The Safety Basis and Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ) Coordinator

Valar Atomics•Torrance, CA

38d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Safety Basis and Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ) Coordinator coordinates the safety case for Valar Atomics' operating reactor facility, interfacing daily with the design, licensing, and safety analysis teams. This role is responsible for the analysis that proves the plant can be operated safely, and the process that ensures every design change, test, and operating discovery remains consistent with it. The role manages the Unreviewed Safety Question process from intake to approval and regulator submittal, leads the response when an operating discovery challenges the analysis, and serves as the central point where design intent, licensing commitments, and safety analysis converge. A well-executed role leads to fast and trusted change control, allowing each new reactor to inherit a safety case rather than rebuild it. This position is ideal for someone from the nuclear or another high-consequence regulated industry who seeks ownership of a critical process and can maintain a conservative approach under schedule pressure. This position will be located in Torrance, California, with regular presence at the reactor site in Orangeville, UT. The Safety Basis and USQ Coordinator will report to the Director of Licensing Documentation and Technical Publishing and be assigned to work with the Facility Design Authority and Operations Manager.

Requirements

4+ years of experience in safety analysis, licensing, safety basis, change control, or safety engineering in nuclear or another high consequence regulated industry such as aerospace, defense, chemical, or oil and gas
Understanding of how a safety case is built, approved, maintained, and changed
Ability to run a controlled, deadline driven process and coordinate across engineering teams with minimal supervision
Sound judgment and the confidence to make conservative calls under schedule pressure
Strong technical writing and communication skills
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder).

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's or Master's degree in engineering or a physical science
Experience with nuclear safety analysis, Unreviewed Safety Question evaluation, or an equivalent change evaluation process
Experience working with a regulator or authorization authority
Experience with change control or configuration management in a regulated environment
Experience preparing safety or licensing documents for a new facility
Experience with requirements and lifecycle management tools (Polarion, DOORS, Jama, etc.)

Responsibilities

Coordinate the plant safety analysis and technical safety requirements with the design, licensing, and safety analysis teams, and keep them current as the design and the plant evolve
Run the Unreviewed Safety Question process: screenings, determinations, approvals, records, deadlines, and regulator submittals
Lead the evaluation and reporting of discovered conditions that may challenge the safety analysis
Ensure every design change is screened for safety basis impact before it is implemented
Support the safety case for new reactor designs and its traceability to design requirements
Qualify and train USQ evaluators and build a team that can carry the process across multiple reactors
Be the technical point of contact to the regulator on safety basis matters
Improve the safety basis process so each successive reactor is licensed faster than the last

Benefits

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