Instrumentation & Controls Engineer

Last Energy is a nuclear energy company that designs, builds, owns, and operates small modular reactors (SMRs) for industrial and commercial customers. The company's flagship product, the PWR-20, is a 20 MWe pressurized water reactor that is fully modular and factory-produced, enabling faster and more cost-effective deployment than traditional nuclear power plants. Last Energy serves as a behind-the-meter independent power producer, supplying reliable baseload electricity to energy-intensive industries including data centers, metals production, food and beverage, pulp and paper, chemicals, and cement manufacturing. The company's mission centers on making nuclear power radically simpler and more accessible by removing the burden of development, financing, and operations from customers through a power purchase agreement model. This approach aligns nuclear energy deployment with the urgent need for resilient, low-carbon power, particularly as demand from AI infrastructure and industrial growth accelerates. Last Energy's use of proven reactor technology combined with proprietary steel containment systems is designed to streamline licensing and reduce construction timelines. Last Energy represents a new generation of nuclear developers focused on decarbonizing hard-to-abate industrial sectors with firm, emissions-free power. By standardizing and modularizing the entire plant through factory manufacturing, the company aims to bring predictable costs and schedules to a sector historically challenged by both, positioning SMRs as a practical climate solution at commercial scale.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Control System Specification: Define functional requirements and performance expectations for PLCs, HMIs, remote I/O, motor controllers, VFDs, and safety devices.

Support vendor selection and review vendor deliverables for technical adequacy

PLC & HMI Oversight: Review, validate, and support PLC logic and HMI designs developed by vendors or integrators. Ensure systems are modular, testable, and aligned with operational and safety requirements

System Architecture & Integration: Integrate electrical, instrumentation, and automation components into cohesive control system architectures, ensuring interoperability across hardware, networks, and field devices

Automation Improvements: Identify opportunities to automate manual or error-prone processes to improve reliability, consistency, and operational margins

Instrumentation Specification: Select and specify field instrumentation (pressure, temperature, flow, level, etc.), including accuracy, environmental suitability, and interface requirements

Electrical & Controls Coordination: Provide technical direction for control panels, power distribution (24 VDC / 120 VAC), grounding, and signal interfaces. Review drawings and wiring packages produced by vendors or fabricators

Lifecycle & Obsolescence Management: Manage component lifecycles, including qualification of substitutes, vendor coordination, and long-term maintainability planning

Field Deployment: Support and oversee fabrication, installation, and wiring of control cabinets and field devices, working directly with electricians, technicians, and vendors

Commissioning & Startup: Lead or support Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), loop checks, and startup activities. Troubleshoot integration issues involving wiring, instrumentation, communications, and control logic

Operational Support: Provide expert troubleshooting for installed systems, resolving complex electrical, instrumentation, and controls issues during operations

Safety Integration: Ensure control and instrumentation systems meet safety basis requirements applicable to DOE Hazard Category 1, 2, or 3 nuclear facilities

Configuration Management: Maintain disciplined configuration control of hardware and software changes. Ensure as-built documentation reflects the installed configuration and approved modifications

Vendor & Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a technical interface between internal teams, vendors, and contractors to ensure safety, quality, and schedule expectations are met

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related technical field

3+ years of experience supporting industrial electrical, instrumentation, and control systems in a hands-on or field-facing role

Practical experience working with PLC-based control systems (e.g., Siemens, Allen-Bradley), including reviewing logic, supporting testing, and troubleshooting deployed systems

Strong understanding of industrial electronics, instrumentation, and low-voltage power distribution

Demonstrated experience working directly with vendors, integrators, technicians, and installers in commissioning or operational environments

Familiarity with industrial control system cybersecurity concepts and best practices (IEC 62443 knowledge is a plus)

Experience in nuclear, oil & gas, chemical processing, or other highly regulated, safety-critical industries

Working knowledge of industrial communication protocols such as Modbus, TCP/IP, Profinet, or Ethernet/IP