Technical Fellow, Instrumentation and Controls

Job Description
X-energy, LLC is seeking a Technical Fellow - Instrumentation and Control (I&C) to serve as the company's technical authority on instrumentation for the Xe-100 high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR). The successful candidate provides guidance, sets the standards, reviews and approves the work of others, and provides authoritative technical judgment across the instrumentation lifecycle - from measurement concept through procurement, factory testing, and site commissioning. While primarily consulting, reviewer, and approver role, the Fellow is expected to perform hands-on work as needed to establish expectations, demonstrate standards, and provide worked examples that define the expected rigor and quality of instrumentation engineering. A central dimension of the role is deep experience developing modes of operation for first-of-a-kind technology, ensuring that instrumentation and control approaches are grounded in how a novel plant will actually be operated.

Job Profile Tasks/Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior technical authority and design approver for instrumentation across the Xe-100 program, applying deep expertise in sensor technologies, associated hardware, installation schemes, setting the direction for developing new sensors and installation methods where existing solutions are inadequate
• Provide expert guidance on the development of detailed description on operating modes and states for first-of-a-kind technology
• Ensuring instrumentation and control approaches are driven by, and consistent with, the plant's concept of operations - review and approving how measurements and protective functions map to each operating mode and transition
• Review and approve instrument technology selections and the associated redundancy and voting schemes proposed by the engineering team, based on measurement inputs from system designer/process engineer
• Develop standards, guidance documents and approve installation schemes for standard measurements, including additional hardware for installation
• Guide and approve the development of technology selection and installation schemes for non-standard and first-of-a-kind measurement technologies
• Establish specification standards and review/approve sensor and instrument specifications prepared for procurement, ensuring they are clear, complete, and fit for purchasing and supplier engagemen
• Lead or oversee the technical evaluation of received instrument quotes and approve supplier recommendations for specific measurement technologies based on that evaluation
• Advise purchasing and support organizations on the technical aspects of procuring and delivering instruments and associated hardware packages to site on schedule
• Provide oversight and expert support for instrument testing at the factory, at site, and at other stages, reviewing test approaches and results to confirm performance against specification
• Provide expert consultation and selective hands-on support for instrumentation-related installation and commissioning at project sites, helping resolve field issues and confirming as-installed performance meets expectations
• Provide senior I&C expertise into power plant controls development, including review and guidance on control hardware for the investment protection system and the reactor protection system
• Provide guidance for safety analysis workshops and efforts e.g. HAZID/HAZOP/LOPA etc.
• Act as a technical mentor and cross-functional influencer - elevating the I&C capability of the broader engineering organization, defining quality and rigor expectations, and guiding systems engineering, design, licensing, procurement, and project teams through expertise rather than positional authority

Job Profile Minimum Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Instrumentation & Control, Mechanical, Nuclear, or a related engineering discipline
• 25+ years of progressive engineering experience with a demonstrated record of deep, recognized technical expertise in instrumentation and controls
• Extensive hands-on background in sensor technologies, associated hardware, and installation schemes, including experience developing new sensors and installation approaches
• Demonstrated experience developing modes of operation for first-of-a-kind or novel technology, and aligning instrumentation and control design with concept-of-operations development
• Demonstrated project execution experience - delivering instrumentation scope through the full project lifecycle (design, specification, procurement, testing, installation, and commissioning) on schedule and within defined constraints
• Demonstrated experience selecting instrument technologies and defining redundancy and voting schemes for measurements of varying accuracy, response-time, and criticality requirements
• Experience supporting factory and site testing and installation/commissioning of instrumentation on power, process, or industrial plants
• Deep working knowledge of measurement physics and instrument selection across temperature, pressure, flow, level, neutron flux, and related process and nuclear measurements
• Understanding of control and protection system architecture, including control hardware for investment protection and reactor protection systems
• Familiarity with instrument qualification, environmental/service conditions, and the engineering trade-offs that drive redundancy, diversity, and voting logic
• Recognized technical authority whose judgment on instrumentation and measurement is trusted across a program, with first-principles rigor in reasoning about sensors, installation, and measurement uncertainty
• Proven ability to carry a measurement need end-to-end - from concept through technology selection, specification, procurement, testing, and commissioning
• Treats safety as the overriding priority and models a questioning attitude; thrives in a first-of-a-kind environment where measurement challenges are novel and solutions must often be developed rather than purchased

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in engineering discipline with an instrumentation, controls, or electrical focus
• Extensive experience developing modes of operation for first-of-a-kind or novel plants/systems, including leading the translation of operational intent into inputs for instrumentation and protection requirements
• Experience with High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors (HTGRs), SMRs, or other advanced reactor technologies, including high-temperature and helium-environment instrumentation challenges
• Familiarity with nuclear I&C standards and regulatory expectations (e.g., IEEE-603, IEEE-7-4.3.2, NRC I&C guidance) and their impact on instrument and control system design
• Experience developing novel sensing or installation solutions where commercial off-the-shelf options do not meet requirements
• Strong track record of technical mentorship, authorship of standards/specifications, and cross-functional technical leadership through influence rather than direct authority
• Professional Engineer (PE) license

Location: 9801 Washingtonian Boulevard, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Travel Expectations: 10%
Work Site Expectations: 4 days a week in office
Hours: 8:00am ET to 5:00pm ET, Monday - Friday

Compensation

As required by Maryland and other applicable state law, X Energy, LLC (X-energy) lists the expected compensation range for a publicly advertised job opportunity based upon the job requirements (e.g. education/training, experience, skill sets, etc.). Individual candidates who meet the job requirements for the posted position will be offered a salary within this range based on their respective levels of education/training, experience, and other qualifications unique to them. Salary ranges may vary based on the specific office location and region referenced in the posting to take into consideration differences in cost of living and may not be reflective of all regions. Please note that compensation ranges listed for US job postings reflect base salary only and do not include benefits or other incentives.

Offers within the posted salary range are commensurate with the individual's qualifications for the position, along with a view on internal equity, market data, and room for growth. The salary range for this position is:
$254,625 - $284,813

Position Job Classification
Full time - Exempt

Benefits

X Energy, LLC offers a robust benefits package that includes a 401K plan with an employer match, Medical/Dental /Vision Insurance, Life and Disability Insurance, Paid Time Off, and a Tuition Reimbursement/Professional Development policy that supports the continuing education of our employees.