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Salary: USD 118,000 - 168,000 / annual
Valar Atomics is building scalable, clean, high-temperature nuclear power systems for industrial, hydrogen, and advanced manufacturing applications. The company is developing advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication at its pilot plant in Orangeville, Utah.
The Safety Basis and USQ Coordinator is a critical operational role within the Regulations & Safety organization. This position coordinates the safety case for Valar Atomics' operating reactor facility, serving as the single point where design intent, licensing commitments, and safety analysis converge. The role manages the Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ) process end-to-end—from intake through approval to regulator submittal—and leads the response when operating discoveries challenge the safety analysis. The coordinator interfaces daily with design, licensing, and safety analysis teams to ensure the plant can be operated safely and that every design change, test, and operating discovery remains consistent with the safety case.
Key responsibilities include:
- Coordinating plant safety analysis and technical safety requirements with design, licensing, and safety analysis teams, keeping them current as the design and plant evolve
- Running the complete USQ process: screenings, determinations, approvals, records, deadlines, and regulator submittals
- Leading evaluation and reporting of discovered conditions that may challenge the safety analysis
- Ensuring every design change is screened for safety basis impact before implementation
- Supporting the safety case for new reactor designs and traceability to design requirements
- Qualifying and training USQ evaluators to build a team capable of carrying the process across multiple reactors
- Serving as the technical point of contact to regulators on safety basis matters
- Continuously improving the safety basis process so each successive reactor is licensed faster
The role reports to the Director of Licensing Documentation and Technical Publishing and works closely with the Facility Design Authority and Operations Manager. The position is based in Torrance, California, with regular presence required at the reactor site in Orangeville, Utah.
This role suits someone from nuclear or another high-consequence regulated industry who wants ownership of a critical process and can maintain a conservative line under schedule pressure. Done well, this position makes change control fast because it is trusted, and gives each new reactor a safety case it inherits rather than rebuilds.
REQUIREMENTS:
Basic Qualifications:
- 4+ years of experience in safety analysis, licensing, safety basis, change control, or safety engineering in nuclear or another high-consequence regulated industry (aerospace, defense, chemical, oil and gas)
- Understanding of how a safety case is built, approved, maintained, and changed
- Ability to run a controlled, deadline-driven process and coordinate across engineering teams with minimal supervision
- Sound judgment and confidence to make conservative calls under schedule pressure
- Strong technical writing and communication skills
Preferred Skills and Experience:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in engineering or a physical science
- Experience with nuclear safety analysis, Unreviewed Safety Question evaluation, or equivalent change evaluation process
- Experience working with a regulator or authorization authority
- Experience with change control or configuration management in a regulated environment
- Experience preparing safety or licensing documents for a new facility
- Experience with requirements and lifecycle management tools (Polarion, DOORS, Jama, etc.)
