Staff Automation & Controls Architect

Valar Atomics; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 173,000 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership in a rapidly growing

Unlimited PTO

Free daily lunch and dinner onsite

PPE stipend

Career growth opportunities

Direct collaboration with operators,  

Job summary

Valar Atomics is seeking Staff Automation and Controls Engineers to act as technical authorities for control system software across reactor and fuel manufacturing facilities. You will own PLC/DCS programming, SCADA/HMI, ISA-88 batch control, alarm management, safety logic, historians, and enterprise integration.

You will set coding standards, template libraries, and configuration management practices, mentor engineers, and ensure quality across projects and sites in a safety-first, nuclear-grade

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Electronic, Computer, Systems Engineering, or related discipline.
• 8+ years of controls software, PLC programming, or SCADA development experience in process industries.
• Demonstrated end-to-end ownership of the controls software scope on at least one major capital project.
• Track record of technical leadership: code reviews, setting software standards, and configuration management.
• Expert-level PLC programming on major platforms across IEC 61131-3 languages.
• Expert-level SCADA development on platforms such as Ignition, FactoryTalk, AVEVA, or WinCC.
• Experience developing safety logic under IEC 61511 within a formal validation regime.
• Experience with ISA-88 batch software architecture (equipment model, recipe strategy).
• Working knowledge of OT network architecture and cybersecurity per IEC 62443 or NIST SP 800-82.
• Experience mentoring, directing, or supervising engineers or integrators.

Responsibilities

• Own the PLC and DCS application architecture for facilities (Rockwell, Siemens, Emerson).
• Own SCADA architecture (Ignition, FactoryTalk, AVEVA, WinCC) and HMI design per ISA-101/HPHMI.
• Own ISA-88 batch architecture and alarm system per ISA-18.2; lead complex sequence development.
• Develop safety logic on SIS platforms per IEC 61511 and validate changes.
• Own OT network cybersecurity controls per IEC 62443/NIST SP 800-82; coordinate with OT/Infrastructure.
• Lead test plans (FAT/SAT), documentation, and turnover quality.

Skills

Electrical Engineering

PLC programming

SCADA development

ISA-88 batch

HMI design ISA-101

ISA-18.2 alarm

IEC 61131-3

IEC 61511 safety

OT cybersecurity IEC 62443

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/ Electronics/ Computer/ Systems Engineering

Tools

Ignition

FactoryTalk

AVEVA

WinCC

Rockwell ControlLogix

Siemens S7/TIA Portal

Emerson

Job description

Valar Atomics is seeking Staff Automation and Controls Engineers to act as technical authorities for control system software across reactor and fuel manufacturing facilities. You will own PLC/DCS programming, SCADA/HMI, ISA-88 batch control, alarm management, safety logic, historians, and enterprise integration.

You will set coding standards, template libraries, and configuration management practices, mentor engineers, and ensure quality across projects and sites in a safety-first, nuclear-grade