California Legislative Director

Radiant industries; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical coverage

One Medical membership

Vision coverage

Dental coverage

Life insurance

Parental leave

Catered lunch

Flexible PTO

Remote work option

El Segundo HQ

Job summary

Radiant, based in El Segundo, CA, seeks a California Legislative Director to own state government affairs for a fast-growing hard-tech company at the intersection of aerospace, defense, and energy. You will shape policy, enable deployment, and unlock sites where state decisions impact our ability to build and operate, working closely with engineers, regulatory, legal, and operations teams.

This role requires navigating complex regulatory processes, coordinating external lobbyists, and ensuring

Qualifications

• 5+ years in California government affairs, public policy, regulatory engagement, or related roles in regulated industries.
• Proven ability to influence state-level policy or regulatory outcomes.
• Strong understanding of CA legislative processes, regulatory bodies, and permitting environments.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and fast-moving environments.
• Clear communicator with policymakers and engineers.

Responsibilities

• Work across a national footprint, focused initially on California and other key priority States for commercial deployment.
• Develop and ensure the implementation of state legislation, regulations, rulemakings, and executive actions affecting industrial siting, permitting of power generation assets, grid interconnection, and critical infrastructure.
• Lead company engagement with state regulators and public utility commissions; represent the company in hearings, meetings, and industry forums.
• Hire, manage, and coordinate external lobbyists and advisors; set strategy and ensure alignment with company goals.
• Work cross-functionally with engineering, regulatory, legal, policy, communications, and operations teams to translate complex technical concepts into policy and regulatory positions.
• Track and actively shape state-level policy developments; provide crisp, actionable guidance to leadership.
• Ensure compliance with state ethics, lobbying, and disclosure requirements.

Skills

California government affairs

Public policy

Regulatory engagement

Policy influence

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

About Radiant

Radiant is an El Segundo, CA-based startup building the world’s first mass-produced, portable nuclear microreactors. The company’s first reactor, Kaleidos, is a 1-megawatt, fail-safe microreactor that can be transported anywhere power is needed and run for up to 5 years without refueling. Portable nuclear power with rapid-deploy capability can replace similar-sized diesel generators and provide critical asset support for hospitals, data centers, remote sites, and military bases. Radiant’s unique, practical approach to nuclear development leverages modern software engineering to rapidly deliver safe, factory-built microreactors that use existing, well-qualified materials. Founded in 2020, Radiant is on track to test its first reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory this summer, with initial customer deliveries beginning in 2028.

About the Role

The California Legislative Director owns California and priority state state and local government engagement for a fast-growing hard-tech company operating at the intersection of aerospace, defense, and energy. This role is highly hands-on and outcome-driven, focused on shaping policy, enabling deployment, and unlocking sites where state and local decisions directly impact our ability to build and operate.

You’ll work closely with internal technical, regulatory, legal, and operations teams while representing the company externally with policymakers, regulators, and partners in California and priority states.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Work across a national footprint, focused initially on California and other key priority States for commercial deployment.

• Develop and ensure the implementation of state legislation, regulations, rulemakings, and executive actions affecting industrial siting, permitting of power generation assets, grid interconnection, and critical infrastructure.

• Lead company engagement with state regulators and public utility commissions; represent the company in hearings, meetings, and industry forums.

• Hire, manage, and coordinate external lobbyists and advisors; set strategy and ensure alignment with company goals.

• Work cross-functionally with engineering, regulatory, legal, policy, communications, and operations teams to translate complex technical concepts into clear policy and regulatory positions.

• Track and actively shape state-level policy developments; provide crisp, actionable guidance to leadership.

• Ensure compliance with state ethics, lobbying, and disclosure requirements.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• 5+ years of experience in California government affairs, public policy, regulatory engagement, or related roles within energy, defense, aerospace, or other highly regulated industries.

• Proven ability to influence state-level policy or regulatory outcomes, not just monitor them.

• Strong understanding of California legislative processes, regulatory bodies, and permitting environments.

• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and fast-moving environments with limited precedent.

• Clear, confident communicator who can work equally well with policymakers and engineers.

Desired Qualifications & Skills

• Experience working in or closely with other state government, regulatory agencies, or governor’s offices.

• Familiarity with energy markets, grid integration, industrial permitting, or large-scale infrastructure projects.

• Experience supporting site selection, facility development, or first-of-a-kind deployments.

Additional Requirements

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as necessary to accomplish our mission.

• 100% onsite in El Segundo, CA, or remote from Sacramento CA for the right candidate.

Benefits and Perks

• Stock: Substantial incentive stock plan for all full-time employees.

• Medical: 100% up to base silver level plan for employee + 50% dependents, offers up to Platinum plans.

• One Medical: Sponsored memberships for employees and their dependents.

• Vision: 100% top tier plan coverage + 50% for dependents.

• Dental: 100% top tier plan coverage, orthodontia extra, 50% for dependents.

• Voluntary life, accident, hospital, critical illness, commuter and FSA/HSA are offered as employee contributed benefits.

• 8-weeks of paid parental leave for all parents. Additional paid pregnancy leave for CA employees.

• Daily catered lunch. Free snacks and drinks.

• Flexible PTO policy. Remote workday allocation.

• Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and in-person camaraderie.

• Beautiful El Segundo headquarters close to the Pacific Ocean.

Total Compensation and Benefits

Radiant compensates people for impact and invests in those who continue to raise the bar. Radiant’s new hire compensation package includes base salary, substantial equity grants, and comprehensive health benefits. Total compensation and level are determined through a rigorous evaluation of interview performance, experience, education, and qualifications, and are designed to support continued growth as scope, responsibility, and impact expand at Radiant.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls.