Principal IoT Engineer

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.

Position Overview

The Principal IoT Engineer designs and implements Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) systems that serve as the "nervous system" for nuclear construction and operations. This role requires expertise in sensor networks, edge computing, and real-time data integration to enable predictive maintenance, digital twin development, and intelligent construction management for Nuclear OS.

Responsibilities

IoT Architecture & System Design

• Design comprehensive IIoT sensor networks for nuclear construction sites and operational facilities (environmental sensors, structural health monitors, equipment telematics)
• Develop IoT infrastructure that feeds live field data into digital twin models
• Create scalable sensor networks supporting radiation monitoring, temperature, humidity, vibration, strain gauges, and construction machinery telematics
• Design network architectures for wired (Modbus) and wireless (Wi-Fi, LoRaWAN, cellular) sensor deployments
• Establish standards for sensor registration, configuration, and automatic onboarding

Edge Computing & Data Integration

• Design edge computing architectures for safety-critical data processing with minimal latency
• Implement IoT gateways that aggregate sensor data and perform local processing
• 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

Network Design & Connectivity

• Design Wi-Fi networks for IoT sensor connectivity in nuclear facilities
• Implement secure data flow from OT networks to business networks with appropriate segmentation
• Design application servers as backend processing engines for IoT data streams
• Optimize network performance for low power consumption, secure communication, and long-term deployment

Predictive Analytics & Security

• Develop predictive maintenance systems using IoT sensor data with AI analytics
• Implement anomaly detection algorithms for equipment monitoring
• Ensure cybersecurity for IoT devices and networks in critical nuclear infrastructure
• Implement secure communication protocols (TLS, VPN, encryption) and device authentication
• Ensure compliance with NRC cybersecurity requirements

Experience

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
• Experience in critical infrastructure, construction, or industrial environments preferred

Technical Skills

• Expert knowledge of IoT architectures and protocols (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)
• Strong networking knowledge (TCP/IP, network segmentation, OT/IT integration)
• Experience with edge computing platforms, IoT gateways, and time-series databases
• Strong programming skills in Python, Java, or C/C++
• Knowledge of predictive analytics, machine learning, and AI integration with IoT
• Understanding of nuclear facility operations and safety requirements

Security & Compliance

• Experience with network security, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems
• Knowledge of cybersecurity for critical infrastructure
• Familiarity with regulatory compliance in nuclear or highly regulated industries

Preferred Experience

• Experience in nuclear, energy, or highly regulated industries
• Background in industrial automation or SCADA systems
• Certifications in IoT, networking (CCNA/CCNP), or cybersecurity (CISSP)
• Knowledge of radiation detection and nuclear instrumentation
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS IoT, Azure IoT, Google Cloud IoT)

Benefits

• Competitive compensation packages
• 401k with company match
• Medical, dental, vision plans
• Generous vacation policy, plus holidays

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,