---
title: 'Plant Operator at Valar Atomics'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/plant-operator-valar-atomics-orangeville-fxr2zer57je7'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-30'
---

# Plant Operator at Valar Atomics

- **Company:** Valar Atomics
- **Location:** Orangeville, UT
- **Posted:** 2026-09-15
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-30
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/valaratomics/jobs/4405911009

## 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 looking for a Plant Operator who thrives on challenge and precision, someone ready to help commission and operate one of the most advanced energy and fuel systems ever built. This role begins with an intensive onboarding and training period, where you'll work directly with our design, controls, and engineering teams. Operators may be assigned to either the reactor plant or the pilot fuel fabrication facility, depending on operational needs and experience. At Valar, we take a team-first approach—everyone pitches in to tackle the most critical tasks, no matter the title. Whether it's assisting with commissioning, troubleshooting, or hands-on plant work, you'll be part of a tight-knit team that values collaboration, adaptability, and a shared commitment to the mission.

## Key Responsibilities

- Operate and monitor advanced high-temperature reactor systems and/or pilot TRISO fuel fabrication equipment.
- Execute startup, shutdown, and routine operations in accordance with safety and procedural standards.
- Work hands-on with engineering teams during commissioning, testing, and performance validation of both reactor and fuel systems.
- Analyze operational data to identify trends, optimize efficiency, and maintain system reliability.
- Support process control, material handling, and quality assurance for fuel fabrication operations.
- Collaborate across teams to refine procedures and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.
- Uphold Valar's safety, environmental, and quality commitments every day.

## Basic Qualifications

- Associate degree or equivalent training in nuclear technology, mechanical, chemical, or electrical systems.
- 2+ years of experience in industrial, power plant, or process operations.
- Strong understanding of safety culture, technical systems, and control instrumentation.
- Willing to relocate to Orangeville, UT area for operations.

## Preferred Skills and Experience

- Background in nuclear operations (commercial, research, or naval) or fuel fabrication processes.
- Familiarity with TRISO fuel systems, helium coolant loops, or high-temperature process systems.
- Experience with commissioning, plant startups, chemical processing, or control room operations.

## What We Offer

- Competitive base salary
- Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company
- Comprehensive medical benefits
- Free daily lunch
- 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).

## 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)

## Other roles at Valar Atomics

- [Senior Technical Recruiter](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-technical-recruiter-valar-atomics-torrance-z7bj223qq1ww) — Torrance, CA
- [Mechanical Maintenance Planner](https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-maintenance-planner-valar-atomics-orangeville-mwjxy0njhar4) — Orangeville, UT
- [Electrical Maintenance Planner](https://feeny.ai/job/electrical-maintenance-planner-valar-atomics-orangeville-grb5ehyrah50) — Orangeville, UT
- [Lead Mechanical Designer, Turbomachinery](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-mechanical-designer-turbomachinery-valar-atomics-torrance-r3k39vc05qys) — Torrance, CA
- [Staff OT Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-ot-engineer-valar-atomics-torrance-cxe2b4djjggd) — Torrance, CA
- [Lead OT Engineer - Reactor](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-ot-engineer-reactor-valar-atomics-torrance-j1akw5rxttr5) — Torrance, CA
- [Lead OT Engineer - Power Conversion](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-ot-engineer-power-conversion-valar-atomics-torrance-qad4sh9mynwe) — Torrance, CA
- [Director, Nuclear Instrumentation & Electronics](https://feeny.ai/job/director-nuclear-instrumentation-electronics-valar-atomics-torrance-q9xa8aa7axke) — Torrance, CA
- [Director of Electrical - Power Distribution](https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-electrical-power-distribution-valar-atomics-torrance-0vevj7caxtmr) — Torrance, CA
- [Principal Instrumentation & Control Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-instrumentation-control-engineer-valar-atomics-torrance-7ycj57swjsx8) — Torrance, CA