TX, we’re rapidly growing as we work to deploy the world’s first fleet of advanced microreactors. Join us and help revolutionize energy for a sustainable future.

About the role

The Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) operates and supervises operation of Aalo-X from the control room under the direction of the Shift Manager. The SRO monitors reactor and plant conditions, directs assigned operators, performs and verifies reactivity manipulations, responds to abnormal and emergency conditions, and provides the technical operating depth required for safe startup, testing, power operation, shutdown, and maintenance. Expectations are lead by example, own the role, and most importantly, value your team.

What you'll do

• Operate or direct operation of the reactor, primary and secondary sodium systems, power‑conversion systems, electrical distribution, support systems, and associated balance‑of‑plant equipment.
• Perform or supervise startups, shutdowns, power changes, reactivity manipulations, testing, surveillance, equipment operation, and abnormal/emergency response within qualification and delegated authority.
• Oversee plant maintenance and testing operations to ensure safety and compliance.
• Participate in design reviews and provide input to inform design as the end user.
• Maintain continuous awareness of reactor power, reactivity balance, heat transport, sodium‑system parameters, alarms, trends, equipment status, and operating limits.
• Recognize adverse trends, equipment degradation, unexpected response, and margin erosion; communicate promptly and recommend conservative action.
• Apply procedure use and adherence, place‑keeping, three‑way communication, peer checks, independent verification, component identification, formal briefings, and disciplined turnover.
• Review clearances, work packages, surveillance instructions, tests, temporary instructions, and restoration plans for operational impact.
• Identify potential operability, configuration, safety‑basis, or USQ concerns and ensure work is paused and elevated for formal review.
• Coach operators and participate in initial and continuing training, simulator scenarios, drills, examinations, qualification boards, and procedure validation.
• Support event fact‑finding, critiques, causal analysis, corrective actions, and operating‑experience reviews with candor and complete records.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Five or more years of nuclear reactor operations experience.
• Current or previously held NRC Senior Reactor Operator license strongly preferred. An NRC Reactor Operator license, DOE SRO certification with substantial control‑room experience, or Navy Reactor Operator with EOOW experience may be considered.
• Commercial nuclear control‑room experience is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of reactor theory, thermodynamics, heat transfer, electrical generation, instrumentation and controls, reactivity management, operating limits, and abnormal/emergency response.
• Ability to complete Aalo-X facility‑specific SRO qualification, including fundamentals, systems, procedures, simulator, written examination, operating test, oral board, and in‑plant performance evaluations.
• Startup, commissioning, sodium‑cooled reactor, advanced reactor, instructor, simulator, or procedure‑validation experience preferred.

Requirements:

• Based in the United States
• Willing to work on‑sitein Idaho Falls, ID
• Willing to work rotating shifts, nights, weekends, holidays, outages, and emergent call‑ins
• Able to obtain and maintain required access authorization, medical/fitness‑for‑duty status, and company qualifications

What We Offer:

• Paid Time Off

Additional Information:

Aalo Atomics provides a collaborative and supportive work environment, opportunities for professional growth, intellectually challenging careers, and competitive compensation. Aalo Atomics is an equal opportunity employer and considers all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Persons in compliance with 10 CFR Part 810 and may not hold non‑compliant foreign citizenships.