The TeamYou will lead E&I engineering for Valar Atomics' reactor program within the Instrumentation, Control & Electrical (IC&E) organization. E&I delivers the plant's field layer: the process instrumentation that measures it and the low-voltage electrical systems that power its process and auxiliary equipment. You will work alongside I&C, electrical, mechanical, process, and nuclear safety engineers in a hands-on team that values technical depth, disciplined documentation, cost-conscious design, and safety.
The Role Valar Atomics is seeking a Lead E&I Engineer to join our reactor program. This is a player-coach role. You will direct and develop E&I engineers, designers, and the contract engineering firms that extend the team, while remaining its most senior hands-on technical voice: specifying instruments, approving drawing packages, and commissioning equipment in the field. You will also write the standards that let a first-of-a-kind nuclear plant be built and maintained with the discipline of a well-run process facility.
Key Responsibilities Technical Leadership
- Direct, review, and mentor engineers, designers, and contract engineering firms on E&I scope, holding deliverables to Valar standards.
- Own E&I scope, schedule, and budget for assigned systems.
- Support hiring and interview candidates.
- Drive cost-effective design: right-size specifications, standardize equipment, and challenge cost that doesn't buy safety or reliability.
Instrumentation
- Select and specify process instrumentation, analyzers, gas detection, and control and shutdown valves.
- Own the instrument index, data sheets, loop diagrams, and installation details.
- Write control narratives and define I/O requirements with I&C, who owns control system architecture and logic.
Low-Voltage Electrical
- Design LV power distribution for process areas and facilities, including MCCs, VFDs, transformers, heat tracing, and lighting. Coordinate with Electrical Power at the MV/LV interface.
- Produce and approve one-lines, schematics, raceway and cable plans, and grounding plans.
- Own hazardous area classification and the equipment selection and installation practices that follow.
Standards, Vendors, and Process Safety
- Develop E&I design standards, typical installation details, preferred equipment lists, and specification templates.
- Review vendor and skid E&I packages, support bid evaluation, and witness factory acceptance tests.
- Represent E&I in HAZOP, LOPA, and MOC reviews, and maintain records consistent with nuclear quality requirements.
Construction and Commissioning
- Support construction through field walkdowns, inspections, and as-builts.
- Lead E&I commissioning in the field: loop checks, calibration verification, energization, and motor and VFD startup, troubleshooting issues through turnover to operations.
Basic Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
- 10+ years of E&I engineering experience in process industries, power generation, or comparable industrial facilities.
- Hands-on experience specifying process instrumentation and valves.
- LV electrical design experience for industrial facilities, including motor control, grounding, and hazardous area classification.
- E&I ownership of capital projects from design through field commissioning, including performing or directing loop checks, energization, and startup.
- Experience directing and reviewing the work of other engineers, designers, or contractors.
- Working knowledge of relevant NEC, ISA, API, and IEEE standards and of process safety reviews (HAZOP, LOPA, MOC).
- Working familiarity with DCS and PLC systems at the I/O and control narrative level.
Preferred Skills and Experience - Professional Engineer (P.E.) registration.
- Supervisory or people management experience.
- Experience at nuclear facilities (NQA-1 / 10 CFR 50 Appendix B) or other high-consequence regulated facilities, such as PSM-covered sites.
- Functional safety experience (IEC 61511 / ISA-84).
- A track record of reducing project cost through value engineering or standardization.
- Instrumentation experience in high-temperature or specialty gas service.
- Experience on first-of-a-kind or greenfield programs, including building E&I standards from scratch.
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$196,000-$240,000 USD
