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Welding Engineer - Nuclear Fabrication & Pressure Systems

Hawthorne

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 Role 

Valar Atomics is seeking a Welding Engineer to lead the development, qualification, and production implementation of welding processes for advanced reactor systems, pressure vessels, high-temperature piping, structural assemblies, and fuel fabrication infrastructure. 
 
This role will be instrumental in establishing Valar's nuclear manufacturing capabilities from the ground up, including welding procedure qualification, supplier qualification, fabrication oversight, and development of scalable production methods for first-of-a-kind nuclear hardware. 

Responsibilities 

  • Develop and qualify welding procedures in accordance with ASME Section IX and applicable nuclear fabrication standards. 
  • Support fabrication and inspection of pressure vessels, reactor vessels, heat exchangers, piping systems, and pressure-retaining components. 
  • Collaborate with design engineers on weld joint design, material selection, and fabrication requirements. 
  • Establish weld maps, traveler documentation, traceability systems, and fabrication records required for nuclear-quality manufacturing. 
  • Support implementation of NQA-1 quality requirements and manufacturing controls. 
  • Interface with Authorized Inspectors, third-party inspectors, and regulatory stakeholders. 
  • Develop welding specifications for stainless steels, nickel alloys, carbon steels and advanced high-temperature materials. 

You Will Be Successful in This Role If 

  • You establish robust, repeatable welding processes that consistently meet ASME code requirements and Valar's quality standards. 
  • You successfully qualify welding procedures and production methods for pressure vessels, reactor hardware, and other critical components. 
  • You proactively identify manufacturing risks and develop practical solutions before they impact schedule, cost, or quality. 
  • You build strong partnerships with design, manufacturing, quality, and supplier teams to drive rapid execution and continuous improvement. 
  • You create scalable fabrication processes that support Valar's transition from prototype development to commercial deployment. 
  • You maintain a strong culture of quality, safety, traceability, and engineering rigor across all welding and fabrication activities. 
  • You leverage data, testing, and engineering judgment to continuously improve weld quality, manufacturing efficiency, and production throughput. 
  • You take ownership of complex technical challenges and deliver results in a fast-paced, first-of-a-kind engineering environment. 
  • You help establish Valar as a world-class manufacturer of advanced nuclear systems and high-temperature reactor technology. 

Basic Qualifications 

  • Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or equivalent. 
  • 3+ years of welding engineering experience in pressure vessels, nuclear, aerospace, defense, petrochemical, or power generation industries. 
  • Demonstrated experience developing and qualifying WPS/PQRs under ASME Section IX. 
  • Strong understanding of weld metallurgy, heat treatment, distortion control, and residual stress management. 
  • Experience supporting fabrication of pressure-retaining hardware and code-stamped components. 
  • Knowledge of NDE methods including RT, UT, PAUT, TOFD, PT, and MT. 
  • Experience with root-cause analysis and weld failure investigations. 
  • Ability to read and interpret ASME, AWS, and engineering specifications. 

Preferred Qualifications 

  • Certified Welding Engineer (CWE). 
  • Experience with ASME Section III nuclear components. 
  • Familiarity with NQA-1 quality systems. 
  • Experience supporting reactor hardware, pressure vessels, steam generators, heat exchangers, or nuclear fuel-cycle equipment. 
  • Experience with nickel alloys, Inconel, Hastelloy, high-temperature stainless steels, and dissimilar-metal welds. 
  • Experience with automated, robotic, orbital, or precision welding systems. 
  • Experience supporting NRC-regulated or DOE-regulated projects. 
  • Startup manufacturing or first-of-a-kind hardware development experience. 
  • Experience with ASME U, R, and S Stamp. 

What We Offer  

  • Competitive base salary 
  • Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company 
  • Comprehensive medical benefits 
  • Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite 
  • 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

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

$100,000 - $140,000 USD

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