Maintenance Technician – Electrical & Controls

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

We're seeking an Electrical and Controls-focused Maintenance Technician to keep our manufacturing equipment running safely and reliably. The role emphasizes electrical troubleshooting, CNC controls, PLC systems, and automation, with mechanical work as a secondary function. You'll be responsible for minimizing downtime, improving machine reliability, and supporting safe, high-performance manufacturing.

Key Responsibilities

• Troubleshoot and repair electrical and control systems, including CNC controllers, HMIs, PLCs, servo drives, VFDs, and power supplies.
• Diagnose faults in servo motors, encoders, feedback devices, limit switches, safety circuits, and I/O.
• Read and interpret electrical schematics, ladder logic, wiring diagrams, and control panel layouts.
• Perform electrical testing using multimeters, megohmmeters, and diagnostic software.
• Support and troubleshoot CNC control platforms (Fanuc, Siemens, Haas, Mazak, Okuma, or similar).
• Interface with PLC-based systems (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or equivalent) for troubleshooting—logic-aware but not programming-heavy.
• Troubleshoot industrial networks and communication issues (Ethernet/IP, Profinet, RS-232/485, device buses).
• Perform control cabinet work, including wiring, terminations, component replacement, and minor panel modifications.
• Support machine startups, retrofits, electrical upgrades, and commissioning activities.
• Collaborate with engineering and production to identify root-cause failures and implement permanent fixes.
• Maintain accurate documentation of repairs, changes, and parts usage in CMMS or maintenance logs.
• Ensure compliance with electrical safety, LOTO, and arc-flash procedures.

Basic Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience as a Maintenance Technician or Controls/Electrical Technician in a CNC manufacturing environment.
• Strong background in industrial electrical systems and automation.
• Solid understanding of CNC controls and servo systems, industrial power distribution (single- and three-phase), and PLC I/O and control logic fundamentals.
• Proven ability to troubleshoot electrically driven machine faults under production pressure.
• Ability to read and work from electrical schematics and control drawings.
• Ability to work inside energized control panels following appropriate safety procedures.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and work around active machinery.
• Willingness to support off-shift, weekend, or on-call maintenance as needed.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• PLC troubleshooting experience with Allen-Bradley Compact/ControlLogix, Siemens S7, or similar platforms.
• Experience with safety circuits, safety relays, and CNC safety standards.
• Familiarity with CMMS systems, preventive maintenance planning, and reliability improvement.
• Technical degree or formal training in Electrical, Controls, Mechatronics, or Industrial Automation. 

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 
• 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).