Instrumentation & Controls Technician

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

As part of the Engineering organization, Instrumentations & Controls designs the systems that monitor, automate, and protect Valar's facilities and reactor technologies. The team develops reliable control architectures that enable safe and efficient operations. 

The Role

The Instrumentation & controls Technician is responsible for the installation, calibration, troubleshooting, Repair and instrumentation systems used in nuclear energy applications. This role ensures the safe and efficient operation of equipment by performing routine maintenance and emergency repairs on electrical, instrumentation, and controls systems within a highly regulated environment. 

Key Responsibilities

• Install, maintain, and troubleshoot 120V–480V AC electrical systems 
• Wire and troubleshoot motor control circuits (VFDs, contactors, relays, overloads) 
• Read and interpret electrical schematics and panel layouts 
• Work with PLCs - wiring I/O and diagnostics 
• Perform lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures during maintenance 
• Install, calibrate, and maintain transmitters (pressure, flow, level, temperature) 
• Configure and troubleshoot HART and 4–20mA analog signal loops 
• Maintain and troubleshoot control valves, I/P converters, thermocouples, and RTDs 
• Perform loop checks and assist with system commissioning 

You Will Be Successful In This Role

• Performing preventive and corrective maintenance on mechanical and electrical systems Supporting SCADA integration tasks 
• Documenting all work performed Excel, Project Manager 
• Assisting with root cause analysis and continuous improvement efforts
• Multimeter, clamp meter, megger 
• Loop calibrator 
• HART communicator 
• Hand tools, power tools 
• PLC software (Studio 5000, TIA Portal), SCADA interfaces 

Basic Qualifications

• Associate’s degree or technical certification in Electrical, Instrumentation, or Industrial Maintenance 
• 3+ years of industrial electrical or instrumentation experience 
• Familiarity with NEC, ISA standards, NFPA 70 

Skills and Competencies 

• Strong knowledge of electrical and control system theory
• Ability to read and interpret wiring diagrams, P&IDs, and schematics
• Safety-first mindset with strong troubleshooting skills 
• Comfortable working independently or as part of a cross-functional team 

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Prior experience supporting nuclear construction projects, NQA-1 environments, DOE projects, Oil and gas, ASME-related construction activities, or similarly regulated technical programs.  
• Multidisciplinary construction quality experience spanning civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation activities.  
• Experience coordinating quality execution across multiple subcontractors and construction interfaces within general contractor environments.  
• Familiarity with nonconformance systems, turnover packages, traceability systems, controlled work execution, and field verification methodologies.   
• Working familiarity with field measurement systems and technical verification workflows.  
• Strong operational judgment and ability to make technically defensible decisions under ambiguity and schedule pressure.  
• Subcontractor auditing.

What We Offer  

• Competitive base salary 
• Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company 
• Comprehensive medical benefits 
• Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite 
• 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).