---
title: 'Control Panel Builder at Valar Atomics'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/control-panel-builder-valar-atomics-torrance-hs3tb43fgxv9'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-16'
---

# Control Panel Builder at Valar Atomics

- **Company:** Valar Atomics
- **Location:** Torrance, CA
- **Compensation:** $25–$30/hr
- **Posted:** 2026-10-08
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-16
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/valaratomics/jobs/4436764009

## Job description

## 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

As part of the Engineering organization, Instrumentations & Controls designs the systems that monitor, automate, and protect Valar's facilities and reactor technologies. The team develops reliable control architectures that enable safe and efficient operations.

## The Role

The Control Panel Builder is responsible for assembling, wiring, and finishing industrial control panels according to electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and applicable codes and standards. This role requires attention to detail, adherence to safety and quality standards, and the ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

## Key Responsibilities

- Read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel layout drawings
- Use hand tools, power tools, crimpers, torque tools, label printers/engravers, and multimeters safely and properly
- Mechanically assemble control panel enclosures, backplates, DIN rail components, wire duct, and other various devices
- Wire control panels including: o Power distribution (single-phase & three-phase) o Control circuits o PLC I/O wiring o VFDs, motor starters, relays, contactors, terminal blocks, and power supplies
- Cut, strip, crimp, label, and route wires per drawing and workmanship standards
- Apply wire labels, terminal labels, and device tags per project documentation
- Verify parts and materials against the BOM, drawings, and project documentation prior to installation
- Identify and report incorrect, damaged, missing, or substitute components
- Torque electrical terminations to specified values and document as required
- Perform continuity checks and basic electrical verification prior to testing
- Maintain cleanliness, organization, and workmanship standards inside enclosures
- Build panels in accordance with applicable UL 508A, NEC, project specifications, and company quality procedures
- Communicate issues, discrepancies, or missing information to engineering or supervision
- Support panel testing and troubleshooting as needed
- Support rework, modifications, and engineering change implementation as needed
- Comply with safety policies, PPE requirements, and LOTO procedures

You Will Be Successful in This Role If

- Take pride in clean, organized, and consistent panel workmanship
- Can read electrical drawings carefully and build according to the approved documentation
- Pay close attention to wire labels, terminal numbers, device tags, and routing details
- Communicate clearly when drawings, parts, or instructions do not match the actual build
- Are comfortable working hands-on in a shop, lab, or field environment
- Follow safety requirements, PPE expectations, and LOTO procedures without shortcuts
- Stay organized, keep your work area clean, and maintain accurate build documentation
- Are willing to learn company standards, I&C systems, panel testing, and field support practices
- Have a quality-first mindset and check your own work before handing it off for testing or inspection

Basical Qualifications

- 1+ years of experience building, wiring, or assembling industrial control panels; 3+ years preferred
- Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel layout drawings
- Experience cutting, stripping, crimping, labeling, routing, and terminating wires
- Experience with DIN rail components, terminal blocks, relays, contactors, power supplies, circuit breakers, and VFDs
- Proficient with hand tools and shop tools, including wire strippers, crimpers, torque tools, drills, label printers/engravers, and multimeters
- Ability to perform basic continuity checks and point-to-point wiring verification
- Ability to follow BOMs, drawings, work instructions, and quality checklists
- Knowledge of basic electrical safety practices, PPE requirements, and LOTO procedures
- Strong attention to detail, cleanliness, organization, and workmanship quality
- Ability to communicate missing parts, drawing discrepancies, or build issues to engineering or supervision
- Ability to work independently or as part of a team in a shop/lab environment
- Ability to lift to 50 lbs. and work on the shop floor for extended periods

## Preferred Skills and Experience

- Familiarity with UL 508A requirements, NEC, and industrial control panel standards
- Experience with PLC systems such as Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or similar platforms
- Experience with PLC I/O wiring, analog/digital signals, instrumentation, or 4–20 mA loops
- Panel testing, troubleshooting, or quality inspection experience
- Experience supporting redlines, as-built markups, or engineering change implementation
- Forklift, scissor lift, or aerial lift certification
- Field service experience
- Electrical certification, electrician training, trade school, or formal technical

## What We Offer

- Competitive base salary
- Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company
- Comprehensive medical benefits
- 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). Salary $25—$30 USD

