Senior Nuclear Supplier Quality Engineer

Senior Nuclear Supplier Quality EngineerTorrance, California, United StatesAt 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.As part of the Regulations & Safety organization, Quality Assurance establishes the systems and standards that ensure products and processes consistently meet the highest levels of quality and compliance. The team promotes continuous improvement and operational excellence across the company.The RoleAs a Senior Nuclear Supplier Quality Engineer at Valar Atomics, you will serve as the nuclear quality assurance subject matter expert within the Supplier Quality organization. You will own the supplier oversight process, ensuring Valar Atomics' supply chain is sound, robust, and defensible for the procurement of nuclear safety-related materials, components, and services.You will lead the entire supplier auditing process, including planning, scheduling, execution, and reporting. Additionally, you will participate in other quality related processes including nonconformance reporting (NCR), supplier corrective action requests (SCAR), and tracking and trending activities, while interfacing directly with engineering, procurement, and construction project professionals.You will play a central role in Valar Atomics' Commercial Grade Dedication (CGD) Program. CGD is a process by which commercial-grade items are evaluated and accepted for use in nuclear safety-significant applications without requiring a nuclear-grade procurement. Your two primary CGD responsibilities will be: (1) reviewing and approving all CGD Plans developed or revised by the Procurement Engineering group; and (2) serving as the primary technical point of contact for any CGD procurement that requires a Commercial Grade Survey—a supplier site visit and technical evaluation to verify that the item's critical characteristics are controlled and acceptable.This role demands clear critical thinking grounded in detailed knowledge of engineering principles and sound engineering judgment. A working knowledge of nuclear codes (e.g., ASME, AWS, AISC, welding, and NDE) along with applicable regulatory requirements and historical industry issues is essential. Professional conduct is required at all times.Key ResponsibilitiesOwn and lead supplier quality activities across Valar Atomics' safety-significant, quality-affecting, and nuclear-grade suppliers—including reactor components, fuel system hardware, specialty materials, instrumentation, fabricated assemblies, and special process providers.Participating in Valar Atomics' Commercial Grade Dedication (CGD) program end-to-end: dedication methodology development, critical characteristics definition, technical evaluation plan construction, sampling strategy, CGD Plan review and approval, and Commercial Grade Survey execution.Plan, lead, and own nuclear supplier qualification programs, including supplier audit planning and execution, NQA-1 compliance assessment, process capability evaluation, documentation review, and formal qualification record development.Develop and maintain Valar Atomics' nuclear supplier quality requirements framework, including purchase order quality clause libraries, NQA-1-aligned flow-down requirements, supplier quality plan standards, and source inspection criteria.Investigate and resolve complex or systemic nuclear supplier nonconformances using structured root cause and corrective action methodology, ensuring technically defensible outcomes with appropriate regulatory traceability.Develop and maintain supplier performance measurement systems, risk-tiered oversight frameworks, and supplier development programs for nuclear-grade and safety-significant suppliers.Support NRC, DOE, NNSA, customer quality representative, and external auditor engagements on supplier quality topics, including documentation preparation, technical interface, and finding resolution.Mentor Supplier Quality Engineers, contribute to organizational capability development on nuclear quality principles, and help institutionalize nuclear supplier quality disciplines across the team.Develop nuclear supplier quality procedures, CGD work instructions, qualification frameworks, and quality system documentation aligned with NQA-1 and applicable regulatory requirements.You Will Be Successful In This Role IfYou operate as the nuclear quality authority in supplier quality engagements and are trusted by Valar Atomics Engineering, Procurement, and Regulatory organizations to make rigorous, defensible quality decisions.You understand and apply NQA-1 conservatively yet with a graded approach—driven by regulatory intent and probabilistic risk, not just checklists.You can distinguish between trivial and serious issues given regulatory intent and probabilistic risk analysis, and you recognize that sound engineering judgment is not always the most conservative answer.You can build nuclear supplier quality programs, CGD frameworks, and qualification systems from the ground up, in addition to operating within existing mature structures.You proactively identify systemic nuclear supplier risks and develop practical, scalable strategies to address them before they become program-impacting failures.You mentor and develop others effectively while maintaining strong personal execution discipline and nuclear quality ownership.You communicate with technical credibility and clarity across Engineering, Procurement, Operations, Regulatory, and supplier leadership.You believe rigorous nuclear quality and mission execution speed are complementary—and you know how to operationalize that belief in a fast-moving startup environment.Basic QualificationsBachelor degree and 5 years of nuclear experienceUS Navy Nuclear Propulsion School Graduate and 3 years of nuclear experienceOR no degree + 10 years of direct nuclear experience will be considered.Preferred Skills And ExperienceAdvanced degree in Nuclear Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.Lead auditor certification under NQA-1, ASQ CQA/CQE, or equivalent, demonstrated Nuclear Lead Auditior leadership experience; detailed hands-on experience in the nuclear auditing process.Experience building, implementing, and owning the full CGD program lifecycle, from methodology development through dedication record package completion and regulatory interface.Familiarity with HTGR, SMR, microreactor, or advanced nuclear reactor technologies and their associated supplier quality and material procurement challenges.Experience with TRISO fuel, graphite, refractory materials, nuclear-grade metallic components, or other advanced nuclear material supply chains.Prior experience with NRC inspection interface, DOE or NNSA oversight activities, or external quality system audits in a nuclear supplier quality capacity.Familiarity with special process qualification requirements including ASME Section IX welding qualifications, NDE method qualifications, and nuclear-grade material certifications including: Certificates of Conformance, Certificates of Compliance, ASME documentation (e.g., Code Data Reports, Certified Material Test Reports, Certificates of Compliance)Statistical analysis capability including process capability evaluation, MSA/Gauge R&R, and data-driven supplier performance assessment.Experience mentoring or leading supplier quality personnel in a technical leadership capacity within a nuclear or safety-significant environment.What We OfferCompetitive base salaryEquity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy companyComprehensive medical benefitsFree daily lunch and dinner provided onsiteHigh-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomyOpportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancementDirect collaboration with experienced operators, engineers, and industry leadersThe opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground upEqual Employment Opportunity StatementValar 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).Salary$165,000 - $225,000 USD