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Senior Automation and Controls Engineer

Torrance, California, United States

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 Team 

You will be joining Valar Atomics' Automation and Controls team within the Instrumentation, Control & Electrical (IC&E) organization. I&C Software Engineers own the logic and data layer PLC and DCS application code, ISA-88 batch sequences, SCADA and HMI applications, historian infrastructure, and enterprise integration across the reactor program and fuel manufacturing operations. You will work alongside I&C Hardware, electrical, process, and nuclear safety engineers in an environment that blends traditional control systems with modern software and data integration practice. The team values operator-focused design, data integrity, disciplined documentation, and a safety-first culture. 

 

The Role

Valar Atomics is seeking Senior Automation and Controls Engineers to develop, configure, test, and commission the control system software for our reactor and nuclear fuel manufacturing facilities. The role covers PLC and DCS programming, SCADA and HMI application development, ISA-88 batch control, alarm management, safety logic programming, historian configuration, and ISA-95 enterprise integration supporting both capital projects and ongoing plant operations. This is a senior position: you will own controls software scope end-to-end, from functional specification through commissioning and long-term support, and provide technical direction to contractors, vendors, and junior engineers. 

 

Key Responsibilities 

  • Develop and maintain PLC and DCS application programs using platforms such as Rockwell ControlLogix/CompactLogix, Siemens S7/TIA Portal, Emerson, or equivalent; program in ladder logic, function block, structured text, and sequential function chart per IEC 61131-3. 
  • Develop and configure SCADA applications on platforms such as Ignition, Rockwell FactoryTalk, AVEVA System Platform, Siemens WinCC, or equivalent; build and maintain tag databases, user-defined types, communication drivers, scripting, templates, and client and redundancy architecture. 
  • Design HMI displays at both the local panel level (Rockwell PanelView, Siemens WinCC, or equivalent) and the supervisory SCADA level in accordance with ISA-101 and High-Performance HMI (HPHMI) principles, including display hierarchy, navigation, and situational awareness graphics. 
  • Develop batch control software in accordance with ISA-88, including phase logic, equipment modules, unit procedures, recipe management, equipment arbitration, and material tracking; build the supervisory batch layer for batch execution monitoring, unit status, and recipe progress display and reporting. 
  • Configure and manage alarm system software to ISA-18.2, including setpoints, priorities, deadbands, shelving and suppression logic, and alarm performance KPI reporting. 
  • Program, configure, and functionally test safety logic on SIS platforms (Rockwell GuardLogix, Siemens F-CPU, Triconex, or equivalent) in accordance with IEC 61511. 
  • Configure plant historian systems (OSIsoft PI / AVEVA PI, Ignition Historian, Rockwell FactoryTalk Historian, or equivalent) including tag configuration, compression and exception settings, and asset framework modelling; build process data dashboards and operational reports. 
  • Implement ISA-95 enterprise-control integration including data exchange interfaces between control systems and MES, ERP, and LIMS; develop and consume REST APIs and database interfaces. 
  • Configure and troubleshoot industrial communication protocols in software including OPC-UA, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus TCP/RTU, and DeviceNet; configure server and client endpoints, tag mapping, and interfaces between SCADA and PLC, DCS, SIS, historian, and third-party systems. 
  • Write SQL queries and stored procedures and Python scripts for data processing, transaction handling, report generation, and control system test automation. 
  • Apply software configuration management practice including version control, change control, structured code review, controller and SCADA application backup and restore, and disaster recovery testing. 
  • Define OT network architecture and configure cybersecurity controls in accordance with IEC 62443 or NIST SP 800-82, including zone and conduit design, VLAN and switch configuration, role-based access control, authentication, secure protocol configuration, and coordination of patching and application allow-listing. 
  • Prepare and execute software FAT, SAT, and commissioning test plans; maintain engineering documentation including functional specifications, control narratives, cause-and-effect matrices, tag lists, alarm databases, and as-built software records. 
  • Diagnose and resolve control system software faults including PLC and SCADA communication failures, logic defects, sequence stalls, historian data gaps, and application performance issues; perform root cause analysis and document corrective actions. 
  • Coordinate with I&C Hardware Engineers on I/O assignment, tag naming, signal scaling, and loop commissioning to ensure control logic and field hardware are consistent. 
  • Provide technical direction to contractors, consultants, and junior engineers on controls software scope; review and redline control system software deliverables to ensure compliance with project standards and nuclear quality requirements. 
  • Maintain disciplined engineering records consistent with nuclear quality requirements, ensuring traceability of design decisions, software changes, and test results. 

 

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Electronic, Computer, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or a related discipline. 
  • 5+ years of controls software, PLC programming, or SCADA development experience in process industries. 
  • Hands-on PLC programming experience with at least one major platform (Rockwell, Siemens, Emerson, or equivalent) using IEC 61131-3 languages. 
  • Hands-on experience developing or maintaining SCADA applications on at least one major platform (Ignition, FactoryTalk, AVEVA, WinCC, or equivalent). 
  • Experience designing HMI displays to ISA-101 or HPHMI principles. 
  • Experience developing batch control sequences in accordance with ISA-88. 
  • Experience configuring alarm management systems with working knowledge of ISA-18.2. 
  • Experience configuring plant historian systems and building operational data dashboards. 
  • Familiarity with ISA-95 enterprise-control integration concepts. 
  • Working knowledge of OPC-UA, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, or Modbus communication protocols. 
  • Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, loop diagrams, and I/O lists sufficient to develop, test, and commission control logic. 
  • Working knowledge of software version control and change control practice for control system applications. 
  • Working knowledge of safety logic programming and functional testing under IEC 61511. 

 

Preferred Skills and Experience 

  • Ignition Certified Designer, Rockwell Automation Certified Programmer, Siemens TIA Portal certification, or equivalent platform certification. 
  • ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP) or equivalent credentials. 
  • Professional Engineer (PE) license. 
  • Experience with ISA-88 batch control implementation including recipe management and material genealogy tracking. 
  • Experience developing safety logic to IEC 61511 under a formal software validation and functional test regime. 
  • Experience with OSIsoft PI / AVEVA PI including PI AF asset framework configuration and PI Web API. 
  • Experience writing SQL queries and stored procedures (SQL Server, PostgreSQL, or equivalent) for operational reporting and historian-to-database data feeds. 
  • Experience with Python scripting for data processing, API integration, or control system test automation. 
  • Experience with REST API development or consumption for system integration. 
  • Experience with Git or equivalent version control applied to controller and SCADA application code. 
  • Experience with LIMS integration (LabWare, Uncountable, LabVantage, or equivalent). 
  • Familiarity with GAMP 5, 21 CFR Part 11, or nuclear quality (NQA-1) requirements for control system software validation. 
  • Exposure to IEC 62443 OT cybersecurity standards and secure network architecture for industrial control systems. 
  • Experience with virtualised or containerised SCADA and historian infrastructure, including server and client redundancy

 

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

$144,000 - $176,000 USD

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