Technical Fellow, Instrumentation and Controls

X-Energy•Rockville, MD

3d•Onsite

About The Position

X-energy, LLC is seeking a Technical Fellow - Instrumentation and Control (I&C) to serve as the company's technical authority on instrumentation for the Xe-100 high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR). The successful candidate provides guidance, sets the standards, reviews and approves the work of others, and provides authoritative technical judgment across the instrumentation lifecycle - from measurement concept through procurement, factory testing, and site commissioning. While primarily consulting, reviewer, and approver role, the Fellow is expected to perform hands-on work as needed to establish expectations, demonstrate standards, and provide worked examples that define the expected rigor and quality of instrumentation engineering. A central dimension of the role is deep experience developing modes of operation for first-of-a-kind technology, ensuring that instrumentation and control approaches are grounded in how a novel plant will actually be operated.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Instrumentation & Control, Mechanical, Nuclear, or a related engineering discipline
25+ years of progressive engineering experience with a demonstrated record of deep, recognized technical expertise in instrumentation and controls
Extensive hands-on background in sensor technologies, associated hardware, and installation schemes, including experience developing new sensors and installation approaches
Demonstrated experience developing modes of operation for first-of-a-kind or novel technology, and aligning instrumentation and control design with concept-of-operations development
Demonstrated project execution experience — delivering instrumentation scope through the full project lifecycle (design, specification, procurement, testing, installation, and commissioning) on schedule and within defined constraints
Demonstrated experience selecting instrument technologies and defining redundancy and voting schemes for measurements of varying accuracy, response-time, and criticality requirements
Experience supporting factory and site testing and installation/commissioning of instrumentation on power, process, or industrial plants
Deep working knowledge of measurement physics and instrument selection across temperature, pressure, flow, level, neutron flux, and related process and nuclear measurements
Understanding of control and protection system architecture, including control hardware for investment protection and reactor protection systems
Familiarity with instrument qualification, environmental/service conditions, and the engineering trade-offs that drive redundancy, diversity, and voting logic
Recognized technical authority whose judgment on instrumentation and measurement is trusted across a program, with first-principles rigor in reasoning about sensors, installation, and measurement uncertainty
Proven ability to carry a measurement need end-to-end - from concept through technology selection, specification, procurement, testing, and commissioning
Treats safety as the overriding priority and models a questioning attitude; thrives in a first-of-a-kind environment where measurement challenges are novel and solutions must often be developed rather than purchased

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in engineering discipline with an instrumentation, controls, or electrical focus
Extensive experience developing modes of operation for first-of-a-kind or novel plants/systems, including leading the translation of operational intent into inputs for instrumentation and protection requirements
Experience with High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors (HTGRs), SMRs, or other advanced reactor technologies, including high-temperature and helium-environment instrumentation challenges
Familiarity with nuclear I&C standards and regulatory expectations (e.g., IEEE-603, IEEE-7-4.3.2, NRC I&C guidance) and their impact on instrument and control system design
Experience developing novel sensing or installation solutions where commercial off-the-shelf options do not meet requirements
Strong track record of technical mentorship, authorship of standards/specifications, and cross-functional technical leadership through influence rather than direct authority
Professional Engineer (PE) license

Responsibilities

Serve as the senior technical authority and design approver for instrumentation across the Xe-100 program, applying deep expertise in sensor technologies, associated hardware, installation schemes, setting the direction for developing new sensors and installation methods where existing solutions are inadequate
Provide expert guidance on the development of detailed description on operating modes and states for first-of-a-kind technology
Ensuring instrumentation and control approaches are driven by, and consistent with, the plant's concept of operations - review and approving how measurements and protective functions map to each operating mode and transition
Review and approve instrument technology selections and the associated redundancy and voting schemes proposed by the engineering team, based on measurement inputs from system designer/process engineer
Develop standards, guidance documents and approve installation schemes for standard measurements, including additional hardware for installation
Guide and approve the development of technology selection and installation schemes for non-standard and first-of-a-kind measurement technologies
Establish specification standards and review/approve sensor and instrument specifications prepared for procurement, ensuring they are clear, complete, and fit for purchasing and supplier engagement
Lead or oversee the technical evaluation of received instrument quotes and approve supplier recommendations for specific measurement technologies based on that evaluation
Advise purchasing and support organizations on the technical aspects of procuring and delivering instruments and associated hardware packages to site on schedule
Provide oversight and expert support for instrument testing at the factory, at site, and at other stages, reviewing test approaches and results to confirm performance against specification
Provide expert consultation and selective hands-on support for instrumentation-related installation and commissioning at project sites, helping resolve field issues and confirming as-installed performance meets expectations
Provide senior I&C expertise into power plant controls development, including review and guidance on control hardware for the investment protection system and the reactor protection system
Provide guidance for safety analysis workshops and efforts e.g. HAZID/HAZOP/LOPA etc.
Act as a technical mentor and cross-functional influencer - elevating the I&C capability of the broader engineering organization, defining quality and rigor expectations, and guiding systems engineering, design, licensing, procurement, and project teams through expertise rather than positional authority