Staff Electrical Engineer

Valar Atomics•Torrance, CA

About The Position

Valar Atomics is seeking Staff Electrical Engineers to serve as discipline technical authorities for medium-voltage and low-voltage electrical systems across reactor and nuclear fuel manufacturing facilities. The role covers the full electrical discipline scope, including power system studies, equipment specification, protection design, installation, commissioning, capital project execution, and ongoing plant operations. As a staff engineer, you will own complex electrical scopes end to end and establish the calculation methods, design standards, and study practices used by the discipline. You will resolve novel, high-consequence electrical problems, review and approve other engineers’ work, and provide technical direction and mentorship. You will be accountable for the quality and consistency of electrical engineering across projects and sites, working with I&C, mechanical, process, and nuclear safety engineers in a hands-on, safety-first environment. Valar Atomics is developing scalable, factory-made high-temperature nuclear power for industry, hydrogen, and next-generation manufacturing. Its first pilot plant is planned for Orangeville, Utah. The electrical team delivers facility infrastructure from utility interconnection through medium-voltage distribution, process-area low-voltage systems, and emergency power for reactor and fuel manufacturing operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
At least 8 years of electrical engineering experience in process, industrial, or power projects focused on MV/LV distribution system design.
End-to-end ownership of the electrical scope on at least one major capital project, from front-end design through commissioning and energisation.
Technical leadership experience, including leading design reviews, checking and approving other engineers’ work, and setting or improving discipline standards, calculation methods, or study practices.
Expert-level proficiency with power system analysis software such as SKM Power Tools, ETAP, or equivalent, including ownership of study models and approval of load-flow, short-circuit, and protection-coordination studies.
Substantial MV protection engineering experience, including developing or approving relay settings and coordination studies.
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 standards, sufficient to set and defend design standards against them.
Experience leading vendor technical evaluations 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.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Nice To Haves

Professional Engineer (P.E. / P.Eng.) registration or equivalent.
Experience with nuclear facility electrical design and nuclear classification requirements, including IEEE 384 and CSA N290.7.
Experience developing electrical architecture or equipment solutions for novel or severe applications without established plant precedent.
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.

Responsibilities

Serve as responsible engineer and discipline technical authority for assigned electrical systems; review and approve studies, protection settings, sizing calculations, specifications, and design deliverables from engineers, contractors, and vendors.
Establish, maintain, and enforce discipline standards, including calculation methodologies, study bases, drawing and design standards, equipment specification templates, installation specifications, and protection settings philosophy.
Lead electrical system architecture and technology selection for first-of-a-kind or unconventional applications, including trade studies, vendor engagement, and qualification planning.
Lead electrical participation in interdisciplinary design reviews, HAZOP studies, constructability reviews, and licensing-support activities; represent the discipline and resolve cross-discipline technical conflicts.
Define electrical vendor strategy, including equipment platforms, manufacturer selection, standardization, make-or-buy evaluations, and framework specifications.
Mentor electrical engineers, develop checking, training, and qualification practices, and contribute to hiring and technical interviewing.
Own the power system study basis; perform and approve load-flow, short-circuit, voltage-drop, motor-starting, and harmonic analyses, and maintain master study models.
Own arc-flash hazard analysis and substation grounding design; approve sizing of transformers, cables, switchgear buses, capacitor banks, and UPS/battery systems.
Own MV and LV single-line diagrams from utility interface through final distribution; approve equipment arrangements, cable schedules, tray routing, and underground duct-bank designs.
Specify and approve electrical distribution and power equipment, including switchgear, switchboards, MCCs, panelboards, transformers, bus ducts, VFDs, UPS systems, and standby generators; oversee area classification and hazardous-area equipment selection.
Own protection engineering for assigned systems, including protection and coordination philosophy, relay settings and time-current coordination studies, relay panel arrangements, DC control schematics, and MCC control wiring designs.
Lead vendor pre-qualification, technical bid evaluation, and award recommendations for major electrical packages; direct vendor document reviews and lead factory audits and witness testing for safety-related or nuclear-classified equipment.
Own electrical installation specifications and direct pre-commissioning and energisation activities, including insulation testing, relay secondary injection, staged energisation planning, and resolution of significant site technical queries.
Lead root-cause analysis for significant electrical failures and events, drive corrective actions to closure, and incorporate lessons learned into standards and study models.
Coordinate with I&C on motor and drive control interfaces and protection-control integration, and with civil and structural teams on substation layout and cable penetration requirements.
Provide technical direction to contractors and consultants; review, redline, and approve deliverables for compliance with project standards and nuclear quality requirements.
Maintain engineering records consistent with nuclear quality requirements, ensuring traceability of design decisions, analyses, and test results.

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.