Quality Assurance Laboratory 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 Regulations & Safety organization, Quality Assurance establishes the systems and standards that ensure products and processes consistently meet the highest levels of quality and compliance. The team promotes continuous improvement and operational excellence across the company. 

The Role

The Quality Assurance (QA) Laboratory Technician performs analytical, inspection, and testing activities within the Quality Assurance Laboratory of an advanced nuclear fuel manufacturing facility. This role ensures that materials, in-process products, and finished nuclear fuel components meet rigorous regulatory, safety, and performance standards. Working in a highly controlled and safety-focused environment, the QA Lab Technician performs routine and specialized analyses, maintains accurate documentation, and provides critical data that supports production, engineering, and regulatory compliance. The QA Lab Technician maintains and operates analytical instruments; collects and stores acquired data. This role requires strong attention to detail, technical proficiency, and adherence to disciplined quality and safety practices. The ideal candidate brings a commitment to maintaining a safe, world-class nuclear-grade quality culture.

Key Responsibilities 

• Testing & Inspection: Perform chemical, physical, and material-property testing on raw materials, in-process samples, and finished nuclear fuel components using approved procedures. Ensure all test methods are executed precisely and consistently.
• Sample Handling & Preparation: Receive, label, track, and prepare samples according to established quality protocols, ensuring traceability and compliance with safety requirements.
• Data Recording & Documentation: Accurately record results in laboratory information systems and maintain complete, legible, and compliant data packages. Support investigations by documenting test anomalies, trends, or deviations.
• Equipment Operation & Maintenance: Operate laboratory instrumentation and equipment according to standard practices. Perform routine checks, calibrations, and maintenance tasks, reporting any issues to supervisors.
• Quality & Regulatory Compliance: Follow all procedures aligned with nuclear quality standards (e.g., NQA-1, ISO 17025). Assist in internal audits, quality checks, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Safety & Radiation Protection: Adhere to rigorous safety protocols, including radiation safety, criticality safety, and hazardous material handling requirements.

You Will Be Successful in This Role If

• You consistently complete tasks accurately and efficiently and effectively communicate results
• You maintain detailed records of sample history
• You continuously improve throughput while maintaining safety, cost, and accuracy
• You are willing to work for extended commissioning and production campaigns.
• You demonstrate the ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with strict safety and regulatory standards  
• You observe and report deviations in results, equipment anomalies, and sample variations and provide input related to quality improvement 

Basic Qualifications 

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering Technology, or a related scientific field.
• 1–3+ years of laboratory experience in a regulated or high-precision manufacturing environment; experience in nuclear, aerospace, pharmaceutical, or medical device sectors is a plus.
• Familiarity with analytical techniques, measurement tools, and laboratory best practices.
• Strong documentation, data integrity, and organizational skills.
• Ability to follow detailed technical procedures and safety requirements.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills.

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Experience operating common analytical instruments (e.g, ICP-MS, XRF, DSC, IC, XRD, FTIR, etc.)
• Knowledge of relevant regulatory standards, safety protocols, and quality control procedures in the nuclear industry
• Strong communication skills and the ability to interface with engineers and cross-disciplinary teams.

What We Offer   

• Competitive base salary  
• Equity ownership in a rapidly growing, advanced energy company  
• Comprehensive medical benefits  
• Free daily lunch provided onsite  
• Generous stipend for steel-toed boots 
• 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).