Staff Automation & Controls Engineer - Nuclear Plant Systems

Valar Atomics Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Unlimited PTO

Free meals onsite

PPE stipend

Ownership & autonomy

Career growth

Collaboration with experts

Transformative energy tech

Job summary

Valar Atomics is seeking a Staff Automation and Controls Engineer to own the control software scope across reactor and fuel manufacturing facilities. You will set coding standards, drive complex architecture, and mentor engineers while ensuring safety, reliability, and data integrity across PLC, DCS, SCADA, and ISA-88 systems.

You will partner with I&C hardware, electrical, process, and nuclear safety teams to deliver disciplined, high-assurance automation in a fast-paced, safety-first

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Electronic, Computer, Systems Engineering, or related discipline.
• 8+ years of controls software, PLC programming, or SCADA development in process industries.
• Demonstrated end-to-end ownership of controls software on at least one major capital project.
• Track record of technical leadership: code reviews, supervising engineers, and setting standards.
• Expert-level PLC programming on major platforms (IEC 61131-3).
• Expert-level SCADA development on major platforms (Ignition, FactoryTalk, AVEVA, WinCC).
• Experience developing safety logic under IEC 61511 with a software validation regime.
• Experience leading alarm rationalization per ISA-18.2 and ISA-101/HPHMI principles.
• Experience developing ISA-88 batch software architecture (equipment models, recipes).
• OT network architecture and cybersecurity practice knowledge (IEC 62443/NIST).
• Experience configuring historians and data models (PI, AF).
• Mentoring, directing, or supervising engineers or integrators.

Responsibilities

• Review, approve, and govern PLC/DCS, SCADA, safety logic, and test documentation across projects.
• Lead control strategy and software architecture for complex, first-of-a-kind plants.
• Define and enforce software standards, templates, and change-control practices.
• Mentor software engineers and contribute to hiring and training.
• Own ISA-88 batch architecture, alarms, and HMI design per ISA standards.
• Coordinate with I&C hardware, process, and safety engineers to ensure integration against plant goals.

Skills

Technical leadership

Code reviews

Mentoring

PLC programming

SCADA development

ISA-88

IEC 61511

Cybersecurity

OT network

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Electronic, Computer, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related

Tools

Rockwell ControlLogix

Siemens S7/TIA Portal

Emerson

Ignition

FactoryTalk

AVEVA

WinCC

OSIsoft PI

Job description

Valar Atomics is seeking a Staff Automation and Controls Engineer to own the control software scope across reactor and fuel manufacturing facilities. You will set coding standards, drive complex architecture, and mentor engineers while ensuring safety, reliability, and data integrity across PLC, DCS, SCADA, and ISA-88 systems.

You will partner with I&C hardware, electrical, process, and nuclear safety teams to deliver disciplined, high-assurance automation in a fast-paced, safety-first