---
title: 'Mechanical Technician, Process Gas Systems at Valar Atomics'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-technician-process-gas-systems-valar-atomics-torrance-0pagh2e6ym0a'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-16'
---

# Mechanical Technician, Process Gas Systems at Valar Atomics

- **Company:** Valar Atomics
- **Location:** Torrance, CA
- **Compensation:** $40–$50/hr
- **Posted:** 2026-10-09
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-16
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/valaratomics/jobs/4438153009

## 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, Mechanical Engineering designs and develops the mechanicalsystems, components, and equipment that power Valar's advanced nuclear technologies. The teamensures designs are robust, manufacturable, and optimized for long-term performance.

## The Role

The Mechanical Technician builds, tests, and commissions pressurized process gas skids for our advanced nuclear reactor. The work spans tube bending, piping, compressors, chillers, heat exchangers, and pressure vessels, from first fit-up through leak testing, pressure testing, and startup. You will maintain high standards for quality, safety, and workmanship and partner closely with engineering to turn designs into reliable, buildable hardware.

## Key Responsibilities

- Build and test process system skids in accordance with approved drawings, specifications, procedures, and work instructions; work independently and coordinate with other technicians to support the build schedule.
- Maintain high standards for safety, workmanship, cleanliness, and procedure adherence throughout tube bending, fitting makeup, bolted joint assembly, testing, and commissioning activities.
- Work closely with engineering, quality, and operations; review drawings and procedures for buildability and raise drawing discrepancies, design conflicts, or unsafe conditions early.
- Build process system skids to P&IDs, isometric and general arrangement drawings, specifications, and work instructions.
- Measure, bend, cut, debur, and install stainless steel and alloy tubing; make up and inspect compression fittings with gap gauges per the manufacturer's
- instructions.
- Install and fit up piping, flanges, valves, regulators, relief devices, filters, and pressure vessels; assemble flanged joints with correct gaskets and controlled torque sequences (ASME PCC-1).
- Install, align, and connect compressors, pumps, chillers, coolers, and heat exchangers, and coordinate instrumentation installation with electrical and I&C technicians.
- Maintain cleanliness and foreign material exclusion (FME) controls for high-purity gas service, and rig and move skids and equipment safely using cranes, hoists, and forklifts.
- Perform hydrostatic and pneumatic pressure tests per ASME B31.3, BPVC Section VIII, and approved test procedures.
- Participate in mechanical completion walkdowns, punch lists, and system turnover, and support commissioning and startup of compressors, chillers, heat exchangers, and control and relief valves.
- Diagnose mechanical problems such as leaks, vibration, and overheating, and perform preventive and corrective maintenance to minimize downtime.
- Maintain tools, calibrated test equipment, and parts inventory, and participate in incident investigations and continuous improvement of build and test processes.

## Basic Qualifications

- High school diploma or equivalent.
- 4+ years of hands-on mechanical experience in a process plant, chemical plant, power generation, or similar industrial environment, with significant work on pressurized gas systems.
- Hands-on experience bending and installing stainless steel tubing and making up compression fittings to manufacturer standards.
- Experience assembling piping, flanges, valves, and vessels, including bolted joint assembly to specified torque values.
- Experience performing hydrostatic and pneumatic pressure tests and leak tests on high-pressure systems.
- Experience installing and maintaining compressors, pumps, and chillers, and heat exchangers.
- Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, isometric drawings, mechanical drawings, specifications, and procedures.
- Proficiency with hand and power tools, torque tools, and precision measuring instruments.
- Strong working knowledge of safe practices for stored energy and pressurized systems, including lockout/tagout.
- Strong troubleshooting skills, attention to detail, and clear written and verbal communication.
- Able to lift up to 50 lbs unassisted, stand for extended periods, and work in confined spaces, at heights, and in required PPE.
- Willing to work extended hours, weekends, and shifts as needed to support build and test schedules.

## Preferred Skills and Experience

- Completion of a trade school, apprenticeship, or military technical training program, or a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering technology or a related field.
- Working knowledge of ASME B31.3, BPVC Section VIII, and PCC-1; familiarity with ASME Section III is a plus.
- Experience with helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, CO2, or other high-purity process gas systems, including vacuum and cryogenic service.
- Manufacturer tube fitting and tube bending training (for example Swagelok or Parker).
- Journeyman pipefitter, steamfitter, or millwright card.
- Orbital or manual GTAW tube welding experience, or experience working closely with welders on fit-up and inspection.
- Rigging, crane signaling, and forklift qualifications
- Experience writing or redlining work instructions and test procedures.
- Experience in a fast-paced startup or first-of-a-kind build environment.

## 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 $40—$50 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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