Nuclear 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

Lead determination of reactor startup conditions, source location, and excore instrumentation requirements

Provide direct guidance to controls engineers on operator control needs and translate these into programming requirements

Evaluate reactor time constants and response speeds to ensure control systems meet safety and performance needs

Suggest and validate alternative control options where appropriate

Collaborate with reactor physics, safety, and operations teams to align controls with overall reactor performance and safety objectives

Support documentation and regulatory submissions related to control system design

Qualifications

3+ years of experience in nuclear controls, reactor physics, or related engineering fields

Bachelor’s degree or higher in nuclear engineering, controls engineering, or related discipline

Strong understanding of reactor startup, source location, and excore instrumentation

Experience defining operator control requirements and translating them into engineering or programming specifications

Knowledge of reactor time constants, control system responsiveness, and alternative control strategies

Excellent technical communication and documentation skills

Based in Austin, TX (or willing to relocate)