Staff Electrical Engineer
Valar Atomics · Torrance · $173,000–$211,000 (stated in the posting)
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
You will be joining Valar Atomics' Electrical Engineering team within the Instrumentation, Control & Electrical (IC&E) organization. The team delivers the electrical infrastructure that powers Valar's facilities from utility interconnection through MV distribution, process area LV systems, and emergency power across the reactor program and fuel manufacturing operations. You will work alongside I&C, mechanical, process, and nuclear safety engineers in a hands-on environment where power system integrity directly supports production reliability and nuclear safety, with the opportunity to work on some of the most technically interesting power distribution challenges in the advanced nuclear sector. As a staff engineer, you will be one of the technical anchors of this team: the engineer others come to when the problem is novel, ambiguous, or high-consequence. The team values technical depth, disciplined documentation, and a safety-first culture
The Role
Valar Atomics is seeking Staff Electrical Engineers to serve as discipline technical authorities for medium voltage (MV) and low voltage (LV) electrical systems across our reactor and nuclear fuel manufacturing facilities. The role spans the full electrical discipline scope: power system studies, equipment specification, protection design, installation, and commissioning, from capital project execution through ongoing plant operations. This is a staff position: in addition to owning the most complex electrical scope end-to-end, you will set the calculation methods, design standards, and study practices the discipline runs on, lead resolution of first-of-a-kind plant electrical problems where no catalog answer exists, review and approve the work of other engineers, and provide technical direction and mentorship across the electrical team. You are accountable not only for your own designs, but for the technical quality and consistency of electrical engineering across projects and sites.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership and Discipline Ownership
- Serve as the responsible engineer and discipline technical authority for electrical systems on assigned scope; review and approve power system studies, protection settings, sizing calculations, specifications, and design deliverables produced by other engineers, contractors, and vendors.
- Establish, maintain, and enforce discipline engineering standards including calculation methodologies and study bases, design and drawing standards, equipment specification templates, installation specifications, and protection settings philosophy used across projects and sites.
- Lead electrical system architecture and technology selection for first-of-a-kind and unconventional applications where established plant precedent does not exist — including novel power conversion interfaces, large drive systems, emergency and standby power architectures, and unusual load or fault characteristics — including trade studies, vendor engagement, and qualification planning.
- Lead electrical discipline participation in interdisciplinary design reviews, HAZOP studies, constructability reviews, and licensing-support activities; represent the discipline's position and own the resolution of cross-discipline technical conflicts.
- Define the electrical vendor strategy including preferred equipment platform and manufacturer selection, standardization decisions, make-or-buy evaluations, and framework specifications that constrain downstream project work.
- Mentor senior and junior electrical engineers; develop discipline checking, training, and qualification practices; contribute to hiring and technical interviewing for the electrical team.
Design and Engineering Execution
- Own the power system study basis for assigned facilities; perform and approve load flow, short circuit (ANSI/IEC), voltage drop, motor starting, and harmonic analysis using SKM Power Tools, ETAP, or equivalent, and maintain the master study models.
- Own arc flash hazard analysis to IEEE 1584 and substation grounding design to IEEE 80; approve sizing of transformers, cables, switchgear buses, capacitor banks, and UPS/battery systems.
- Own single line diagram development for MV and LV distribution from utility interface through final distribution; approve equipment arrangements, cable schedules, tray routing, and underground duct bank designs.
- Specify and approve MV switchgear, LV switchboards, MCCs, panelboards, transformers, bus ducts, VFDs, UPS systems, and standby generator packages; own electrical area classification and hazardous area equipment selection to NEC/CEC 500 or IEC 60079.
- Own protection engineering for assigned systems: define the protection and coordination philosophy, approve relay settings studies and time-current coordination, and approve relay panel arrangements, DC control schematics, and MCC control wiring designs.
- Lead vendor pre-qualification, technical bid evaluation, and award recommendation for major electrical packages; direct vendor document review cycles; lead factory audits and witness testing for safety-related or nuclear-classified equipment.
Installation, Commissioning, and Operations
- Own electrical installation specifications; direct pre-commissioning and energisation activities including insulation testing, relay secondary injection, and staged energisation planning; own resolution of significant site technical queries.
- Lead root cause analysis for significant electrical failures and events; drive corrective actions to closure and feed lessons learned back into discipline standards and study models.
- Coordinate with I&C engineers on motor and drive control interfaces and protection-control integration; coordinate with civil and structural disciplines on substation layout and cable penetration requirements.
- Provide technical direction to contractors and consultants on electrical scope; review, redline, and approve contractor deliverables to ensure compliance with project standards and nuclear quality requirements.
- Maintain disciplined engineering records consistent with nuclear quality requirements, ensuring traceability of design decisions, analyses, and test results.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
- 8+ years of electrical engineering experience in process, industrial, or power projects focused on MV/LV distribution system design.
- Demonstrated end-to-end ownership of the electrical scope on at least one major capital project, from front-end design through commissioning and energisation.
- Track record of technical leadership: leading design reviews, checking and approving the work of other engineers, and setting or improving discipline standards, calculation methods, or study practices.
- Expert-level proficiency in power system analysis software (SKM Power Tools, ETAP, or equivalent), including ownership of study models and approval of others' studies across load flow, short circuit, and protection coordination.
- Substantial protection engineering experience, including developing or approving relay settings and coordination studies for MV systems.
- Experience preparing and checking arc flash studies to IEEE 1584 and grounding designs to IEEE 80.
- Strong working knowledge of IEEE, NEMA, ANSI, CSA C22.1, and IEC 60364 electrical standards, sufficient to set and defend design standards against them.
- Experience leading vendor technical evaluation and factory acceptance activities for major electrical equipment packages.
- Experience mentoring, directing, or supervising the technical work of other engineers or designers.
- Proficiency with AutoCAD or equivalent electrical design tools.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Professional Engineer (P.E. / P.Eng.) registration or equivalent.
- Experience with nuclear facility electrical design and nuclear classification requirements (IEEE 384, CSA N290.7).
- Experience developing electrical architecture or equipment solutions for novel or severe applications where established plant precedent did not exist.
- Familiarity with seismically qualified electrical equipment (IEEE 344).
- Experience with IEC 61850 substation automation and protection communication.
- Experience with DC systems and battery sizing (IEEE 485/1115).
- Experience with utility interconnection studies and PPA technical interface requirements.
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).
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