Lab Technician – Materials Testing

Radiant; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 34,440 - 48,216; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy technology company is seeking 1–2 Lab Technicians in El Segundo, California to support mechanical and thermophysical materials testing. The ideal candidates will assist with hands-on testing of materials critical to reactor performance, operate high-value testing equipment, and maintain rigor in testing and data quality. A bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience is essential. Join us in delivering zero-emissions energy with a mission-driven team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Experience with mechanical testing equipment is preferred.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Support hands-on testing of structural and high-temperature materials.
• Operate and maintain testing equipment and ensure high data quality.
• Follow lab procedures and safety protocols.

Skills

Mechanical testing equipment operation

Attention to detail

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or related engineering discipline

2+ years of hands‑on experience in a materials testing laboratory

Tools

Instron testing equipment

Laser Flash Analysis (LFA)

Dilatometry equipment

Job description

Timeline: Immediate start through May (extension possible)

Employment Type: Contract (Full-Time Hours)

Radiant is building portable nuclear microreactors to power the world’s most critical infrastructure. Our mission is to deliver resilient, zero-emissions energy anywhere. To do that, we test aggressively, move quickly, and hold an exceptionally high technical bar.

We are looking for 1–2 Lab Technicians to support mechanical and thermophysical materials testing as we accelerate hardware development.

What You’ll Do

You will support hands‑on testing of structural and high‑temperature materials critical to reactor performance.

Mechanical Property Testing

• Tensile testing
• Compression testing
• Friction testing
• 3-point and 4-point bending

Thermophysical Property Testing

• Thermal conductivity testing (Laser Flash Analysis – LFA)
• Coefficient of thermal expansion (Dilatometry – DIL)

Lab Operations

• Operate and maintain Instron and other high-value testing equipment
• Perform precision sample preparation and measurements
• Follow detailed lab procedures and safety protocols
• Ensure high data quality and documentation standards
• Support fast test turnaround while maintaining rigor

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or related engineering discipline
• OR
• 2+ years of hands‑on experience in a materials testing laboratory
• Experience running mechanical test equipment (e.g., Instron or equivalent)
• Comfort working with high-value, sensitive lab instrumentation
• Strong attention to detail in measurements and documentation
• Ability to work independently in a fast‑paced hardware environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience conducting both mechanical and thermophysical testing
• Familiarity with LFA and dilatometry equipment
• Ability to analyze test data and write clear, structured test reports
• Experience supporting engineering teams in a product development environment

What Success Looks Like

• Tests are executed safely, accurately, and on schedule
• Data is clean, traceable, and engineering-ready
• Equipment is treated with care and maintained properly
• Reports (if applicable) clearly communicate findings and conclusions