Instrumentation Controls & Electrical Superintendent

Valar Atomics is a nuclear energy company focused on scaling high-temperature gas reactors (HTGRs) for grid-independent industrial applications. The company is developing what it calls gigasites, large-scale facilities housing hundreds of nuclear reactors intended to power heavy industry, data centers, hydrogen production, and clean hydrocarbon fuel synthesis. Their reactor design uses TRISO fuel, a graphite moderator, and helium coolant, a combination the company highlights for its strong safety profile and proliferation resistance. By operating outside the traditional electricity grid, Valar Atomics aims to unlock economies of scale that have historically eluded the nuclear industry. Valar Atomics' mission centers on making nuclear energy the cheapest and most reliable energy source in the world, with a particular emphasis on decarbonizing industrial processes and enabling clean fuel production. Their hydrogen output, generated via a sulfur-iodine thermochemical cycle, can be combined with captured CO2 to produce synthetic hydrocarbons through a modified Fischer-Tropsch process, offering a pathway to drop-in clean fuels. The company also targets the surging power demands of AI data centers, which are projected to require over 200 additional terawatt-hours of grid power by 2030. The company is currently advancing its Ward 250 project, a test reactor being developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, the San Rafael Energy Research Center, and the State of Utah, with a target go-live date of July 4, 2026, America's 250th birthday. The reactor has already been physically transported to Emery County, Utah, with logistical support from the U.S. military. Four executive orders issued under the Trump administration provided a mandate supporting the project's accelerated deployment timeline.

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 

The Instrumentation, Controls & Electrical (IC&E) team supports the installation, commissioning, maintenance, calibration, testing, and troubleshooting of instrumentation, controls, and electrical systems across Valar Atomics facilities and projects. The team works closely with Engineering, Operations, and other field disciplines to safely build, operate, and maintain reliable plant systems. 

The Role

The IC&E Superintendent provides overall leadership and direction for Valar Atomics' IC&E field organization. This position is responsible for developing and executing the IC&E workforce and field strategy across projects and facilities, including supervision of IC&E Front Line Supervisors, workforce planning, staffing, resource allocation, safety, quality, technical execution, commissioning and startup support, and personnel development. The Superintendent serves as the senior IC&E field representative and primary interface between IC&E, Engineering, Operations, Construction, project leadership, and other supporting organizations. This role requires a strong technical IC&E background combined with demonstrated leadership, organizational judgment, and the ability to build and develop high-performing technical teams. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Lead and oversee IC&E field operations, including supervisors, technicians, and apprentices. 

• Plan manpower, staffing, equipment, materials, and resources based on project and operational needs. 

• Recruit, interview, onboard, develop, and retain IC&E personnel. 

• Establish expectations for safety, quality, productivity, accountability, and technical performance. 

• Oversee installation, calibration, testing, troubleshooting, maintenance, commissioning, startup, and system turnover activities. 

• Coordinate field execution with Engineering, Operations, Construction, Project Management, and other disciplines. 

• Identify manpower, scheduling, material, equipment, and technical risks and develop solutions. 

• Support development of IC&E procedures, technical standards, work practices, training, apprenticeship, and qualification programs. 

• Oversee calibration programs, test equipment, tooling, materials, documentation, and field readiness. 

• Ensure work complies with applicable safety, quality, engineering, company, and regulatory requirements. 

• Provide technical leadership and escalation support for complex instrumentation, controls, and electrical issues. 

• Coach and evaluate supervisors and field personnel, including performance management and succession planning. 

• Coordinate manpower and resources across multiple projects and changing priorities. 

• Communicate project status, staffing needs, technical concerns, and execution risks to leadership. 

• Drive continuous improvement in safety, quality, training, technical capability, and field execution. 

Basic Qualifications 

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent. 

• Extensive hands-on experience with instrumentation, controls, electrical systems, industrial maintenance, construction, or commissioning. 

• Proven experience supervising technical craft personnel and frontline supervisors. 

• Strong knowledge of instrumentation, control systems, industrial electrical systems, and process equipment. 

• Experience with installation, calibration, testing, commissioning, startup, maintenance, and troubleshooting. 

• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, loop drawings, technical specifications, and work packages. 

• Experience planning manpower, resources, schedules, and technical work across multiple priorities. 

• Strong understanding of industrial safety, quality requirements, work controls, and field risk management. 

• Demonstrated ability to build teams, develop employees, manage performance, and establish accountability. 

• Strong leadership, communication, decision-making, organizational, and problem-solving skills. 

• Ability to work effectively with Engineering, Operations, Construction, Project Management, leadership, and field personnel. 

• Willingness to work variable schedules and travel between project locations. 

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Previous experience as an IC&E/I&E Superintendent, IC&E Manager, Electrical & Instrumentation Manager, General Foreman, or senior IC&E Supervisor. 

• Experience in nuclear, power generation, utilities, advanced energy, chemical/petrochemical, oil & gas, manufacturing, EPC, or industrial/process facilities. 

• Experience leading multiple supervisors and technical crews across concurrent projects or locations. 

• Strong commissioning, startup, outage, construction, and system turnover experience. 

• Experience building or expanding an IC&E/I&E workforce. 

• Experience developing apprenticeship, training, qualification, or technical standards programs. 

• Advanced knowledge of instrumentation, control loops, PLC/DCS systems, industrial electrical systems, and process equipment. 

• Experience with manpower forecasting, resource planning, project planning, and departmental budgeting. 

• Technical education or apprenticeship in instrumentation, controls, electrical, automation, engineering technology, construction management, or a related field. 

• OSHA, NFPA 70E, electrical safety, supervisory/management, or related industrial certifications preferred. 

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).