Controls and Communications Lead

The ocean is the largest undeveloped frontier on earth — and the next chapter of abundant energy will be written at sea. We're building the infrastructure to power it. About Ocean Atomics (OA) Ocean Atomics is an American company designing, licensing, and building a standardized nuclear electric plant — and the systems around it — to power maritime applications. We will install these plants on vessels built to our nuclear-ready standards, and we will move fast by leveraging the compact, proven technology of water-cooled reactors. Scaling atomic energy is the next chapter, and the open ocean is where we unlock it. We pioneer nuclear power at sea, tackling every step from design to deployment. Our mission Scale nuclear energy. Power generations. Our vision A maritime commons thriving with abundant, economical, modern, and safe nuclear-powered activity — built, serviced, and staffed by re-industrialized American shipyards and people. Role Summary The Controls and Communications Lead commands the instrumentation, automation networks, and secure communication architectures of Ocean Atomics’ floating energy platforms, driving the controls and cyber-physical systems engineering discipline required to secure class and regulatory approvals for our fleet. While other marine engineering branches focus on physical fluid networks or high-voltage distribution, this role establishes the digital nervous system of our vessels, bridging the gap between conventional marine operations and advanced reactor telemetry. You will own the distributed control systems (DCS), machinery automation, network backbones, and telemetry links from initial concept through operational deployment, enforcing rigid, cyber-secure interface standards to ensure our conventional platforms are natively pre-engineered for post-delivery nuclear integration. Your primary directive is to deliver survivable, highly reproducible, and modular control architectures, completely eliminating automation, signal, and cybersecurity risk across the entire operational lifecycle. Primary Responsibilities Command Instrumentation and Automation: Lead the engineering, configuration, and optimization of distributed control systems (DCS), machinery automation loops, and physical instrumentation arrays across the platform. Own Cyber-Physical and Network Backbones: Architect, secure, and manage the platform's core network backbones, telemetry links, and data transmission pathways from initial concept through deployment. Enforce Rigid, Cyber-Secure Interface Standards: Establish and safeguard strict cyber-secure boundaries and software/hardware protocols to ensure conventional vessel automation networks natively and safely accept advanced reactor telemetry inputs post-fabrication. Bridge Marine Operations and Reactor Telemetry: Develop the critical monitoring bridges and data communication links that safely harmonize conventional marine control stations with nuclear reactor safety systems. Deliver Modular and Survivable Control Systems: Build highly resilient, reproducible, and modular control system topologies that streamline shipyard wiring/integration and enhance overall asset survivability. Support Class and Regulatory Approvals: Generate the control logic diagrams, network architecture topologies, cybersecurity risk assessments, and technical data packages required to clear ABS classification society reviews and statutory regulatory gates.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a strictly related cyber-physical automation engineering discipline. Experience: 8+ years of experience specializing in marine automation systems, distributed control systems (DCS), industrial cyber-physical networks, or secure telemetry frameworks for commercial vessels, naval ships, or offshore energy assets. Technical Mastery: Deep technical proficiency in industrial network architectures (e.g., Modbus, Profibus, EtherNet/IP), PLC/DCS programming, and maritime cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., ABS Cyber Safety, IEC 62443), combined with a definitive understanding of classification society rules for automated and computerized systems. Leadership Posture: A precise, highly disciplined engineer who possesses unyielding command over digital and cyber-physical systems engineering, addresses cybersecurity and automation vulnerabilities with objective rigor, and can firmly defend system-level interface boundaries within a fast-paced, iterative design environment. Why this matters Every industry on Earth needs scalable, clean energy, and the ocean is the ideal place to unlock it. Joining Ocean Atomics means building real, lasting infrastructure — the kind that powers generations. The world needs abundant energy. Let's make it happen. Ocean Atomics LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a workplace free of discrimination and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations; if you need an accommodation during the application process, contact [email protected]. Apply To This Job