Staff Turbomachinery Engineer

Radiant Industries•El Segundo, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Radiant is seeking a Staff Turbomachinery Engineer to serve as the Responsible Engineer for turbomachinery within 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 and drive the mechanical architecture of high-speed rotating hardware operating under extreme temperatures, pressures, and rotational speeds. As a deeply technical individual contributor, this person will set direction for rotor dynamics, structures, bearings, seals, and system integration, working closely with electrical, thermal, manufacturing, and test teams. This hands-on, high-ownership position emphasizes technical excellence, sound engineering judgment, and delivery of reliable, production-ready turbomachinery. Radiant is an El Segundo, California-based company developing transportable nuclear microreactors. Its first reactor, Kaleidos, is a 1 MW unit designed for factory production and deployment at locations including critical infrastructure, remote sites, and commercial businesses. Radiant was founded in 2020 and has contracts to deliver power to the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as pre-order agreements with Equinix. Deployments are planned to begin in 2028. The position is 100% onsite at Radiant's El Segundo headquarters. The engineer must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as necessary. The 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 of Science 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 assembling, integrating, and troubleshooting turbomachinery.
Strong system-level thinking and mechanical intuition.
Excellent engineering judgment and decision-making capability.
Ability to influence without authority across cross-functional teams.
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 speeds 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 and uphold 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, driving 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 drive interface definitions 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 and provide technical guidance and design reviews without direct people-management responsibility.
Influence engineering direction, contribute to the technical roadmap, and identify and mitigate risks.

Benefits

Substantial incentive stock plan for full-time employees.
Medical coverage up to the base silver-level plan for employees and 50% coverage for dependents, with plans up to Platinum available.
Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents.
Top-tier vision plan coverage for employees and 50% coverage for dependents.
Top-tier dental plan coverage for employees, with orthodontia available at extra cost, and 50% coverage for dependents.
Voluntary life, accident, hospital, and critical illness benefits, plus commuter and FSA/HSA options, offered as employee-contributed benefits.
Eight weeks of paid parental leave for all parents.
Additional paid pregnancy leave for California employees.
Eligible employees can receive full coverage for a Nuclear Engineering Certificate Program with Penn State University.
Daily catered lunch.
Free snacks and drinks.
Flexible PTO policy.
Remote workday allocation.
Company and team-bonding events, happy hours, and in-person camaraderie.