Senior Welder

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, the Fabrication/Weld Shop produces complex structural and mechanical assemblies that meet demanding quality and performance requirements. The team combines skilled craftsmanship with disciplined manufacturing practices to support production.  

The Role 

Valar Atomics is looking for a Senior Welder to fabricate precision components for our modular nuclear reactor systems. You will perform high-integrity welds on pressure vessels, piping, and structural assemblies, working closely with engineering and quality teams to meet demanding nuclear-grade specifications. This is a hands-on shop-floor role critical to building first-of-a-kind hardware. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Perform GTAW/TIG, GMAW, and SMAW welds on carbon steel, stainless steel, and nickel alloys to nuclear-grade specifications. 

• Read and interpret blueprints, weld symbols, and engineering drawings for pressure vessels and structural assemblies. 

• Perform in-process and final visual inspection of welds; coordinate with QC for NDE (dye penetrant, radiographic, ultrasonic) testing. 

• Maintain and calibrate welding equipment; select correct filler metals, shielding gases, and parameters per WPS. 

• Mentor junior welders and enforce shop safety, quality, and 5S standards on the floor. 

• Document weld travelers, certifications, and non-conformances in accordance with quality management procedures. 

Basic Qualifications 

• 5+ years of professional welding experience in a manufacturing, aerospace, shipbuilding, or heavy industrial environment. 

• AWS Certified Welder (or equivalent) with demonstrated proficiency in GTAW (TIG) on stainless steel and exotic alloys. 

• Ability to read and work from complex engineering drawings, weld symbols, and WPS documentation. 

• Experience with pressure vessel or code welding (ASME Section IX, B31.3, or similar) strongly preferred. 

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup manufacturing environment with evolving processes. 

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs, stand for extended periods, and work in a shop-floor setting with appropriate PPE. 

 Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Experience welding in nuclear, aerospace, or other highly regulated quality environments. 

• Orbital welding experience for small-diameter precision tubing. 

• Familiarity with ASME Section IX / Section III code welding and NDE processes. 

• Prior experience standing up welding processes or procedures in a new manufacturing line. 

• Forklift, overhead crane, or rigging certification. 

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).