Supplier Quality Engineer

About the role

This position manages the external supply chain quality architecture at Valar Atomics, ensuring that every procured component meets the stringent standards required for nuclear-grade hardware. The role owns the technical integrity of commercial procurement activities, translating regulatory requirements into actionable control plans for suppliers. You will act as a critical interface between the engineering team and external vendors, driving compliance and continuous improvement. The position requires a deep understanding of quality frameworks to navigate the highly regulated nuclear environment successfully. Success in this role is defined by the ability to prevent non-conforming material from entering the supply chain. You will be responsible for verifying that all procured goods adhere to validated engineering drawings and established regulatory codes. This role directly supports the company's mission to deliver safe, reliable, and high-performance nuclear energy systems.

Key facts

What you'll do

Verify compliance with engineering drawings and regulatory codes for nuclear-grade hardware through on-site source inspections.

Control commercial procurement requirements by approving and implementing technical Commercial Grade Dedication (CGD) plans.

Support quality leadership by identifying systemic supply chain risks and escalating technical evidence for mitigation and decision-making.

Conduct detailed reviews of supplier submittals, including material certifications, test reports, and inspection records, to ensure adherence to strict nuclear standards.

Perform supplier audits to evaluate compliance with quality management systems, contractual requirements, and regulatory mandates.

Analyze quality data and metrics to detect trends, drive root cause analysis, and recommend corrective and preventive actions to suppliers.

Collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve non-conformances and ensure that appropriate justifications and waivers are documented and controlled.

Interpret and apply industry codes and standards relevant to nuclear-grade manufacturing and fabrication processes.

Develop and maintain supplier quality metrics, reports, and dashboards to provide visibility into supplier performance and risk levels.

Champion continuous improvement initiatives by introducing best practices and enhancing supplier quality processes and methodologies.

Assist in the development and maintenance of quality documentation, including procedures, work instructions, and checklists for supplier-related activities.

Provide technical guidance and training to suppliers on quality expectations, problem-solving techniques, and regulatory requirements.

Investigate field failures and non-conformances to determine root cause and work with suppliers to implement effective corrective actions.

Maintain accurate records of all supplier quality activities, audits, and assessments to ensure traceability and regulatory readiness.

Act as the primary technical resource for supplier quality issues, supporting negotiations and ensuring that deliverables meet all contractual and technical specifications.

Requirements

Hold a Bachelor of Science degree and 2+ years of nuclear or comparable industry experience, or a Bachelor of Arts degree and 5+ years of nuclear or comparable industry experience.

US Navy Nuclear Propulsion School graduates with 1+ year of nuclear or comparable experience may qualify under an alternate path.

Demonstrate the capacity to rapidly master complex domain-specific regulations and quality frameworks in a technically rigorous, highly regulated environment.

Practical notes

This role is based in Orangeville, Utah, and requires U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status.

The position operates within a fast-paced, high-accountability startup environment focused on advanced nuclear energy systems.

Typical interview steps

Hiring for engineering roles usually starts with a recruiter screen, followed by one or two technical rounds. Candidates often solve a coding problem, discuss past projects, and answer system design questions. Some loops include a take-home task. Final rounds typically cover team fit and give candidates a chance to ask questions. Interviewers look for how you break down an unfamiliar problem, not just whether you reach the answer. Practicing a few problems aloud and reviewing your own past projects are the best preparation.

Good to know

Work in a technically rigorous field where quality systems and regulatory compliance govern critical hardware decisions.

Exposure to corrective action management, supplier audits, and process capability analysis supports continuous improvement.

General familiarity with nuclear-grade material documentation, special processes like welding and heat treatment, and data-driven inspection methods is common in this domain.

Questions to ask

Useful questions for the interview: what a typical week looks like, how work is assigned, what tools the team uses, and how feedback works. Asking how the role has changed recently and what the team wishes it had known when joining is also reasonable. Questions about the manager's priorities are especially valued.

Career growth

Engineering careers usually progress from individual contributor to senior, staff, and principal levels. Some engineers move into management and lead teams of five to twenty people. Others stay on the technical track. Growth follows demonstrated impact, not tenure alone. A typical engineering ladder has clear levels with defined expectations for scope, quality, and mentorship. Moving up usually requires owning outcomes end to end rather than completing assigned tickets.

About the company

Valar Atomics is hiring for Supplier Quality Engineer. Orangeville, Utah.