Staff Electrical Engineer

Valar Atomics•Torrance, CA

12d•$173,000 - $211,000

About The Position

Valar Atomics is seeking Staff Electrical Engineers to serve as discipline technical authorities for medium- and low-voltage electrical systems across its reactor and nuclear fuel manufacturing facilities. The role covers power system studies, equipment specification, protection design, installation, commissioning, and ongoing plant operations, from capital project execution through facility 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 across the discipline. You will resolve novel, high-consequence electrical problems, review and approve other engineers’ work, and provide technical direction and mentorship. You are accountable for the technical quality and consistency of electrical engineering across projects and sites. The position is part of the Electrical Engineering team within the Instrumentation, Control & Electrical organization. The team delivers facility electrical infrastructure from utility interconnection through medium-voltage distribution, process-area low-voltage systems, and emergency power. The work supports reactor and fuel manufacturing operations in a hands-on, safety-first environment, in collaboration with I&C, mechanical, process, and nuclear safety engineers.

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 protection engineering experience, including developing or approving relay settings and MV 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.
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.
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.
Establish and maintain discipline standards, including calculation methodologies, study bases, design and drawing standards, equipment specification templates, installation specifications, and protection settings philosophy.
Lead electrical system architecture and technology selection for first-of-a-kind and 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 preferred equipment platforms and manufacturers, standardization, make-or-buy evaluations, and framework specifications.
Mentor electrical engineers; develop checking, training, and qualification practices; contribute to hiring and technical interviews.
Own facility power system study bases; perform and approve load flow, short circuit, voltage drop, motor starting, and harmonic analyses, and maintain master study models.
Own arc flash hazard analyses to IEEE 1584 and substation grounding design to IEEE 80; approve sizing of transformers, cables, switchgear buses, capacitor banks, and UPS/battery systems.
Own development of 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 equipment packages, including switchgear, switchboards, MCCs, panelboards, transformers, bus ducts, VFDs, UPS systems, and standby generators; own electrical area classification and hazardous-area equipment selection.
Own protection engineering for assigned systems, including protection and coordination philosophy, relay settings studies, time-current coordination, relay panel arrangements, DC control schematics, and MCC control wiring designs.
Lead vendor pre-qualification, technical bid evaluations, 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, and staged energisation planning; resolve significant site technical queries.
Lead root cause analysis for significant electrical failures and events, drive corrective actions to closure, and incorporate lessons learned into discipline standards and study models.
Coordinate with I&C engineers on motor and drive control interfaces and protection-control integration, and with civil and structural disciplines on substation layouts and cable penetrations.
Provide technical direction to contractors and consultants; review, redline, and approve contractor deliverables for compliance with project standards and nuclear quality requirements.
Maintain engineering records consistent with nuclear quality requirements and ensure 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