Lead, Fluid Systems Engineering
About The Position
Radiant is seeking a player-coach to build and lead the team responsible for critical Kaleidos fluid systems from preliminary design through build and production. The systems include primary-loop subsystems and the power-conversion loop, which converts heat from the reactor core into electrical power. The role sets technical direction at a staff level while remaining hands-on with complex design and analysis work, and hires, develops, and leads fluid systems engineers. The position owns fluid-system architecture and end-to-end engineering, including components such as compressors, valves, and heat exchangers. It also leads technical trade studies, analysis, manufacturing and test planning, supplier development, and subsystem risk analysis. The role works closely with leadership and other functions to align requirements, priorities, and cross-team decisions. The role is 100% onsite at Radiant’s El Segundo headquarters. Extended hours and weekends may be necessary. Radiant offers eligible full-time employees a compensation package including base salary, equity grants, and health benefits; salary amounts are not specified.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Mechanical, Materials, Aeronautical, Civil, or Structural Engineering.
- At least 8 years of experience designing, building, and testing fluid systems, with demonstrated technical leadership at a senior or staff level.
- Experience leading or mentoring engineers, formally or informally, and desire to grow as a people manager.
- Experience with fluid-system architecture design.
- Proficient knowledge of fluid dynamics and thermodynamics.
- Proficient knowledge of heat exchanger design and analysis methods.
- Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as necessary.
- Must work 100% onsite at the El Segundo headquarters.
Nice To Haves
- Prior experience managing engineers, including hiring and performance feedback.
- Knowledge of thermodynamic power cycles.
- Experience designing piping systems for thermal growth using hand calculations and FEA tools.
- Experience with process piping design and testing codes, such as ASME B31.3 and ASME PCC-2.
- Experience with fluid-system modeling using MATLAB or Python.
- Experience with design for manufacturability and ramping up hardware builds in a production environment.
- Experience designing and operating test stands.
- Extreme ownership of work and a high degree of responsibility.
- Excellent communication across multidisciplinary teams.
- Prior nuclear experience is not required.
Responsibilities
- Lead, mentor, and grow a team of fluid systems engineers; set goals, provide regular feedback, and support career development.
- Recruit and hire engineering talent and foster a team culture of ownership, rigor, and constructive communication.
- Own team planning, prioritization, and resourcing, including subassembly design, manufacturing, and test schedules.
- Partner with leadership and other functions to gather requirements, align priorities, and resolve cross-team tradeoffs.
- Own fluid-system architecture and end-to-end engineering of fluid systems and components, including compressors, valves, and heat exchangers.
- Set the technical bar for the team and personally perform complex thermal and fluid analyses using first-principles hand calculations and finite element tools.
- Lead trade studies to optimize systems and meet program requirements.
- Establish and review manufacturing and assembly instructions, test plans, and bill-of-materials management.
- Drive supplier identification, selection, and development for components.
- Own subsystem risk analysis (FMEA) and ensure rigorous design reviews.
- Provide expertise and constructive feedback to engineers in other functions.
Benefits
- Substantial incentive stock plan for all full-time employees.
- Medical coverage up to the base silver-level plan at 100% for employees and 50% for dependents, with plans up to Platinum available.
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and dependents.
- Vision coverage at 100% for the top-tier plan and 50% for dependents.
- Dental coverage at 100% for the top-tier plan, with orthodontia extra and 50% coverage for dependents.
- Voluntary life, accident, hospital, critical illness, commuter, and FSA/HSA benefits are offered as employee-contributed benefits.
- Eight weeks of paid parental leave for all parents, plus additional paid pregnancy leave for California employees.
- Nuclear Engineering Certificate Program with Penn State University, fully covered for eligible employees.
- Daily catered lunch, free snacks, and drinks.
- Flexible PTO policy and remote-workday allocation.
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours, and in-person camaraderie.
- Base salary, substantial equity grants, and comprehensive health benefits for full-time new hires.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
