Senior Instrumentation & Controls Technician

Valar Atomics
Torrance, CA

Who this role is best for

Best suited to candidates with industrial electrical or instrumentation experience working in highly regulated nuclear energy environments.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with industrial electrical or instrumentation experience and a safety-first mindset
    — “Safety-first mindset with strong troubleshooting skills”
  • Individuals who have worked on nuclear construction projects or in similarly regulated technical programs
    — “Prior experience supporting nuclear construction projects, NQA-1 environments, DOE projects”
  • Candidates who value autonomy and ownership in a high-impact startup environment
    — “High-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomy”

Things to consider

  • The role requires working in a highly regulated environment with strict safety protocols
    — “within a highly regulated environment”
  • Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a citizen or green card holder
    — “Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with PLCs, SCADA integration, and field verification methodologies
    — “Supporting SCADA integration tasks”
  • Showcase ability to document work using Excel and project management tools
    — “Documenting all work performed Excel, Project Manager”
  • Emphasize experience with HART and 4–20mA analog signal loops
    — “Configure and troubleshoot HART and 4–20mA analog signal loops”
  • Demonstrate familiarity with NEC, ISA standards, and NFPA 70
    — “Familiarity with NEC, ISA standards, NFPA 70”
  • Position yourself as experienced in commissioning and loop checks for complex systems
    — “Perform loop checks and assist with system commissioning”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · MediumAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Individual

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

What success looks like

  • ensuring safe and efficient operation of equipment
Typical background
3+ years of industrial electrical or instrumentation experience

Skills & requirements

Required

Electrical System InstallationCalibrationTroubleshootingPLC DiagnosticsLockout/tagout Procedures

Preferred

Nuclear Construction Project SupportDOE Projects Experience

Stack & domain

120v–480v AC Electrical SystemsMotor Control CircuitsVfdsContactorsRelaysOverloadsElectrical SchematicsPanel LayoutsPlcsI/ODiagnosticsLockout/tagout (loto) ProceduresTransmittersPressureFlowLevelTemperatureHART4–20ma Analog Signal LoopsControl ValvesI/P ConvertersThermocouplesRtdsLoop ChecksSystem CommissioningPreventive And Corrective MaintenanceMechanical And Electrical SystemsScada Integration TasksDocumentationExcelProject ManagerRoot Cause AnalysisContinuous Improvement EffortsMultimeterClamp MeterMeggerLoop CalibratorHART CommunicatorHand ToolsPower ToolsPLC SoftwareStudio 5000TIA PortalScada InterfacesInstrumentationControlsElectricalNuclear EnergyFactory-madeHigh-temperature Nuclear PowerAdvanced Nuclear SystemsFuel FabricationPilot PlantOrangevilleUtahNext-generation ManufacturingAutonomyOwnershipImpactNuclear ConstructionNqa-1 EnvironmentsDOE ProjectsOil And GasAsme-related Construction ActivitiesRegulated Technical ProgramsCivilStructuralMechanicalConstruction QualitySubcontractorsConstruction InterfacesGeneral ContractorNonconformance SystemsTurnover PackagesTraceability SystemsControlled Work

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 Engineering organization, Instrumentations & Controls designs the systems that monitor, automate, and protect Valar's facilities and reactor technologies. The team develops reliable control architectures that enable safe and efficient operations. 

The Role

The Instrumentation & controls Technician is responsible for the installation, calibration, troubleshooting, Repair and instrumentation systems used in nuclear energy applications. This role ensures the safe and efficient operation of equipment by performing routine maintenance and emergency repairs on electrical, instrumentation, and controls systems within a highly regulated environment. 

Key Responsibilities

Install, maintain, and troubleshoot 120V–480V AC electrical systems 

Wire and troubleshoot motor control circuits (VFDs, contactors, relays, overloads) 

Read and interpret electrical schematics and panel layouts 

Work with PLCs - wiring I/O and diagnostics 

Perform lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures during maintenance 

Install, calibrate, and maintain transmitters (pressure, flow, level, temperature) 

Configure and troubleshoot HART and 4–20mA analog signal loops 

Maintain and troubleshoot control valves, I/P converters, thermocouples, and RTDs 

Perform loop checks and assist with system commissioning 

You Will Be Successful In This Role

Performing preventive and corrective maintenance on mechanical and electrical systems Supporting SCADA integration tasks 

Documenting all work performed Excel, Project Manager 

Assisting with root cause analysis and continuous improvement efforts

Multimeter, clamp meter, megger 

Loop calibrator 

HART communicator 

Hand tools, power tools 

PLC software (Studio 5000, TIA Portal), SCADA interfaces 

Basic Qualifications

Associate’s degree or technical certification in Electrical, Instrumentation, or Industrial Maintenance 

3+ years of industrial electrical or instrumentation experience 

Familiarity with NEC, ISA standards, NFPA 70 

Skills and Competencies 

Strong knowledge of electrical and control system theory

Ability to read and interpret wiring diagrams, P&IDs, and schematics

Safety-first mindset with strong troubleshooting skills 

Comfortable working independently or as part of a cross-functional team 

Preferred Skills and Experience

Prior experience supporting nuclear construction projects, NQA-1 environments, DOE projects, Oil and gas, ASME-related construction activities, or similarly regulated technical programs.  

Multidisciplinary construction quality experience spanning civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation activities.  

Experience coordinating quality execution across multiple subcontractors and construction interfaces within general contractor environments.  

Familiarity with nonconformance systems, turnover packages, traceability systems, controlled work execution, and field verification methodologies.   

Working familiarity with field measurement systems and technical verification workflows.  

Strong operational judgment and ability to make technically defensible decisions under ambiguity and schedule pressure.  

Subcontractor auditing.

What We Offer  

Competitive base salary 

Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company 

Comprehensive medical benefits 

Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite 

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$45—$65 USD

Source: Valar Atomics careers (Greenhouse)

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