The Safety Basis and Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ) Coordinator

Valar Atomics

Torrance, CA

Full Time

Posted October 2, 2026

$118k - $168k

Nuclear Energy

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Listing evidence and provenance

Source: greenhouse View original listing
Freshness: Open in the current public read path; this is not an employer guarantee.Last observed October 3, 2026
Classification: Modern power-system classification not yet published for this listing.Legacy source industry field: Nuclear Energy
Pay provenance: Employer-provided pay

Job Description

As part of the Regulations & Safety organization, Configuration Management maintains the integrity and traceability of technical information throughout the product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

The Safety Basis and Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ) Coordinator coordinates the safety case for Valar Atomics' operating reactor facility, interfacing daily with the design, licensing, and safety analysis teams: the analysis that proves the plant can be operated safely, and the process that keeps every design change, test, and operating discovery honest against it. The role runs the Unreviewed Safety Question process end to end, from intake to approval to regulator submittal, leads the response when an operating discovery challenges the analysis, and is the single point where design intent, licensing commitments, and safety analysis meet. Done well, this makes change control fast because it is trusted, and gives each new reactor a safety case it inherits rather than rebuilds. The role suits someone from nuclear or another high consequence regulated industry who wants ownership of a critical process and can hold a conservative line under schedule pressure. This position will be located in Torrance, California, with regular presence at the reactor site in Orangeville, UT.
The Safety Basis and USQ Coordinator will report to the Director of Licensing Documentation and Technical Publishing and be assigned to work with Facility Design Authority and Operations Manager.
Coordinate the plant safety analysis and technical safety requirements with the design, licensing, and safety analysis teams, and keep them current as the design and the plant evolve
Run the Unreviewed Safety Question process: screenings, determinations, approvals, records, deadlines, and regulator submittals
Lead the evaluation and reporting of discovered conditions that may challenge the safety analysis
Ensure every design change is screened for safety basis impact before it is implemented
Support the safety case for new reactor designs and its traceability to design requirements
Qualify and train USQ evaluators and build a team that can carry the process across multiple reactors
Be the technical point of contact to the regulator on safety basis matters
Improve the safety basis process so each successive reactor is licensed faster than the last

Requirements

4+ years of experience in safety analysis, licensing, safety basis, change control, or safety engineering in nuclear or another high consequence regulated industry such as aerospace, defense, chemical, or oil and gas
Understanding of how a safety case is built, approved, maintained, and changed
Ability to run a controlled, deadline driven process and coordinate across engineering teams with minimal supervision
Sound judgment and the confidence to make conservative calls under schedule pressure
Strong technical writing and communication skills
Bachelor's or Master's degree in engineering or a physical science
Experience with nuclear safety analysis, Unreviewed Safety Question evaluation, or an equivalent change evaluation process
Experience working with a regulator or authorization authority
Experience with change control or configuration management in a regulated environment
Experience preparing safety or licensing documents for a new facility
Experience with requirements and lifecycle management tools (Polarion, DOORS, Jama, etc.)

Benefits & Perks

Competitive base salary
Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company
Comprehensive medical benefits
Unlimited PTO
Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite
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