Protection & Controls Engineer Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

About Alva Energy
Alva Energy is transforming how nuclear power scales. Our standardized power uprate approach helps assisting commercial nuclear reactors generate and deliver 10 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity to the U.S. grid through expert project delivery and systemic approach that brings predictability and speed to an industry that needs both.
The Opportunity
We are seeking a Senior Hardware Engineer, Instrumentation & Control (I&C) to lead the design, integration, and deployment of instrumentation and control systems supporting Alva's power uprate programs.
This is a rare opportunity to help develop the control and monitoring systems for a first-of-a-kind commercial energy project integrating a novel secondary turbine-generator plant.
You will play a critical role in translating engineering requirements into reliable instrumentation, controls, and automation solutions that support plant performance, safety, and operational excellence. This role spans hardware specifications and selection, component/system assembly and testing , control systems architecture, software-driven testing, commissioning support, and field deployment.
The successful candidate will help establish the I&C specifications and procedures, hardware architectures, and deployment frameworks that can be replicated across future Alva projects.
Role Summary
The Senior Hardware Engineer, Instrumentation & Control (I&C) will be responsible for the design, development, integration, testing, and commissioning of instrumentation and control systems supporting Alva's nuclear power uprate initiatives.
This individual will work across hardware, software, mechanical, test, and operations teams to develop reliable control architectures, instrumentation packages, automated testing systems, and data acquisition solutions.
The ideal candidate combines strong instrumentation and controls engineering experience with hands-on hardware development, PLC/DCS programming, troubleshooting, and field
deployment experience in power generation, nuclear, industrial automation, or other highly regulated environments.
Primary Duties
Instrumentation & Control Systems
• Design and develop instrumentation and control system architectures from concept through deployment.
• Specify sensors, transmitters, data acquisition systems, controller hardware, and field instrumentation.
• Develop hardware requirements, interface specifications, and technical documentation.
• Support integration of instrumentation and control systems into operating plant environments.
• Configure and modify control system software and HMI applications.
• Develop and configure PLC and DCS control logic using Ovation, Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or equivalent platforms.
• Implement control strategies, alarms, interlocks, monitoring systems, and protection functions.
• Support control system integration, validation, and commissioning activities.
Hardware Development, Testing & Commissioning
• Lead hardware bring-up, testing, troubleshooting, and root-cause investigations.
• Develop automated test and calibration tools using Python, C/C++, or equivalent languages.
• Execute validation, FAT/SAT, and field commissioning activities to ensure reliable system performance.
Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.
• 5+ years of instrumentation and controls engineering experience.
• Minimum 3 years supporting power generation, nuclear, industrial process, or highly regulated industrial facilities.
• Demonstrated experience with instrumentation hardware design and system integration.
• Experience with PLC and/or DCS programming platforms.
• Experience developing software requirements, specifications, and controlled technical documentation.
• Ability to travel to project sites and vendor facilities as required.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience supporting nuclear power plant Feedwater control, turbine control, Control room digital systems..
• Experience with Emerson Ovation control systems.
• Experience with Allen-Bradley ControlLogix, Siemens S7, or equivalent industrial control platforms.
• Experience with hardware validation, automated testing, and data acquisition systems.
• Familiarity with plant commissioning, startup, and operational readiness programs.
• Experience working within regulated quality assurance programs.
• Experience supporting first-of-a-kind, demonstration, or complex infrastructure projects.
Why Join Alva?
• Opportunity to help deliver a historic first-of-a-kind nuclear uprate project
• Direct ownership of instrumentation and control systems critical to plant performance and operation
• Ability to shape Alva's long-term I&C architecture and deployment standards
• Work at the intersection of hardware, software, controls, automation, and nuclear engineering
• Join a fast-growing, engineering-led company focused on expanding carbon-free energy generation in the United States
• High-impact role with significant visibility and ownership across the organization