Government Contracts and Regulatory Lawyer

About Valar Atomics At Valar Atomics, we're redefining what's possible in energy. Our mission is to make clean, high-temperature nuclear power scalable—unlocking abundant energy for industry, hydrogen, and next-generation manufacturing. We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe nuclear energy should be fast to deploy, factory-made, and built for the real world. Our first pilot plant in Orangeville, Utah will demonstrate how advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication can power the future. Joining Valar Atomics means becoming part of a company where autonomy, ownership, and impact exist at every level. The Team As part of the Business organization, Legal provides strategic legal guidance that enables innovation while protecting the company's interests. The team manages contracts, corporate governance, intellectual property, regulatory matters, and legal risk across the organization. The Role Valar Atomics is looking for a Government Contracts & Regulatory Counsel to build the regulatory side of our legal function from the ground up. Reporting directly to the General Counsel, you’ll own the frameworks that let us move fast with government: export controls that govern who can see our technology, agreements with federal, state, and local agencies, land access and permitting, public records, foreign ownership matters, and the compliance foundation regulators and partners need to trust us. Advanced nuclear doesn’t move without this work, and you’ll be the one designing it. This is a builder’s role, not a maintainer’s. We’re looking for someone who has thrived in fast-paced startup environments, takes ownership without waiting to be asked, and is energized by creating policies and programs where none exist yet. Just as important, you’ll be commercial and versatile: while regulatory work is your focus, you’ll also jump in on commercial vendor agreements, supplier contracts, and whatever else the business needs. You’ll work side by side with engineers and executives, have real influence on how we operate, and have a front-row seat as we move from a pilot plant in Utah to commercial deployment. Key Responsibilities · Lead export control compliance, including 10 CFR Part 810, the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR); advise on technology classification, deemed exports, foreign national access, and authorization requirements. · Draft, negotiate, and manage agreements with federal, state, and local government entities, including Other Transaction Agreements, cooperative agreements, procurement contracts, and site and land-use agreements, and manage associated flow-down and compliance obligations. · Prepare and coordinate regulatory comment letters and other submissions to agencies on proposed rules, guidance, and policy developments affecting advanced nuclear, fuel, and energy infrastructure. · Manage responses to and from public records requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Utah’s Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), and similar state laws, including protecting confidential business information in government submissions. · Build compliance policies, procedures, training, and infrastructure from scratch, scaling them as the company grows from pilot operations to commercial deployment. · Design and operate trade compliance programs, including technology control plans, restricted-party screening, recordkeeping, and import/export controls for equipment, materials, and technical data. · Support land access and permitting across federal and state agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), and environmental and siting authorities, coordinating with project and engineering teams on NEPA and related requirements. · Manage foreign ownership, control, or influence (FOCI) matters, including assessing investor and partner structures, implementing mitigation measures, and coordinating, preparing, and submitting the relevant FOCI filings with government agencies. · Support the broader legal team on commercial matters as needs arise, including vendor and supplier agreements, NDAs, services agreements, and other transactional work. · Serve as a trusted advisor to executives, engineering, operations, and business development on government relationships, regulatory risk, and compliance strategy. · Manage outside counsel and budgets on specialized matters while keeping core expertise in-house. Basic Qualifications · J.D. from an accredited law school and in good standing with the State Bar of California, or eligible to register as California Registered In-House Counsel. · 5+ years of experience in government contracts, regulatory, or export control practice at a law firm, in-house legal department, or government agency. · Hands-on experience with U.S. export control regimes (EAR, ITAR, and/or 10 CFR Part 810). · Experience drafting and negotiating agreements with federal, state, or local government entities. · Strong writing skills, sound judgment, and the ability to translate complex legal requirements into practical guidance for technical teams. Preferred Skills and Experience · Experience in the nuclear, energy, defense, or other highly regulated industry, including with the Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or national laboratories. · Direct experience with 10 CFR Part 810 authorizations, EAR license applications and classification requests, or ITAR registration and licensing. · Familiarity with Other Transaction Agreements, DOE acquisition regulations (DEAR), the FAR, and associated flow-down requirements. · Experience with Department of Defense and military contracts, including the DFARS, other transaction agreements with defense agencies or military services, and associated cybersecurity requirements such as NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC, to support potential future defense work. · Experience with federal and state land and permitting processes, including BLM, SITLA, NEPA, and state environmental agencies. · Experience implementing FOCI assessments and mitigation, or working with CFIUS, DCSA, or DOE on foreign ownership matters. · A track record of building compliance programs or legal functions from the ground up in a startup or high-growth environment. · Experience drafting regulatory comments and managing FOIA or state public records matters. · Experience working in a fast-paced startup or high-growth company, with a demonstrated ability to handle a wide range of legal matters beyond a single specialty, including commercial contracting. · Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance. What We Offer - Competitive base salary - Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company - Comprehensive medical benefits - Unlimited PTO - Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite - Generous PPE stipend - High-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomy - Opportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancement - Direct collaboration with experienced operators, engineers, and industry leaders - The opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground up Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Valar Atomics is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law. We are committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment and will provide reasonable accommodation as required by law. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder). Salary $220,000—$260,000 USD