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Director Instrumentation, Control, and Electrical – Power Conversion

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 

Our 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 → detailed engineering → test facility procurement and construction → commissioning and integrated testing →  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

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

$225,000 - $300,000 USD

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