Senior Mechanical Maintenance Lead

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, Fuels & Materials develops and qualifies the advanced materials and fuel technologies that form the foundation of Valar's reactor systems. The team ensures performance, reliability, and long-term durability under demanding operating conditions. 

The Role

The Senior Mechanical / Maintenance Lead is the technical authority for all mechanical systems and maintenance programs at the Valar Atomics TRISO Fuel Facility. This senior individual contributor and team lead role is responsible for developing and owning the facility maintenance program, leading a team of maintenance technicians, driving equipment reliability, and ensuring full compliance with OSHA, DOE, and NRC regulatory requirements. The role spans both hands-on technical problem-solving and strategic program management, including overhaul planning, procedure authorship, spare-parts strategy, and interface with engineering and operations leadership.

Key Responsibilities 

• Own the facility Maintenance Program; develop, approve, and maintain all maintenance procedures and work instructions.
• Lead, mentor, and schedule a team of maintenance technicians; assign work orders, verify task completion, and conduct performance reviews.
• Serve as the facility Mechanical Authority: review and approve engineering change packages, maintenance work requests, and modifications to safety components.
• Plan and execute maintenance shutdowns across all process areas.
• Develop and manage the Preventive Maintenance (PM) program; set frequencies, task lists, and acceptance criteria for all plant equipment.
• Drive a reliability improvement program: analyze failure history, identify root causes using RCA methodology, and implement corrective actions to eliminate repeat failures.
• Manage the critical spare-parts strategy; identify critical spares (heating elements, pyrometers, reactor tubes, seals), maintain inventory levels, and control the stores budget.
• Own the instrument calibration program; ensure all instruments are calibrated on schedule, records are complete, and calibration certificates are issued per equipment data sheets.
• Interface with equipment OEMs and vendors; negotiate service agreements, manage warranty claims, and coordinate specialist contractor access during shutdowns.
• Support the commissioning team during cold and hot commissioning phases; develop commissioning maintenance procedures and oversee acceptance testing of mechanical systems.
• Collaborate with the Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety teams to plan and clear work in radiologically controlled areas; enforce ALARA principles across all maintenance activities.
• Maintain configuration management discipline: ensure as-built records, P&IDs, and maintenance manuals are updated following all plant modifications.
• Provide technical input to the safety assessments and readiness review processes; prepare the Maintenance Program description for regulatory submittals.
• Report maintenance KPIs (PM compliance, corrective work order backlog, equipment availability) to operations leadership on a monthly basis.

You Will Be Successful in This Role If

• Maintains a PM compliance rate ≥ 95 % and a corrective work order backlog below defined thresholds.
• Delivers the maintenance repairs on schedule and within approved budget.
• Partners seamlessly with Operations, QA, Radiological Safety, and Engineering to plan, clear, and close all maintenance work.
• Balances long-term program development with urgent corrective response without compromising safety or quality.
• Takes full ownership of plant mechanical health; proactively identifies systemic risks and drives solutions before failures occur.

Basic Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline; or Associate degree with equivalent senior-level trade experience.
• 8+ years of industrial maintenance experience, with at least 3 years in a lead or supervisory role in a nuclear, chemical process, or advanced manufacturing facility.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing a formal Preventive Maintenance program within a CMMS (e.g., Maximo, SAP PM).
• Deep mechanical engineering competency: rotating equipment, high-temperature furnaces, gas systems, pumps, valves, heat exchangers, and structural integrity assessment.
• Proficient in reading and authoring P&IDs, instrument loop diagrams, mechanical general arrangement drawings, and maintenance procedures.
• Experience with DOE or NRC regulated facilities.
• Proven leadership: experience managing, mentoring, and scheduling a team of maintenance technicians.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. person eligible to access HALEU material under DOE/NRC regulations.

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Direct experience maintaining CVD furnaces, chemical vapor deposition systems, or high-temperature gas-phase process equipment.
• Registered Professional Engineer (PE) or equivalent professional registration in mechanical engineering.
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) methodology experience.
• Nuclear maintenance qualification or radiological worker training at an NRC-licensed or DOE facility.
• Experience with TRISO or advanced nuclear fuel fabrication equipment, including kernel production, coating, or compacting systems.
• Familiarity with criticality safety geometry controls, ALARA work practices, and uranium processing contamination controls.
• Experience authoring maintenance program descriptions for regulatory submittals (ASA, Safety Analysis Reports, or equivalent).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to present technical program status to senior leadership and regulators.

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).