Production Quality Inspector

Valar Atomics
Torrance, CA
On-siteCareer-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

A natural match if you have prior experience in regulated manufacturing environments and a background in technical inspection.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with hands-on manufacturing inspection experience in regulated industries
    — “Experience working in nuclear, aerospace, semiconductor, defense, or similarly regulated manufacturing environments is a plus.”
  • Individuals who thrive in fast-moving production settings and value operational discipline
    — “This role is designed for individuals looking to build technical capability and operational experience within advanced nuclear production quality.”
  • People with a strong aptitude for learning technical standards and documentation systems
    — “comfortable learning technical requirements, engineering drawings, and controlled procedures within a fast-moving manufacturing environment.”

Things to consider

  • Exposure to industrial noise and fabrication-related fumes is expected in the work environment
    — “comfortable working within active manufacturing environments including exposure to industrial noise, fabrication-related fumes”
  • The role requires a high level of attention to detail and adherence to procedural standards
    — “Strong attention to detail, organizational discipline, and willingness to operate within a regulated procedural environment.”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with dimensional inspection tools and traceability systems in your resume and interview responses
    — “Use dimensional inspection equipment and standard measurement tools to verify part and assembly conformance.”
  • Emphasize your ability to maintain accurate documentation and audit readiness in your application materials
    — “Maintain inspection records, verification documentation, and traceability records to ensure completeness, accuracy, and audit readiness.”
  • Demonstrate your willingness to learn and collaborate with engineers and technicians during interviews
    — “You are willing to ask questions, learn from experienced personnel, and continuously develop technical capability.”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • ensured compliance with standards
  • identified process improvements
Typical background
quality assurancemanufacturing

Skills & requirements

Required

Quality InspectionDimensional InspectionProcess ControlTechnical Documentation

Preferred

Nuclear Engineering

Stack & domain

Attention To DetailOperational DisciplineQuality AssuranceManufacturing

About the role

Original posting from Valar Atomics via Greenhouse

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

As a Production Quality Inspector, you will perform inspection and verification activities directly on the production floor for HTGR reactor component and fuel-related manufacturing activities. This role sits within the Torrance manufacturing and fuel fabrication environment.

This role is responsible for confirming that production work conforms to approved drawings, specifications, procedures, and traveler requirements at each stage of the build. You will work closely with Production Quality Technicians, Engineers, and Supervisors, as well as operators and manufacturing personnel, to help ensure disciplined, traceable, and technically defensible production execution.

This is a highly hands-on floor role requiring strong attention to detail, willingness to learn, operational discipline, and the ability to work effectively within a fast-moving manufacturing environment. This role is designed for individuals looking to build technical capability and operational experience within advanced nuclear production quality.

Key Responsibilities

Perform incoming, in-process, and final inspections of production components, assemblies, and materials in accordance with drawings, specifications, and travelers.

Verify production activities are performed in accordance with approved work instructions, controlled documentation, and hold-point requirements.

Support hold-point coordination, witness activities, and material identification/status controls during production builds.

Maintain inspection records, verification documentation, and traceability records to ensure completeness, accuracy, and audit readiness.

Identify and escalate discrepancies, missing documentation, workmanship concerns, material issues, or process deviations to Production Quality Technicians, Engineers, or Supervisors.

Use dimensional inspection equipment and standard measurement tools to verify part and assembly conformance.

Work directly with operators and manufacturing personnel to support technically disciplined and operationally effective production execution.

Learn and apply production quality standards, procedural requirements, traceability expectations, and inspection methodologies within a regulated technical environment.

You Will Be Successful in This Role If

You are highly detail-oriented and take pride in disciplined execution and accurate documentation.

You are comfortable learning technical requirements, engineering drawings, and controlled procedures within a fast-moving manufacturing environment.

You maintain professionalism, accountability, and strong follow-through even during high-pressure production operations.

You are willing to ask questions, learn from experienced personnel, and continuously develop technical capability.

You communicate clearly and work effectively with operators, technicians, engineers, and supervisors.

Basic Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent required.

Ability to read and interpret basic engineering drawings, specifications, work instructions, and controlled documentation.

Strong attention to detail, organizational discipline, and willingness to operate within a regulated procedural environment.

Comfortable working within active manufacturing environments including exposure to industrial noise, fabrication-related fumes, and changing operational conditions while following all safety protocols.

Basic computer proficiency and ability to work within digital documentation and record management systems.

Preferred Skills and Experience

Associate degree, technical certification, trade school training, military technical experience, or coursework in manufacturing, engineering, or a related technical discipline.

Prior experience supporting industrial manufacturing, fabrication, field operations, or quality inspection.

Familiarity with dimensional measurement tools, basic inspection equipment, and technical documentation systems.

Experience working in nuclear, aerospace, semiconductor, defense, or similarly regulated manufacturing environments is 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).

Salary$50,000—$70,000 USD

Source: Valar Atomics careers (Greenhouse)

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