Plant Controls Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

About Valar Atomics

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 and Controls Engineering team within the Fuel Manufacturing group. I&C Engineers at Valar own the full controls stack - from PLC logic and batch sequences at the field level to SCADA displays, historian data infrastructure, and enterprise integration at the supervisory level. You will work alongside process, electrical, and nuclear safety engineers in a hands-on environment where the quality of your control system engineering directly supports production reliability and nuclear safety. The team values technical depth, disciplined documentation, and a safety-first culture.

The Role 

Valar Atomics is seeking a Senior Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) Engineer to design, develop, commission, and maintain control systems for nuclear fuel manufacturing facilities. The role spans the full controls stack - PLC and DCS programming, SCADA and HMI development, ISA-88 batch control, safety instrumented systems, historian and enterprise integration, and field commissioning - with senior responsibility for technical leadership of complex projects, contractor oversight, and mentorship of junior engineers.

Key Responsibilities 

• Develop and maintain PLC and DCS programs using platforms such as Rockwell ControlLogix/CompactLogix, Siemens S7/TIA Portal, Emerson, or equivalent; program in ladder logic, function block, structured text, and sequential function chart per IEC 61131-3.
• Develop and configure SCADA applications on platforms such as Ignition, Rockwell FactoryTalk, Wonderware AVEVA System Platform, Siemens WinCC, or equivalent; build and maintain tag databases, communication drivers, scripting, and alarm configuration.
• Design HMI displays at both the local panel level (Rockwell PanelView, WinCC, or equivalent) and the supervisory SCADA level in accordance with ISA-101 and High-Performance HMI (HPHMI) principles.
• Develop batch control sequences in accordance with ISA-88; configure phase logic, unit procedures, and recipe management; monitor batch execution, unit status, and recipe progress at the supervisory layer.
• Configure and manage alarm systems to ISA-18.2 including setpoints, priorities, suppression logic, and alarm KPI monitoring.
• Configure and commission safety instrumented functions (SIFs) on SIS platforms (Rockwell GuardLogix, Siemens F-CPU, Triconex, or equivalent) in accordance with IEC 61511.
• Configure plant historian systems (OSIsoft PI / AVEVA PI, Ignition Historian, Rockwell FactoryTalk Historian, or equivalent); build process data dashboards and reports; support ISA-95 enterprise-control integration including data exchange interfaces between control systems and MES, ERP, or LIMS.
• Tune PID and advanced regulatory control loops; commission instrumentation including flow, pressure, temperature, and level devices; support loop calibration and documentation.
• Own instrument engineering scope including sizing and specification of field devices (transmitters, control valves, flow elements), instrument index and hook-up drawing development, and hazardous area classification for new and modified installations; review instrument specifications prepared by junior engineers and contractors.
• Implement and configure industrial communication protocols (OPC-UA, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, Modbus TCP/RTU, DeviceNet); configure interfaces between PLCs, SCADA, historian, and third-party systems.
• Support OT network cybersecurity hardening in accordance with IEC 62443 or NIST SP 800-82.
• Prepare and execute control system FAT, SAT, and commissioning plans; perform loop checks, instrument calibration verification, interlock functional testing, and regulatory control loop tuning; maintain engineering documentation including functional specifications, control narratives, I/O lists, cause-and-effect matrices, tag lists, and as-built records.
• Diagnose and resolve control system faults including PLC/SCADA communication failures, I/O faults, loop deviations, and software defects; perform root cause analysis and document corrective actions.
• Provide technical direction to contractors and consultants on I&C scope; review and redline control system deliverables to ensure compliance with project standards and nuclear quality requirements.

Basic Qualifications  

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Electronic, Computer, or Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5+ years of I&C or controls engineering experience in process industries, with demonstrated ownership of complex control system projects from design through commissioning.
• Hands-on PLC programming experience with at least one major platform (Rockwell, Siemens, Emerson, or equivalent) using IEC 61131-3 languages.
• Experience developing or maintaining SCADA applications on at least one major platform (Ignition, FactoryTalk, AVEVA, WinCC, or equivalent).
• Experience developing batch control sequences in accordance with ISA-88.
• Familiarity with ISA-95 enterprise-control integration concepts.
• Experience commissioning instrumentation and tuning regulatory control loops.
• Working knowledge of OPC-UA, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, or Modbus communication protocols.
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, electrical drawings, and instrument data sheets.
• Demonstrated experience specifying and sizing field instruments (transmitters, control valves, flow elements) and leading hazardous area classification and instrument index development for capital projects.

Preferred Skills and Experience  

• Ignition Certified Designer, Rockwell Automation Certified Programmer, Siemens TIA Portal certification, or equivalent platform certification.
• ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP) or equivalent credentials.
• Experience with ISA-88 batch control implementation including recipe management and material tracking.
• Experience with SIS/SIL verification and IEC 61511 lifecycle documentation.
• Experience with OSIsoft PI / AVEVA PI including PI AF asset framework configuration and PI Web API.
• Experience with LIMS integration (LabWare, Uncountable, LabVantage, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with GAMP 5, 21 CFR Part 11, or nuclear quality (NQA-1) requirements for control system validation.
• Experience with SQL (queries, stored procedures) and Python scripting for data processing, report generation, or control system testing automation.
• Exposure to IEC 62443 OT cybersecurity standards and secure network architecture for industrial control systems.
• Experience with REST API development or consumption for system integration.

What We Offer  

• 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 
• The opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground up

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Valar Atomics is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We are committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment and will provide reasonable accommodation as required by law.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder).