The RoleOur HTGR power conversion system will be built around a secondary loop Brayton cycle, high-speed turbomachinery operating on helium, sCO2, and even air at extreme temperatures and pressures, paired with development generator sets and a purpose-built test facility program. The Director of IC&E for Power Conversion owns the full instrumentation, control, and electrical architecture across this system: from early R&D and rig design through test facility construction, commissioning, and ultimately integrated plant operation.
This role demands someone who can operate at two levels simultaneously with a hands-on technical authority who understands turbomachinery dynamics, high-speed generator control, and test system instrumentation at a deep level, and a team leader who builds and develops the IC&E organization around the power conversion program. Candidates from oil & gas, aerospace propulsion, industrial turbomachinery, or power generation are strongly preferred. Nuclear background is a plus, not a prerequisite.
Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership - Turbomachinery & Power Conversion - Own the IC&E design basis for the primary to secondary coolant loop Brayton cycle power conversion unit (PCU), including compressor, turbine, recuperator, and intercooler control systems
- Define instrumentation strategy for high-speed rotating machinery - shaft dynamics, vibration monitoring, tip clearance, temperature, pressure, and flow measurement in helium environments
- Develop control system architecture for turbomachinery startup, shutdown, load following, trip logic, and speed/load governing
- Lead IC&E design for development generator sets - excitation systems, voltage regulation, synchronization, protection relays, and grid interface or islanded operation schemes
- Establish electrical power distribution design for the power conversion facility: MV/LV switchgear, variable frequency drives (VFDs), power electronics, and auxiliary systems
Test Facility Design, Construction & Commissioning - Lead IC&E scope for the design and construction of turbomachinery development and test facilities - from instrumentation layout and data acquisition architecture through facility electrical design
- Own IC&E commissioning planning and execution
- Establish instrumentation calibration programs, measurement uncertainty budgets, and data quality standards for development testing
Program & Team Leadership - Build, lead, and mentor the power conversion IC&E engineering team across disciplines, controls, instrumentation, electrical, and data systems
- Define team structure, staffing plans, and competency roadmap as the program scales from R&D through construction and commissioning phases
- Manage IC&E scope, schedule, and budget within the broader power conversion program
- Select and manage IC&E vendors, system integrators, and instrumentation suppliers; define qualification, calibration, and acceptance requirements
- Collaborate closely with turbomachinery, mechanical, thermal-hydraulics, systems engineering, and the reactor IC&E team to ensure integrated plant control architecture is coherent across the PCU-reactor interface
Phase Continuity - Carry IC&E ownership across all power conversion program phases: conceptual design 1 detailed engineering 1 test facility procurement and construction 1 commissioning and integrated testing 1 reactor plant integration
You Will Be Successful in This Role If - You enjoy solving first-of-a-kind engineering challenges where there is no existing playbook
- You communicate effectively with executives, regulators, customers, and engineering teams, translating complex technical concepts into clear decisions.
- You thrive in fast-moving environments where priorities evolve, but safety and engineering quality remain uncompromising.
Basic Qualifications - 15+ years of engineering experience in instrumentation, control systems, and/or electrical design for rotating machinery, turbomachinery, or high-performance industrial systems
- Demonstrated hands-on experience with turbomachinery control systems - speed governing, surge protection, bearing monitoring, trip logic, or equivalent
- Experience leading IC&E scope on test facilities, development rigs, or capital construction projects
- Strong foundation in electrical systems design: switchgear, motor drives, protection and controls, and facility power distribution
- Experience managing IC&E teams and vendor relationships across multiple project phases
Preferred Skills and Experience - Experience with high-speed generators, excitation systems, and power conversion electronics
- Background in Brayton cycle, gas turbine, or compressor-expander systems
- Familiarity with helium or other working fluid systems and associated instrumentation challenges (low viscosity, high thermal conductivity, leak detection)
- Experience with high-bandwidth data acquisition systems and dynamic measurement in rotating machinery applications
- Nuclear industry experience, commercial, defense, or national laboratory particularly in power conversion or balance-of-plant systems
- Knowledge of relevant standards: API 670 (machinery protection), IEEE 1023 (nuclear BOP control), IEC 61511 (functional safety), NFPA 70/79
- PE license (Instrumentation, Control, or Electrical) a plus
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 advancement
- Direct collaboration with experienced operators, engineers, and industry leaders
- The opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground up
Salary$225,000-$300,000 USD
