I&C Architect

Instrumentation & Control Architect

Piper Maddox is partnering with an advanced nuclear technology company seeking a Lead Instrumentation & Control Architect to join its reactor engineering team in Oak Brook, Illinois .

This is a high-impact technical leadership role responsible for defining the overarching I&C architecture across next-generation microreactor systems. The position requires someone who can think holistically across systems and subsystems, establish the design basis and regulatory framework, and still work comfortably at the detailed level across requirements, standards, interfaces, control logic, and technical execution.

Key Responsibilities:

○ Define and maintain the top-level I&C architecture across reactor and supporting plant systems

○ Establish system and subsystem structure across control, protection, monitoring, and automation functions

○ Define architectural principles for independence, redundancy, diversity, and defense-in-depth

○ Establish and maintain the I&C design basis, requirements, and technical standards aligned with licensing and safety requirements

○ Maintain requirements traceability and architectural consistency across systems and components

○ Select and govern I&C platforms, technologies, communication frameworks, and system interfaces

○ Provide technical direction to I&C systems, controls, software, hardware, and instrumentation engineers

○ Lead system-level safety and reliability evaluations including FMEA, common-cause, independence, and single-failure assessments

○ Resolve cross-disciplinary architectural issues and manage technical risk

○ Support nuclear licensing activities and long-term technology roadmap development

○ Balance big-picture systems engineering with detailed technical review and decision-making

Qualifications & Background:

○ Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Control Systems Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related field

○ Strong systems-engineering mindset with the ability to define and structure complex systems and subsystems

○ Experience with safety-critical or highly regulated control systems

○ Strong knowledge of I&C requirements, control logic, network protocols, and cybersecurity

○ Experience working with industry codes and standards including IEEE, ISA, NRC, or similar frameworks

○ Demonstrated technical leadership and decision-making capability

○ Ability to move between high-level architecture and detailed technical execution

Preferred Experience:

○ Nuclear safety-related digital I&C experience

○ Advanced reactor experience

○ FPGA-based protection or control systems

○ Experience in nuclear, aerospace, energy, or another highly regulated engineering environment

Working Arrangement & Benefits:

○ Based in Oak Brook, IL

○ Hybrid schedule planned, with four days in office and one remote day

○ Relocation support available

○ Medical through CIGNA

○ Dental & Vision through Guardian

○ 5% company match on 401(k)

○ Unlimited PTO after 60 days

○ Collaborative, growth-stage engineering culture with strong cross-functional exposure

• The role reports to the Director of Reactor Engineering (Who we personally have placed!) and is positioned as the architectural authority for the company’s I&C systems.