Staff Mechanical Design Engineer, Turbomachinery

Radiant Industries•El Segundo, CA

10h•$200,500 - $314,475•Onsite

About The Position

Radiant is seeking a Staff Mechanical Design Engineer, Turbomachinery, to serve as the Responsible Engineer for turbomachinery in its nuclear-driven power generation system. The role owns the mechanical design, integrity, and performance of the core rotating assembly in a 1 MW closed-loop Brayton cycle. The engineer will define the mechanical architecture of high-speed rotating hardware operating at extreme temperatures, pressures, and rotational speeds, and set technical direction for rotor dynamics, structures, bearings, seals, and system integration. This is a hands-on, high-ownership individual-contributor position focused on technical excellence, sound engineering judgment, and production-ready turbomachinery. The position works closely with electrical, thermal, turbomachinery aero, motor design, manufacturing, and test teams. It includes ownership of design and analysis, integration of turbine, compressor, and alternator subsystems, supplier engagement, and support for prototyping, testing, validation, troubleshooting, and design iteration. The role provides technical guidance and influences engineering direction without direct people-management responsibility. The position is 100% onsite at Radiant’s El Segundo headquarters. The employee must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as necessary. The full-time compensation package includes base salary, substantial equity grants, and comprehensive health benefits; compensation and level depend on interview performance, experience, education, and qualifications.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
At least 8 years of experience designing high-speed rotating machinery, such as turbines, compressors, or similar systems.
Deep expertise in structural analysis and mechanical design of turbomachinery.
Experience with bearings, seals, and high-speed shafting design.
Expert-level proficiency with analysis tools such as ANSYS.
Advanced use of NX and Teamcenter for complex design, simulation, and product lifecycle management.
Strong understanding of tolerancing, GD&T, and precision mechanical assembly.
Experience owning hardware through design, build, and test cycles.
Hands-on experience with turbomachinery assembly, integration, and troubleshooting.
Strong system-level thinking and mechanical intuition.
Excellent engineering judgment and decision-making capability.
Ability to influence cross-functional teams without authority.
Clear communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts.
High ownership mindset and accountability for hardware outcomes.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, first-of-a-kind development environment.
Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as necessary.
Must work 100% onsite at the El Segundo headquarters.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.
Experience with closed-loop Brayton cycle systems or similar energy systems.
Familiarity with high-temperature materials and extreme-environment design.
Experience integrating mechanical systems with high-speed electric machines.
Prior experience as a Responsible Engineer for complex hardware.
Experience scaling hardware from prototype to production.

Responsibilities

Serve as Responsible Engineer for the turbomachinery mechanical system.
Own the mechanical architecture and design strategy for high-speed rotating assemblies operating at up to approximately 30 krpm.
Lead rotor dynamics, structural integrity, and life analysis for rotating components and assemblies.
Define and flow down requirements from system-level thermal, structural, and operational constraints.
Make technical decisions on rotor layout, shafting, bearings, seals, materials, and clearances.
Ensure designs meet performance, reliability, safety, and regulatory requirements.
Establish standards for mechanical design rigor, analysis quality, and documentation.
Lead detailed design of turbomachinery components, including rotors, shafts, housings, and support structures.
Test and validate rotordynamic systems, including model correlation, risk reduction, and performance verification.
Perform and review structural and thermal analysis for high-speed, high-temperature operation.
Define tolerances, fits, stack-ups, and alignment strategies for precision rotating assemblies.
Partner with electrical engineering on alternator rotor integration, including electromagnetic and structural coupling.
Coordinate with turbomachinery aero, motor design, thermal, manufacturing, and test teams.
Ensure integration between turbine, compressor, and alternator subsystems, and define interfaces across mechanical, electrical, and thermal boundaries.
Collaborate with manufacturing to make designs producible, inspectable, and scalable.
Engage suppliers on technically critical components and design decisions.
Support assembly, integration, and testing of turbomachinery hardware.
Define validation strategies, including spin testing, thermal testing, and system-level operation.
Lead root cause analysis and design iteration for test failures or performance gaps.
Participate hands-on in hardware bring-up, troubleshooting, and refinement.
Serve as a subject matter expert in turbomachinery mechanical design and rotating systems.
Provide technical guidance and design reviews without direct people-management responsibility.
Influence engineering direction through expertise, data-driven decisions, and sound judgment.
Contribute to the technical roadmap, risk identification, and mitigation strategies.

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 their dependents.
100% coverage of a top-tier vision plan for employees and 50% for dependents.
100% coverage of a top-tier dental plan for employees, with orthodontia extra and 50% coverage for dependents.
Voluntary life, accident, hospital, and critical illness coverage, plus commuter and FSA/HSA benefits, 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 tuition fully covered through Penn State University for eligible employees.
Daily catered lunch and free snacks and drinks.
Flexible PTO policy.
Remote workday allocation.
Company and team-bonding events and happy hours.