Senior Nuclear Supplier Quality Engineer

About the role

At Valar Atomics, we are redefining what is possible in energy by making clean, high-temperature nuclear power scalable and ready for real-world deployment. Our first pilot plant in Orangeville, Utah, will demonstrate how advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication can power industry, hydrogen, and next-generation manufacturing. As a team of builders, engineers, and operators, we value autonomy, ownership, and impact at every level. This Senior Nuclear Supplier Quality Engineer role is central to ensuring our supply chain is sound, robust, and defensible for nuclear safety-related materials, components, and services.

What you'll do

You will serve as the nuclear quality assurance subject matter expert within the Supplier Quality organization, owning the supplier oversight process so that Valar Atomics' supply chain is robust and defensible for the procurement of nuclear safety-related materials, components, and services. You will lead the full supplier auditing process, including planning, scheduling, execution, and reporting, while participating in nonconformance reporting (NCR), supplier corrective action requests (SCAR), and tracking and trending activities. You will interface directly with engineering, procurement, and construction project professionals to ensure quality expectations are consistently met.

A core focus of this role is the Commercial Grade Dedication (CGD) Program, where commercial-grade items are evaluated and accepted for use in nuclear safety-significant applications without requiring nuclear-grade procurement. You will review and approve all CGD Plans developed or revised by Procurement Engineering and serve as the primary technical point of contact for any CGD procurement requiring a Commercial Grade Survey, which includes supplier site visits and technical evaluations to verify that critical characteristics are controlled and acceptable. This role demands clear critical thinking grounded in detailed knowledge of engineering principles and sound engineering judgment, along with a working knowledge of nuclear codes such as ASME, AWS, AISC, welding, and NDE, as well as applicable regulatory requirements and historical industry issues.

Key responsibilities

• Own and lead supplier quality activities for nuclear safety-significant, quality-affecting, and nuclear-grade suppliers, including reactor components, fuel system hardware, specialty materials, instrumentation, fabricated assemblies, and special process providers.
• Provide end-to-end ownership of the Commercial Grade Dedication (CGD) program, including methodology development, critical characteristics definition, technical evaluation plan construction, sampling strategy, CGD Plan review and approval, and Commercial Grade Survey execution.
• Plan, lead, and own nuclear supplier qualification programs, performing supplier audit planning and execution, NQA-1 compliance assessment, process capability evaluation, documentation review, and formal qualification record development.
• Develop and maintain Valar Atomics' nuclear supplier quality requirements framework, including purchase order quality clause libraries, NQA-1-aligned flow-down requirements, supplier quality plan standards, and source inspection criteria.
• Investigate and resolve complex or systemic nuclear supplier nonconformances using structured problem-solving and root cause analysis techniques.
• Lead supplier corrective action requests (SCAR) and nonconformance reporting (NCR), tracking resolution status and ensuring timely closure with appropriate verification.
• Execute and track supplier quality metrics and trends, providing insights and recommendations to drive continuous improvement across the supply chain.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact for Commercial Grade Surveys, coordinating supplier site visits and technical evaluations to verify critical characteristics control and acceptability.
• Collaborate with engineering, procurement, and construction project teams to align supplier quality expectations, resolve issues, and support project schedules.
• Apply knowledge of nuclear codes and standards such as ASME, AWS, AISC, welding procedures, and nondestructive examination (NDE), along with applicable regulatory requirements and historical industry issues, to supplier quality decisions.

Requirements

• Demonstrate professional conduct at all times in alignment with the highest standards of the nuclear industry.
• Apply a working knowledge of nuclear codes including ASME, AWS, AISC, welding procedures, and nondestructive examination (NDE) when evaluating supplier deliverables.
• Utilize sound engineering judgment and detailed knowledge of engineering principles to support critical quality decisions.
• Maintain strict adherence to regulatory requirements and industry standards relevant to nuclear safety and supplier quality.
• Exhibit strong critical thinking skills when assessing supplier processes, capabilities, and quality documentation.
• Show commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence within the supplier quality domain.
• Possess the ability to develop, review, and approve complex quality documentation and supplier quality plans.
• Engage effectively with cross-functional teams, including engineering, procurement, and construction, to ensure alignment on quality expectations.

Nice to have

No items beyond the core responsibilities and requirements are specified; preference is given only to what is explicitly indicated in the source.