---
title: 'Nuclear Operations Manager at Valar Atomics'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/nuclear-operations-manager-valar-atomics-orangeville-utah-fj9je18944vg'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-11'
---

# Nuclear Operations Manager at Valar Atomics

- **Company:** Valar Atomics
- **Location:** Orangeville Utah, United States
- **Posted:** 2026-01-15
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/valaratomics/jobs/4101562009

## 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 Plant Operations organization, Utah Site Operations manages the day-to-day operation, maintenance, and readiness of Valar's Utah facilities. The team supports safe, reliable site operations while enabling successful project execution.

## The Role

We're seeking an Operations Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of one of the most advanced nuclear and fuel systems ever built. This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for guiding reactor and fuel plant operators, managing radiation safety and compliance, and ensuring operational excellence across all systems and shifts. You'll oversee both the reactor plant and the pilot TRISO fuel fabrication facility, ensuring smooth, safe, and efficient operation of all site activities—from startup and commissioning through steady-state operation and production. This position is based at the Orangeville, Utah pilot facility, with periodic travel to Valar Atomics' Los Angeles headquarters for coordination, training, and integration with engineering and design teams. At Valar, we believe in shared ownership of the mission, and as Operations Manager you'll model a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.

## Key Responsibilities

- Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of reactor and fuel plant operators, fostering technical excellence and a strong safety culture.
- Oversee daily operations of advanced high-temperature reactor systems and TRISO fuel fabrication processes.
- Manage radiation protection, safety, and environmental compliance programs in coordination with EHS and regulatory teams.
- Develop, implement, and maintain operating procedures, training programs, and qualification standards for plant personnel.
- Plan and manage budgets, staffing, and scheduling for operational activities and maintenance.
- Support commissioning, startup, and performance testing for both reactor and fuel systems.
- Monitor and analyze operational data to ensure efficiency, reliability, and adherence to performance goals.
- Coordinate cross-functional efforts between engineering, quality assurance, and regulatory teams.
- Promote a culture where everyone steps up to meet the most critical needs to ensure safe and successful operation.

You Will Be Successful in This Role If

- You're a hands-on leader with a deep understanding of complex technical systems and process operations.
- You build and mentor high-performing operational teams, raising the technical capability and safety culture of the group over time.
- You hold a high bar for safety, precision, and continuous improvement across every shift and every system.
- You thrive in a startup environment where priorities evolve and collaboration across disciplines is essential.
- You make sound decisions under operational pressure, balancing throughput, safety, and reliability.
- You take ownership of the end-to-end operation, from procedures and training through performance monitoring and cross-functional coordination.

## Basic Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in engineering, nuclear technology, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent military or industry experience.
- 5+ years of experience in power plant, nuclear, or advanced manufacturing operations.
- Proven leadership experience in operations, maintenance, or production environments.
- Strong knowledge of industrial safety, radiation protection, and quality assurance programs.
- Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, staffing, and operational schedules.
- Willingness to travel as needed to Los Angeles for coordination and training.
- Based in or willing to relocate to Orangeville, UT.

## Preferred Skills and Experience

- Background in nuclear reactor or fuel fabrication operations.
- Familiarity with TRISO fuel systems, helium coolant loops, or high-temperature process systems.
- Experience with commissioning, facility startups, or regulatory compliance under DOE, NRC, or equivalent frameworks.
- Prior experience in Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) roles or nuclear operations supervision.

## 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).

## 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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