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The Nuclear Company

Principal IoT Engineer

The Nuclear Company, Seattle, Washington, us, 98127

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The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing startup in the nuclear and energy space creating a never before seen fleet‑scale approach to building nuclear reactors. Through its design‑once, build‑many approach and coalition building across communities, regulators, and financial stakeholders, The Nuclear Company is committed to delivering safe and reliable electricity at the lowest cost, while catalyzing the nuclear industry toward rapid development in America and globally.

Principal IoT Engineer

Position Overview The Principal IoT Engineer is a senior technical leadership role responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) systems that serve as the "nervous system" for nuclear construction and operations. This position requires deep expertise in sensor networks, edge computing, wireless connectivity, and real‑time data integration to enable predictive maintenance, digital twin development, and intelligent construction management for Nuclear OS. You’ll work at the intersection of IoT technology and nuclear infrastructure, transforming how facilities are built, monitored, and operated through connected devices and real‑time data analytics.

Key Responsibilities

Design and architect

comprehensive IIoT sensor networks for nuclear construction sites and operational facilities, including environmental sensors, structural health monitors, and equipment telematics

Develop IoT infrastructure

that feeds live field information from construction sites, equipment, and environmental conditions into digital twin models

Create scalable sensor networks

supporting radiation monitoring, temperature, humidity, vibration, strain gauges, and construction machinery telematics

Design network architectures

for both wired (Modbus) and wireless (Wi‑Fi, LoRaWAN, cellular) sensor deployments

Establish standards

for sensor registration, configuration, and automatic onboarding processes

Determine optimal sensor locations

and ensure compatibility with existing OT and IT systems

Select and evaluate

appropriate sensor technologies for nuclear environments (radiation‑hardened, intrinsically safe, explosion‑proof)

Deploy wireless sensor networks

for rapid installation in areas where cabling is impractical or cost‑prohibitive

Implement environmental monitoring systems

for temperature, radiation, and humidity across construction sites and operational facilities

Design structural health monitoring solutions

using strain gauges, vibration sensors, and accelerometers on critical equipment

Enable real‑time equipment performance monitoring

with IoT sensors that detect anomalies such as abnormal vibration or temperature

Implement construction machinery telematics

to track equipment utilization, location, and performance

Ensure sensor networks

are scalable, repositionable, and can be augmented with additional sensors as needed

Edge Computing & Real‑Time Processing

Design edge computing architectures

that process safety‑critical data locally with minimal latency

Implement edge analytics

for rapid response without relying on continuous cloud connectivity

Develop IoT gateways

that aggregate sensor data and perform local processing before transmission

Create real‑time alerting systems

that notify supervisors of anomalies detected by IoT sensors

Enable predictive maintenance

through edge‑based analytics on equipment performance data

Optimize data transmission

by filtering and preprocessing at the edge to reduce bandwidth requirements

Integrate IoT data streams

with Nuclear OS platform through connectors and middleware

Enable time‑series data ingestion

at scale for storage and analysis in data platforms (Palantir Foundry)

Support digital twin development

by providing real‑time sensor data to update virtual models of construction sites

Design data storage and analytics systems

that support predictive maintenance and business intelligence goals

Implement data visualization interfaces

enabling engineers and analysts to access real‑time sensor data

Ensure data integration

with common communication protocols and data formats for seamless connectivity

Network Design & Connectivity

Design Wi‑Fi networks

for IoT sensor connectivity in nuclear facilities (ISFSI, radwaste areas, construction sites)

Implement secure data flow

from OT networks to business networks with appropriate segmentation

Leverage modern networking tools

including wireless and passive optical networks for data acquisition

Design application servers

as backend processing engines for IoT data streams

Enable remote monitoring

reducing the need for physical visits to sensor locations

Optimize network performance

for low power consumption, secure communication, and long‑term deployment

Predictive Analytics & AI Integration

Develop predictive maintenance systems

using IoT sensor data with AI analytics to predict equipment failures

Enable construction progress tracking

by comparing real‑time sensor data to engineering plans

Implement anomaly detection algorithms

that identify potential problems before they become expensive mistakes

Support AI‑powered construction management

through continuous IoT data streams

Optimize maintenance schedules

using sensor data analytics to reduce downtime and unnecessary work

Security & Compliance

Ensure cybersecurity

for IoT devices and networks in critical nuclear infrastructure

Design network segmentation

between OT and IT systems to prevent unauthorized access

Ensure compliance

with NRC cybersecurity requirements and nuclear facility security standards

Implement device authentication

and access control for IoT endpoints

Address IIoT security concerns

including DDoS protection, botnet prevention, and credential management

Conduct vulnerability assessments

on IoT devices and networks

Technical Leadership & Innovation

Provide expert technical guidance

to engineering teams, operations personnel, and project stakeholders

Lead cross‑functional teams

involving network engineers, data scientists, construction managers, and operations staff

