Senior Process Engineer, Numenor (Reactor)
About The Position
Valar Atomics is seeking a Senior Process Engineer for its Numenor reactor program. The role owns the helium process systems that support the reactor, including helium services, purification, and systems interfacing with the primary helium loop and helium pressure boundary. The engineer will take these systems from concept through design, build, test, and commissioning on the first unit, then help scale them into repeatable production. The role is hands-on and hardware-first, while requiring rigor and discipline to ensure the design basis is met. The Numenor team is building Valar Atomics’ flagship reactor program and owns the entire plant, including the reactor core, helium systems, cooling, plant modules, and the Citadel. The team’s work begins with bringing the first unit to life and aims to establish a production line that can deliver reactors faster with each build.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related field.
- At least 5 years of experience designing industrial process systems, gas handling systems, thermal-fluid systems, or related energy systems.
- Proven track record taking complex engineered systems from concept through build, test, and commissioning.
- Strong foundation in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and process engineering principles.
- Experience developing PFDs, P&IDs, process calculations, equipment specifications, and operating procedures.
- Familiarity with industrial instrumentation, process controls, and gas analysis systems.
- Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related field.
- Experience with helium, cryogenic, high-pressure gas, gas purification, or vacuum systems, including sealing and leak tightness.
- Familiarity with helium coolant chemistry, impurity control, moisture management, graphite compatibility, and gas sampling.
- First-of-a-kind system experience in aerospace, power generation, oil and gas, chemical processing, or defense.
- Working knowledge of ASME pressure vessel and piping codes (Section VIII, B31.3) and industrial gas handling standards.
- Experience with design for manufacture and scaling from prototype to series production.
- Nuclear industry experience, including HTGRs or other advanced reactors in commercial, defense, or national laboratory settings; this is a plus, not a prerequisite.
Responsibilities
- Own the process architecture and design of helium systems from concept through design freeze.
- Perform process analyses, including mass and energy balances, pressure drop, heat transfer, equipment sizing, gas flow, and transient system behavior.
- Develop PFDs, P&IDs, equipment and piping specifications, engineering calculations, and operating procedures.
- Specify and integrate process equipment, including pressure vessels, heat exchangers, adsorption systems, compressors, valves, piping, instrumentation, and gas analyzers.
- Present designs at design reviews and participate in HAZOPs, FMEAs, and system safety analyses.
- Translate designs into hardware through technical requirements, vendor selection, proposal review, and approval of manufacturing documentation.
- Lead fabrication oversight, inspections, issue resolution, and acceptance testing with internal manufacturing teams and suppliers.
- Lead system integration, installation, startup, commissioning, and troubleshooting through first operation.
- Design for manufacture and repeatability so that each unit can be built faster than the last.
- Collaborate with mechanical, systems engineering, safety, IC&E, quality, and supply chain teams to maintain an integrated plant design.
- Mentor junior engineers and contribute to process engineering standards and best practices.
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
- Opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground up
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
