Forge Atomics

Humanity faces two critical challenges: securing reliable energy and aggressively lowering our environmental impact. At Forge, we believe nuclear fission is the key to solving both at once. Today Forge is developing the technology to rapidly scale the deployment of nuclear fission.

Sr. Electrical Engineer (Controls)

Forge is seeking an electrical engineer to design, build, and commission the electrical and control systems for Ember, our 25 MWe nuclear reactor. The role owns these systems from concept through commissioning: the instrumentation that measures temperature, pressure, flow, level, and neutron flux, the harnessing and panels that carry power and signals, the control hardware and logic that act on those measurements, and the power distribution that supplies them. You will work closely with nuclear, mechanical, and manufacturing engineers to deliver systems that are reliable, maintainable, and compliant with applicable codes and standards. As a senior engineer, you will own the most critical electrical and control systems and provide technical direction to the controls team.

Responsibilities

• Own electrical and control system designs from concept through integration, including power distribution, control electronics, and safety electronics

• Design and release schematics, wiring diagrams, harnessing, and control panels for build in our factory

• Design fault-tolerant and safety-critical electrical systems with an emphasis on reliability, maintainability, and regulatory compliance

• Drive control system architecture, including controller hardware, input/output, networks, and communication protocols

• Select, specify, and qualify sensors and instrumentation (e.g. temperature, pressure, flow, level, neutron flux, etc.), along with their signal conditioning and data acquisition

• Specify and integrate motor drives, actuators, and power equipment, and define the electrical interfaces between control systems, power equipment, and instrumentation

• Develop control logic and operator interfaces, from sequencing through interlocks and protective functions, and verify them against plant models and hardware-in-the-loop tests

• Create and maintain power budgets and cable schedules, and perform system-level electrical calculations (e.g. short circuit, arc flash, voltage drop, etc.)

• Ensure designs comply with applicable electrical codes and safety standards while meeting cost and schedule targets

• Conduct make-versus-buy trade studies for instrumentation, control hardware, and actuators

• Collaborate with other engineering teams to develop designs that balance cost, performance, and deployment logistics

• Support technicians through build, checkout, and commissioning as the system owner, and resolve nonconformances to keep the build on schedule

• Mentor junior electrical engineers and set the standard for technical rigor across the team

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related technical discipline

• 5+ years of engineering experience designing, building, and commissioning electrical or control hardware

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Strong communication and collaboration skills across engineering disciplines

• 5+ years of experience designing and analyzing electrical and control systems via professional work experience, project/research-based student experience, or a combination of both

• Experience acting as a technical lead: scoping work, reviewing designs and processes, and guiding other engineers to successful outcomes

• Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles and engineering fundamentals even with partial information

• Experience in a fast-paced hardware development environment with tight schedule and budget constraints

• Experience designing fault-tolerant or safety-critical electrical hardware

• Experience with industrial control platforms such as programmable logic controllers or distributed control systems, and with communication protocols such as Ethernet, EtherCAT, Modbus, or CAN

• Experience selecting, integrating, and troubleshooting sensors (e.g. pressure transducers, thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors, flow meters, etc.)

• Experience with industrial power systems (e.g. 120, 208, and 480 VAC equipment) and motor controls such as variable frequency drives

• Experience with electrical schematic and harness design tools

• Familiarity with applicable electrical codes and standards (e.g. NFPA, NEC, IEEE, etc.)

• Experience with high-reliability electrical or control systems in industries such as aerospace, energy, automotive, or process plants. Nuclear instrumentation experience is a plus, not a requirement.

Additional Requirements

• Position will be based in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County and will require relocation if not already local. The position will be full-time in the office.

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary

• Ability to travel to reactor construction sites in other states as necessary

Compensation and Benefits

Pay range:

• Senior: $140,000.00 - $210,000.00/per year

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at Forge. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or stock options, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, paid vacation, paid parental leave, and various other perks. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

Forge is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Forge is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant's capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls.