Automation & Controls Engineer, Functional Safety

General Matter, Inc. is an American nuclear energy company based in California that is focused on developing domestic nuclear energy solutions. The company aims to harness nuclear technology to increase national energy prosperity, reduce dependence on foreign energy sources, and support the expansion of American capabilities in the energy sector. Their work centers on making nuclear energy more accessible and practical by advancing technologies that can be developed and deployed within the United States. General Matter's mission is rooted in the belief that nuclear power represents a critical pathway toward a cleaner, more energy-independent future. By turning domestic nuclear potential into operational reality, the company positions itself at the intersection of national security, economic growth, and climate-conscious energy production. Their approach emphasizes building nuclear energy infrastructure that is homegrown rather than reliant on foreign supply chains or expertise. The company brings together leaders from nuclear engineering, technology, government, and finance, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to solving the complex challenges of modern nuclear energy development. As a startup operating in the green and climate technology sector, General Matter represents a new wave of private investment in nuclear energy as a viable and scalable low-carbon power source for the United States.

About the company 

General Matter enriches uranium.

We are designing, building, and operating the world’s lowest-cost enrichment services, here in the US.  

In the process, we are restoring America’s ability to produce nuclear fuel to power AI, advanced manufacturing and critical industries our country relies on to remain competitive. 

Fuel drives the cost of advanced reactor electricity production, and enrichment drives the cost of the fuel that advanced reactors consume.  Reliable, low-cost enrichment is the catalyst for the nuclear Renaissance now under way.

Our mission is to make nuclear not only the cleanest and safest source of baseload power, but also the most affordable.  We believe abundant nuclear energy will lead to a post-scarcity society. 

We were incubated inside Founders Fund, like Anduril and Palantir before us, and are backed by over a dozen of the world's top venture capital firms.  

Our lean, world-class team of engineers and operators is applying a first-principles approach to solving the problem of nuclear fuel production.  

We are a mission-driven company with a culture of urgency, accountability, and transparency. 

Help us build a high-energy society by making the cleanest, safest form of baseload energy the most affordable. 

About This Role 

We’re looking for an Automation & Controls Engineer focused on Functional Safety to own the safety-critical controls systems that support our industrial operations. In this role, you will serve as the functional safety expert for electrical panels, PLC deployments, instrumentation, interlocks, and safety instrumented systems, ensuring that each system is designed, documented, tested, and commissioned in accordance with applicable safety standards and regulatory requirements. You will work closely with electrical, mechanical, process, nuclear, operations, and safety teams to translate hazardous-process requirements into reliable controls architectures, validated shutdown logic, and field-ready systems that protect people, equipment, and operations.

Responsibilities

• Design, specify, and commission PLC, HMI, SCADA, instrumentation, and safety instrumented systems for hazardous industrial equipment.
• Lead functional safety lifecycle activities, including hazard analysis, SIL determination, SRS development, verification, validation, and proof testing.
• Develop controls architecture, interlocks, permissives, shutdown logic, cause-and-effect matrices, and alarm strategies.
• Support design reviews, HAZOPs, LOPAs, FAT/SAT, commissioning, troubleshooting, and operational readiness.
• Produce clear engineering documentation for regulated, safety-critical systems, including requirements, test plans, drawings, and change records.
• Work cross-functionally with mechanical, electrical, process, nuclear, operations, and safety teams to deliver reliable facility systems.

Basic Qualifications

• Working knowledge of functional safety standards such as IEC 61508, IEC 61511, ISA 84, or equivalent.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Controls, Chemical, Mechanical, Nuclear Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience designing, commissioning, or maintaining industrial automation and control systems.
• Hands-on experience with PLCs, HMIs, SCADA, industrial networks, instrumentation, and control panels.
• Experience developing and validating interlocks, safety functions, trip logic, and shutdown systems for hazardous processes.
• Ability to work on-site with high-hazard equipment and controlled facility environments.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• TÜV Functional Safety Engineer certification or equivalent functional safety credential.
• Experience with uranium processing, nuclear facilities, chemical plants, test stands, or other high-consequence industrial systems.
• Familiarity with NFPA 70 / NEC, UL 508A industrial control panel requirements, panel listing practices, SCCR, grounding, overcurrent protection, and field installation code compliance.
• Familiarity with HAZOP, LOPA, SIL verification, FMEA, fault tree analysis, and management of change.
• Knowledge of electrical codes, hazardous locations, machine safety, pressure systems, and facility safety practices.
• Strong bias toward rigorous engineering, field execution, documentation, and operational ownership.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary. 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

General Matter is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with General Matter is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status. 

Compensation and Benefits 

The base salary range for this role is $100,000–$200,000 annually. 

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan. 

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