Senior Cost Engineer

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 Manufacturing organization, Supply Chain secures the materials, equipment, and supplier partnerships required to support manufacturing and business operations. The team builds resilient supply chains while ensuring quality, cost, and delivery performance. 

The Role 

• Develop and maintain should-cost models for components, assemblies, and services to support sourcing and negotiation strategy. 
• Partner with Sourcing, Engineering, and Finance to identify cost drivers and high-impact savings opportunities across the supply base. 
• Analyze supplier quotes and cost breakdowns to validate pricing and identify negotiation leverage. 
• Support Make-vs-Buy decisions and cost trade-off analysis as Valar scales production. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Build and maintain should-cost models (materials, labor, overhead, tooling) for direct and indirect categories. 
• Analyze supplier quotes, RFx responses, and cost breakdowns to identify gaps versus should-cost and benchmark data. 
• Partner with Sourcing and Engineering to support negotiation strategy with data-driven cost insights. 
• Support Make-vs-Buy analysis, evaluating total cost of ownership across sourcing options. 
• Track cost trends (materials, labor, logistics) and update models to reflect market conditions. 
• Identify cost reduction opportunities through design, process, or sourcing changes, and quantify potential savings. 
• Present cost analysis and recommendations to Sourcing and Engineering leadership. 
• Maintain cost databases and tools, improving accuracy and scalability as the product portfolio grows. 
• Act as a mentor within the supply chain organization on cost drivers, market indices, design/cost implications, supplier economics, and manufacturing trade-offs. 

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, or related technical field. 
• 5+ years of experience in cost engineering, should-cost modeling, or manufacturing cost analysis. 
• Strong understanding of BOM structures, specifications, engineering drawings, manufacturing processes and cost drivers. 
• Hands-on experience with cost modeling tools and ERP/sourcing systems. 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable recommendations. 
• Excellent communication skills and ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders. 

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Nuclear, aerospace, or other highly regulated industry experience. 
• Experience building a should-cost or cost engineering function from the ground up. 
• Familiarity with Design-to-Cost or Value Engineering methodologies. 
• Start-up / fast-growth company experience a plus. 

What We Offer  

• Competitive base salary 
• Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company 
• Comprehensive medical benefits 
• Unlimited PTO
• 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).