Instrumentation & Controls Specialist

At Valar Atomics, we're redefining what's possible in energy. Our mission is to make clean, high-temperature nuclear power scalable—unlocking abundant energy for industry, hydrogen, and next-generation manufacturing. We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe nuclear energy should be fast to deploy, factory-made, and built for the real world. Our first pilot plant in Orangeville, Utah will demonstrate how advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication can power the future.

Joining Valar Atomics means becoming part of a company where autonomy, ownership, and impact exist at every level.

The Team

You will be joining Valar Atomics' I&C Engineering team within the Fuel Manufacturing group. The I&C Specialist is the bridge between engineering design and working plant hardware, leading commissioning, owning calibration and field troubleshooting, and supervising the technicians who install and maintain the instrumentation. You will work alongside I&C Hardware and Software Engineers, process and mechanical engineers, operations, and nuclear safety in an environment where field execution quality directly supports production reliability and nuclear safety.

The team values hands‑on expertise, disciplined documentation, and a safety‑first culture.

The Role

Valar Atomics is seeking an Instrumentation & Controls Specialist to serve as the site's hands‑on expert in instrumentation and control hardware for nuclear fuel manufacturing facilities. This is a field‑focused role centered on instrument installation, calibration, configuration, and troubleshooting, with primary responsibility for planning, leading, and executing commissioning activities and for supervising the I&C technician group. The position suits an experienced technical specialist who wants ownership of field execution without moving into a design engineering role.

Key Responsibilities

• Install, calibrate, configure, troubleshoot, and maintain field instrumentation including flow, pressure, differential pressure, temperature, level, and analytical devices, using manufacturer procedures and site standards.
• Calibrate and maintain final control elements including control valves, actuators, positioners, and regulators; perform bench and in‑situ calibration, stroke and response testing, packing and seat maintenance, and valve signature analysis.
• Plan, lead, and execute commissioning activities including commissioning schedule development and sequencing, preparation of loop check and functional test packages, coordination of craft and vendor resources, punch list management, and system turnover to operations.
• Execute and document loop checks, point‑to‑point continuity checks, calibration verification, and end‑to‑end interlock testing from sensor through final element; drive punch list items to closure.
• Supervise the I&C technician group including daily work assignment, verification of task qualification and training records, on‑the‑job training and sign‑off, and performance input to I&C leadership.
• Own execution of the instrument calibration program including calibration scheduling and recall, management of standards and test equipment, traceability to NIST‑referenced standards, and integrity of calibration records.
• Configure and troubleshoot smart field devices using HART communicators and instrument asset management software; manage device descriptor files, ranging, damping, and diagnostic alarm configuration.
• Terminate and troubleshoot field wiring, panel terminations, and I/O connections; diagnose grounding, shielding, and noise‑induced signal problems; verify intrinsic safety installations against entity parameters.
• Install and commission instrumentation in classified hazardous areas in accordance with NEC Article 500/505 or IEC 60079 and applicable installation and work permits.
• Execute safety instrumented system field work including proof testing and documentation, bypass control, and safety device replacement under approved procedures.
• Support control loop tuning and plant startup, working with I&C Engineering to resolve measurement quality, final element response, and loop performance issues.
• Red‑line and maintain field documentation…