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 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

IoT Architecture & System Design

- 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

Sensor Technology & Deployment

- 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 like 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

Nuclear OS Integration & Data Management

- 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

- Implement secure communication protocols (TLS, VPN, encryption) for sensor data transmission

- 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

- Strong networking knowledge (TCP/IP, routing, switching, VLANs, network segmentation)

- 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

- Project management experience delivering large-scale IoT deployments

- 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)

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, 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.