Instrumentation Helper Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) Engineer – Nuclear Power

Ideal Locations: Charlotte (NC) Williamsburg (VA) Stonington (CT) *potential to work remote pending years of experience*

Job Description

This Instrumentation & Controls Engineer role focuses on supporting engineering design and modification projects for commercial nuclear power plants, with a strong emphasis on plant modernization and digital upgrade initiatives. You will work as a key contributor within multidisciplinary project teams, executing technical tasks that follow the nuclear industry’s standard design modification process. Under the guidance of a Senior Engineer or Responsible Engineer, you will develop engineering products, perform technical evaluations, support instrumentation and control system modifications, and help implement plant changes while ensuring full compliance with plant procedures, NRC requirements, and applicable industry standards.

Responsibilities

• Support instrumentation and control system modification projects from initial scope development through implementation, following established nuclear plant modification processes.
• Perform engineering evaluations, calculations, and technical analyses to support design decisions and ensure regulatory and procedural compliance.
• Develop, update, and revise design documents, drawings, wiring diagrams, and engineering change packages for I&C systems.
• Support modifications involving process instrumentation such as temperature, pressure, flow, and level measurement systems, ensuring accurate monitoring and control.
• Assist with digital modernization projects that upgrade legacy analog systems to modern digital control technologies, including PLC and DCS platforms.
• Review and evaluate vendor documentation, equipment specifications, and technical submittals for accuracy, suitability, and compliance with project and regulatory requirements.
• Support field walkdowns to verify as-built conditions, gather design input, and confirm installation feasibility for I&C modifications.
• Assist with testing activities, troubleshooting efforts, and plant implementation work to validate system performance and resolve technical issues.
• Coordinate closely with Senior engineers, designers, field services, project management, and client personnel to ensure project objectives, schedules, and quality expectations are met.
• Participate in outage support activities, including on-site implementation, testing, and validation of I&C system changes during plant outages.
• Own specific portions of modification projects, including engineering package development, design calculations, drawing updates, and implementation activities under the guidance of a Senior engineer or responsible engineer.
• Provide technical oversight and support for design change and design package development rather than focusing on pure programming tasks.
• Contribute to projects such as protective relay modifications, turbine controls upgrades, feedwater systems improvements, neutron flux monitoring enhancements, and broader digital upgrade initiatives.
• Support cross-functional collaboration with project management, design teams, field services, vendors, and client stakeholders to deliver integrated and reliable I&C solutions.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Approximately 5 or more years of engineering experience, with a focus on Instrumentation & Controls engineering.
• Approximately 5 years of experience in I&C engineering at a nuclear power plant or equivalent nuclear environment.
• Demonstrated nuclear power experience, including familiarity with plant systems, operations, and regulatory expectations.
• Experience supporting instrumentation and control system design, modification, or modernization projects within commercial nuclear power plants.
• Experience with digital upgrade initiatives and application of NRC regulations and nuclear standards to I&C projects.
• Strong understanding of plant modification processes and the nuclear industry’s standard design modification procedures.
• Hands-on experience with process instrumentation, including temperature, pressure, flow, and level measurement systems, and associated control strategies.
• Control systems experience with Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) and Distributed Control Systems (DCS).
• Familiarity with digital control platforms such as Ovation or similar systems.
• Experience supporting engineering design packages, including calculations, drawings, and technical documentation.
• Ability to perform engineering evaluations, technical analyses, and design calculations with attention to detail and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to review and interpret vendor documentation, equipment specifications, and technical submittals.
• Capability to obtain and maintain nuclear plant access credentials, including successful completion of background investigation, drug screening, export control review, psychological evaluation, and nuclear site badging.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately one week per month, with additional travel as needed during plant outages or implementation activities.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in commercial nuclear power plants, U.S. Navy Nuclear Program, Department of Energy (DOE) facilities, nuclear research reactors, or other nuclear facilities with I&C engineering responsibilities.
• background as a former Navy Nuclear Officer transitioning into commercial nuclear engineering, aligning with mid-level engineering roles.
• Experience with protective relay modification projects, particularly in nuclear or power generation environments.
• Experience with turbine controls systems and associated instrumentation and control logic.
• Experience with feedwater systems instrumentation and control, including flow and level control strategies.
• Experience with neutron flux monitoring systems and related I&C components.
• Familiarity with digital upgrade projects, including application of NRC requirements, nuclear standards, and plant control system modernization.
• Experience providing technical oversight, vendor review, and design change package development for I&C systems.
• Comfort working on system design, engineering calculations, design changes, design packages, field testing, and validation rather than focusing solely on programming tasks.
• Ability to work effectively from offices in Charlotte, Williamsburg, or Connecticut is preferred, especially for mid-level candidates.
• Strong communication skills to interact with clients, project managers, designers, field staff, and vendors in a collaborative project environment.

Work Environment

The role operates within a professional nuclear engineering environment focused on plant modernization and digital transformation. Work is performed in a combination of office and plant settings, with mid-level engineers generally expected to work from designated office locations such as Charlotte (NC), Stonington (CT), or Williamsburg (VA). Remote flexibility is available based on experience level, and candidates with significant nuclear experience (approximately eight or more years) may be considered for greater remote flexibility. The position involves regular collaboration with project management, design teams, field services, vendors, and client stakeholders, combining design work, technical review, client interface, and implementation support. Travel is expected at approximately one week per month to maintain nuclear site badge access, with additional travel during plant outages or implementation activities. Work includes exposure to digital control technologies such as PLC and DCS platforms, including systems like Ovation, as well as process instrumentation across temperature, pressure, flow, and level measurements. The environment emphasizes adherence to nuclear safety culture, strict procedural compliance, and rigorous qualification processes, including background investigation, drug screening, export control review, psychological evaluation, and nuclear site badging.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Williamsburg, VA.

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $65.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Williamsburg,VA.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 10, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

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