Staff Instrumentation & Controls Engineer – Nuclear

Blackwing; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 173,000 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Comprehensive medical benefits

Unlimited PTO

Onsite meals (lunch/dinner)

PPE stipend

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Valar Atomics is seeking a senior I&C engineering leader to direct design, integration, and qualification of neutron detectors and radiation monitoring systems for advanced nuclear facilities. You will drive safety-graded architectures, ensure regulatory compliance, and mentor a multidisciplinary team.

The role collaborates with reactor physics, electrical engineering, and operations to meet program requirements and regulatory expectations, offering ownership and high-impact work in a startup

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a nuclear/related discipline with 8+ years in nuclear I&C or radiation detection.
• Experience with safety classification, SIL analysis, FMEA, and hazard analysis.
• Strong knowledge of IEEE 603, ANSI/ANS standards and DOE guidance.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, specification, selection, and integration of neutron detectors and signal conditioning electronics.
• Oversee radiation monitoring systems including area/process/stack monitors.
• Lead detector placement, shielding design, and response characterization.
• Develop calibration strategies and uncertainty analyses for neutron instrumentation.
• Develop I&C architectures for safety-related and non-safety systems per standards.
• Produce engineering deliverables: control logic, diagrams, datasheets, drawings, narratives.
• Lead FAT/SAT and seismic/environmental qualification for instrumentation.
• Mentor junior engineers and collaborate across teams.

Skills

Neutron detectors

Signal processing electronics

Radiation monitoring systems

I&C engineering

Regulatory standards knowledge

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics

Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering or related field

Tools

Allen-Bradley PLCs

Job description

About Valar Atomics

At Valar Atomics, we're redefining what's possible in energy. Our mission is to make clean, high-temperature nuclear power scalable—unlocking abundant energy for industry, hydrogen, and next-generation manufacturing. We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe nuclear energy should be fast to deploy, factory-made, and built for the real world. Our first pilot plant in Orangeville, Utah will demonstrate how advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication can power the future. Joining Valar Atomics means becoming part of a company where autonomy, ownership, and impact exist at every level.

The Team

As part of the Engineering organization, Instrumentations & Controls designs the systems that monitor, automate, and protect Valar's facilities and reactor technologies. The team develops reliable control architectures that enable safe and efficient operations.

The Role

You will serve as a senior technical authority for nuclear instrumentation and controls (I&C) systems with a focus on neutron detection, detector signal processing electronics, and radiation monitoring equipment. This role supports reactor design, test operations, and safety-significant monitoring systems, ensuring compliance with nuclear industry codes and standards. You will lead design efforts, system integration, vendor oversight, safety evaluations, and commissioning activities for reactor protection and radiation monitoring systems.

Key Responsibilities

Instrumentation & Detection Systems

• Lead design, specification,selection, and integration of neutron detectors (e.g., fission chambers, boron-lined detectors) and associated signal conditioning electronics (wide-range, source rangechannels).
• Design andvalidate radiation monitoring systems including area monitors, process radiation monitors, stack monitors, and coolant activity systems.
• Oversee detector placement, shielding design, and response characterization (in-core and ex-core).
• Perform calibration strategies and uncertainty analyses for neutron flux power range, intermediate range, and startup-range instrumentation.

I&C Engineering

• Develop andmaintainI&C architectures for safety-related and non-safety systemsin accordance with IEEE 603, IEC 61508, and DOE guidance.
• Produce and review engineering deliverables: control logic, loop diagrams, instrument datasheets, architecture drawings, control narratives, and functional requirement specifications.
• Execute I&C system modeling, failure modes analysis, response time calculations, and SIL/Category/Level classification (per IEC/ISA standards).
• Design interfacestoPLCs, safety-significantcontrollers, distributed I/O, and high-reliability digital platforms.
• Guidesystem integration with reactor protection, and radiation monitoring systems.

Testing, Validation, and Qualification

• Lead Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), Site Acceptance Tests (SAT), environmental qualification (EQ), and seismic qualification for sensitive instrumentation.
• Develop calibration, maintenance, and surveillance procedures for neutron and radiation detectors.
• Support performance testing, flux mapping, channel operability checks, trip setpoint verification, and acceptance criteria development.

Regulatory & Standards Compliance

• Ensure system designs adhere to nuclear regulatory requirements, includingDOEReg Guides, IEEE standards, IAEA SSG-39, and ANS/ANS-related instrumentation standards.
• Prepare and review technical documentation for licensing, safety basis, and hazard analysis activities.
• Participate in I&C-related inputs and support for deterministic safety analyses.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Mentor junior engineers andprovidetechnical guidance across interdisciplinary teams.
• Collaborate with reactor physics, thermal-hydraulics, electrical engineering, and operations teams to meet program requirements.
• Interface with vendors, labs, and regulatory bodies on detectorprocurement, radiation monitoring equipment, and safety systems.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or related discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in nuclear I&C, radiation detection, reactor protection, or related areas.
• Hands-on experience with:
• Neutron detectors (fission chambers, B-10proportional counters)
• Signal processing electronics (wide-range, source rangechannels)
• Area/process radiation monitors and environmental monitoring instrumentation
• Strong understanding of nuclear standards: IEEE 603, ANSI/ANS-specific radiation monitoring standards
• Experience with safety classification, SIL analysis, FMEA, and hazard analysis.
• Ability to lead technical projects and cross-functional engineering efforts.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering or related field.
• Experience with HTGR, sodium-cooled, or research reactor designs.
• Experience with data acquisition systems, digital I&C platforms, and PLCs (e.g., Allen-Bradley).
• Familiarity with radiation transport modeling and detector response simulations.
• Experience with environmental qualification per IEEE 323 and seismic qualification per IEEE 344.
• Priorregulatory engagement (NRC, DOE, INL, ORNL, etc.).
• Experience writing safety basis documents, technical reports, or licensing submittals.

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary
• Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company
• Comprehensive medical benefits
• Unlimited PTO
• Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite
• Generous PPE stipend
• High-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomy
• Opportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancementDirect collaboration with experienced operators, engineers, and industry leaders
• The opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground up

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Valar Atomics is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We are committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment and will provide reasonable accommodation as required by law.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder).

Salary

$173,000 — $211,000 USD