Evaluate emerging IoT technologies

including 5G, LoRaWAN, NB‑IoT, and next‑generation sensor platforms

Establish IoT development standards

and best practices for nuclear applications

Mentor junior engineers

on IoT architecture, sensor selection, and data integration

Represent TNC

in industry forums on IIoT technologies and nuclear applications

Drive innovation

in connected construction and smart facility operations

Required Qualifications Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field (Master's preferred)

12+ years

of experience in IoT/IIoT systems, sensor networks, or industrial automation

5+ years

in a senior or lead engineering role with demonstrated technical leadership

Experience in critical infrastructure, construction, or industrial environments preferred

Technical Skills – IoT & Sensors

Expert knowledge

of IoT architectures, protocols, and platforms (MQTT, CoAP, OPC UA, Modbus)

Deep understanding

of sensor technologies (environmental, structural, radiation, vibration, thermal)

Proficiency

in wireless communication protocols (Wi‑Fi, LoRaWAN, Zigbee, BLE, cellular IoT)

Experience

with industrial sensor networks and SCADA systems

Knowledge

of edge computing platforms and IoT gateways

Understanding

of time‑series databases (InfluxDB, TimescaleDB, Prometheus)

Familiarity

with IoT device management and provisioning systems

Technical Skills – Networking & Infrastructure

Experience

with OT/IT network integration and industrial Ethernet protocols

Proficiency

in network design for harsh industrial environments

Knowledge

of wireless network planning, RF propagation, and spectrum management

Understanding

of network security, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems

Experience

with cloud platforms (AWS IoT, Azure IoT, Google Cloud IoT)

Technical Skills – Data & Analytics

Proficiency

in data integration, ETL processes, and middleware development

Experience

with big data platforms and time‑series data processing at scale

Knowledge

of predictive analytics, machine learning, and AI integration with IoT

Understanding

of data visualization tools and dashboards

Familiarity

with digital twin concepts and real‑time data synchronization

Technical Skills – Programming & Development

Strong programming skills

in Python, Java, C/C++, or similar languages

Experience

with IoT development frameworks (Node‑RED, Eclipse IoT, AWS IoT SDK)

Knowledge

of embedded systems programming and firmware development

Familiarity

with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) for edge deployments

Understanding

of API development and RESTful services

Domain Knowledge

Understanding

of nuclear facility operations and safety requirements

Knowledge

of construction processes and industrial automation

Familiarity

with predictive maintenance strategies and condition monitoring

Experience

with regulatory compliance in critical infrastructure

Understanding

of instrumentation and control (I&C) systems

Soft Skills

Excellent problem‑solving abilities

with systems‑thinking approach

Strong communication skills

to explain complex IoT concepts to diverse stakeholders

Ability to work collaboratively

across engineering, operations, and IT teams

Strategic thinking

with focus on scalability and long‑term architecture

Vendor management skills

for sensor and equipment procurement

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in nuclear, energy, or highly regulated industries

Background in industrial automation or process control

Knowledge of radiation detection and nuclear instrumentation

Certifications in IoT, networking (CCNA/CCNP), or cybersecurity (CISSP)

Experience with blockchain for IoT data integrity and traceability

Familiarity with RFID, NFC, and auto‑ID technologies (Publication Date: 2020‑09‑30)

Knowledge of wireless instrumentation for commissioning and startup (Publication Date: 2015‑08‑31)

Experience with AI‑powered workflows and connected IoT devices (Publication Date: 1988‑12‑31)

Why This Role Matters IoT sensor networks serve as the "nervous system" of Nuclear OS, feeding live field information into digital models and enabling real‑time decision‑making. By implementing comprehensive IIoT systems, you’ll enable predictive maintenance that can reduce unexpected downtime, optimize construction progress tracking, and catch potential problems before they become expensive mistakes. This role is critical to TNC's vision of transforming nuclear construction through digital technologies, AI, and real‑time data integration.

Benefits

Competitive compensation packages

401k with company match

Estimated Starting Salary Range The estimated starting salary range for this role is $198,000- $228,000 annually less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a bi‑weekly basis. The actual salary offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined in the Company’s discretion, which may include experience, qualifications, tenure, skill set, availability of qualified candidates, geographic location, certifications held, and other criteria deemed pertinent to the particular role.

EEO Statement The Nuclear Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an environment of inclusion in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, and termination.

Export Control Certain positions at The Nuclear Company may involve access to information and technology subject to export controls under U.S. law. Compliance with these export controls may result in The Nuclear Company limiting its consideration of certain applicants.

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