Lead Nuclear Materials Engineer

Speedrun Talent Network; El Segundo, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity incentives

Full medical coverage

One Medical membership

Vision coverage

Dental coverage

Life/AD&D & related insurance

Parental leave (8 weeks)

Job summary

Radiant in El Segundo, CA, is seeking a Lead Nuclear Materials Engineer to lead the nuclear materials team in development, testing, and qualification for the Kaleidos reactor. You will own material selection, testing, and analysis with end-to-end ownership in a fast-paced, cross-functional setting.

Ideal candidates have hands-on experience, strong leadership, and a track record in high-temperature and irradiation environments, with strong communication skills for internal teams and regulators.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science and Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years in development, testing, or analysis of nuclear materials in demanding environments.
• Hands-on experimental or testing experience in lab or production settings.

Responsibilities

• Set the technical direction for the nuclear materials team and develop a roadmap.
• Deliver materials solutions for fuel, moderator, shielding, and neutron poison designs.
• Accountable for the team’s technical output and quality.
• Lead and mentor team members technically and professionally.
• Communicate project status, issues, and schedules to team members and executives.
• Present to external stakeholders and regulatory bodies (DOE, NRC).
• Review test plans, purchase orders, and analyses.
• Provide surge materials engineering support as-needed.
• Manage irradiation testing from design through PIE.

Skills

Nuclear materials

Materials testing

Leadership

Python

Education

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science/Engineering

Tools

Python

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.

Lead Nuclear Materials Engineer

Radiant is seeking a highly motivated Lead Nuclear Materials Engineer to lead Radiant’s nuclear materials team in the development, testing, and qualification of materials and related manufacturing processes used in the Kaleidos 1MWe nuclear microreactor. The ideal candidate is excited to grow an in-house nuclear materials team, is proficient in materials selection, testing, and analysis, takes great ownership of their work end-to-end, and thrives in a highly cross-functional, fast-paced environment. Your team’s ownership spans fuel, moderators, shielding, neutron poisons, and irradiation testing. You will be a key contributor to building the world’s first mass‑produced, rapidly‑deployable nuclear reactor.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Set the technical direction for the nuclear materials team, including the definition of project scopes, the guidance of day-to-day engineering and support activities, and the development of a nuclear materials roadmap to support future reactor designs and builds

• Deliver materials solutions for fuel, moderator, shielding, and neutron poison designs for Kaleidos

• Accountable for nuclear materials engineering team’s technical output

• Lead and mentor team members technically and professionally

• Communicate project status, issues, and schedules to teammates and executives

• Present to external stakeholders and regulatory bodies (DOE, NRC)

• Review test plans, purchase orders, and analysis

• Provide surge materials engineering support as‑needed

• Manage irradiation testing from design of experiment through irradiation to post irradiation examination (PIE)

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Materials Science and Engineering, or in Mechanical, Aeronautical, Nuclear, or Chemical Engineering with a materials science and engineering focus.

• 5+ years of experience working in the development, testing, and/or analysis of nuclear materials for demanding load cases and environments

• Hands‑on experimental or testing experience in laboratory or production environments

Desired Qualifications & Skills

• Master’s or PhD degree from an accredited institution in Materials Science and Engineering, or in Mechanical, Aeronautical, Nuclear, or Chemical Engineering with a materials science and engineering focus.

• 2+ years of engineering leadership and management experience at a company building and/or testing hardware for nuclear, aerospace, or other extreme environments

• Expert‑level competency in at least one area of nuclear materials such as fuel, neutron poisons, shielding, or moderators

• Experience with development and qualification of material systems for use in high temperature and irradiation environments.

• Knowledge of standard test methods for materials and experience with development of design allowables.

• Self‑motivated with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with design and operations teams to deliver high-value results.

• Experience with using text‑based software development tools (Python or similar).

Additional Requirements

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

• Must work 100% onsite at El Segundo HQ.

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.

The best of today’s advanced reactor builders don’t wait for job postings. They join the winning team.

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.