## About Valar Atomics

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Valar Atomics is scaling nuclear energy through grid-independent, high-temperature gas reactors (HTGR) for hydrogen production, data center power, heavy industrial power, and clean hydrocarbon fuel synthesis.
- **Entity Type**: Private (total funding $494M–$600.5M, latest round Debt - II)
- **Headquarters**: El Segundo, California, United States (additional location in Orangeville, Utah)
- **Founded**: 2023
- **Founders**: Not publicly listed (key executives include President Muhammad Shahzad and CNO Mark Mitchell)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Nuclear energy / advanced nuclear reactor technology
- **Target customers**: Large-scale industrial users (hydrogen producers, data centers, heavy industry), grid-independent operations, and fuel synthesis plants (B2B, Enterprise)
- **Mission or purpose**: “Nuclear needs scale” – unlock economies of scale by building hundreds of reactors on Valar gigasites, divorcing industrial power from the traditional grid.

## Products & Services
- **[Ward 250 Reactor]**: A grid-independent HTGR using TRISO fuel, designed for high-volume, non-bespoke production. Achieved criticality in June 2026 under DOE’s pilot program. Product type: Hardware (nuclear reactor).
- **[Hydrogen Production]**: Reactors paired with a sulfur-iodine cycle process to produce cheap, abundant hydrogen. Product type: Industrial energy product.
- **[Data Center Power]**: Dedicated on-site nuclear power for AI data centers, targeting AI’s projected 200+ TWh additional demand by 2030. Product type: Service / infrastructure.
- **[Heavy Industrial Power]**: Grid-independent power for processes like green steel and bauxite electrolysis. Product type: Service / infrastructure.
- **[Clean Hydrocarbon Fuels]**: Combines cheap hydrogen with captured CO₂ via a modified Fischer-Tropsch process to create synthetic fuels. Product type: Fuel product.
- **[Modular Citadel Shielding]**: Pre-cast, self-tensioning shielding system for mass-manufactured reactor protection. Production line capable of 1,000+ blocks per year. Product type: Hardware component.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not disclosed (CB Insights shows valuation as hidden)
- **Key Metric**: Total funding reported as $494M (LinkedIn) or $600.5M (CB Insights, conflicting reports); latest round debt financing in November 2025.
- **Notable Investors**: Palmer Luckey, Shyam Sankar, Day One Ventures, DTX Ventures, Contrary, Riot Ventures (led Seed), Snowpoint Ventures (led Series A), and 28+ others.
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount of 74 employees (+232% YoY, +9.6% monthly); 30 active job postings; Ward 250 reactor achieved criticality in June 2026; partnerships with DOE, San Rafael Energy Research Center, and State of Utah; opened first nuclear site (San Rafael) in February 2026.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Proven HTGR design** with unmatched safety profile and proliferation resistance when paired with TRISO fuel.
- **Grid-independent “gigasite” model** that avoids traditional grid constraints, enabling mass manufacturing of standardized reactors.
- **Vertical integration**: In-house design of reactors, fuel processing (sulfur-iodine cycle), and shielding systems (Modular Citadel).
- **Speed to market**: Ward 250 is on track for power operations before July 4, 2026, under a DOE mandate.
- **Talent base**: Attracts engineers from Ultra Safe Nuclear, X-energy, Anduril, and other advanced hardware companies.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scale manufacturing**: Transition from project-based nuclear to high-volume production through gigasites.
- **Achieve operational milestones**: Achieve hot criticality and power operation at Ward 250 by mid-2026.
- **Expand product lines**: Deliver grid-independent hydrogen, data center power, and synthetic fuels to meet industrial and AI energy demands.
- **Grow headcount rapidly**: Aggressively hiring in engineering, operations, quality, and technical roles.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven culture**: “Hardware is the only thing that counts” – emphasis on building real reactors, not just pitching.
- **High growth environment**: Company doubled headcount in the past year; roles offer significant ownership and impact.
- **Locations**: Hawthorne (CA), El Segundo (CA), Orangeville (UT), and Huntington (UT) – roles span design, manufacturing, and field operations.
- **Work style**: Likely on-site/hybrid for technical roles (e.g., Build Engineer, Nuclear Operations Manager, Machinist).
- **Perks & culture**: Rapid advancement opportunities, exposure to cutting-edge nuclear and chemical engineering, and a team with deep ties to defense and deep-tech.
- **Current openings**: 30+ roles including mechanical engineers, plant operators, quality engineers, finance systems engineers, and technical recruiters.

## Sources
1. [valaratomics.com](https://valaratomics.com/)
2. [Greenhouse careers](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/valaratomics)
3. [CB Insights](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/valar-atomics)
4. [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/valar-atomics)

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