Welding Engineer - Nuclear Fabrication & Pressure Systems

Valar Atomics • Hawthorne, CA

3d • $100,000 - $140,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Valar Atomics is seeking a Welding Engineer to lead the development, qualification, and production implementation of welding processes for advanced reactor systems, pressure vessels, high-temperature piping, structural assemblies, and fuel fabrication infrastructure. This role will be instrumental in establishing Valar's nuclear manufacturing capabilities from the ground up, including welding procedure qualification, supplier qualification, fabrication oversight, and development of scalable production methods for first-of-a-kind nuclear hardware.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Welding Engineering, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, or equivalent.
• 3+ years of welding engineering experience in pressure vessels, nuclear, aerospace, defense, petrochemical, or power generation industries.
• Demonstrated experience developing and qualifying WPS/PQRs under ASME Section IX.
• Strong understanding of weld metallurgy, heat treatment, distortion control, and residual stress management.
• Experience supporting fabrication of pressure-retaining hardware and code-stamped components.
• Knowledge of NDE methods including RT, UT, PAUT, TOFD, PT, and MT.
• Experience with root-cause analysis and weld failure investigations.
• Ability to read and interpret ASME, AWS, and engineering specifications.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Welding Engineer (CWE).
• Experience with ASME Section III nuclear components.
• Familiarity with NQA-1 quality systems.
• Experience supporting reactor hardware, pressure vessels, steam generators, heat exchangers, or nuclear fuel-cycle equipment.
• Experience with nickel alloys, Inconel, Hastelloy, high-temperature stainless steels, and dissimilar-metal welds.
• Experience with automated, robotic, orbital, or precision welding systems.
• Experience supporting NRC-regulated or DOE-regulated projects.
• Startup manufacturing or first-of-a-kind hardware development experience.
• Experience with ASME U, R, and S Stamp.

Responsibilities

• Develop and qualify welding procedures in accordance with ASME Section IX and applicable nuclear fabrication standards.
• Support fabrication and inspection of pressure vessels, reactor vessels, heat exchangers, piping systems, and pressure-retaining components.
• Collaborate with design engineers on weld joint design, material selection, and fabrication requirements.
• Establish weld maps, traveler documentation, traceability systems, and fabrication records required for nuclear-quality manufacturing.
• Support implementation of NQA-1 quality requirements and manufacturing controls.
• Interface with Authorized Inspectors, third-party inspectors, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Develop welding specifications for stainless steels, nickel alloys, carbon steels and advanced high-temperature materials.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company
• Comprehensive medical benefits
• Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite
• 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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior