Director of Reliability and Quality

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 failsafe microreactor that can be transported anywhere power is needed and run for up to five years without the need to refuel. 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 utilizes modern software engineering to rapidly achieve safe, factory-built microreactors that leverage existing, well-qualified materials. Founded in 2020, Radiant is on track to test its first reactor next year at the Idaho National Laboratory, with initial customer deliveries beginning in 2028.

Director of Reliability and Quality

Radiant is seeking a leader to oversee organizational quality, hardware reliability, and design assurance. In this role, you are the foremost advocate of embedded quality, striking the perfect balance between the interpretive flexibility needed to mass produce the world’s first microreactor and the strict oversight needed to ensure operational success. The ideal candidate will have experience in a hardware production environment and understand that controls need to be built directly into production processes, not added later as static checks after the fact. This role will require you to constantly ask “what is the right way to do this” and never settle for “how has it always been done.” 

Responsibilities and Duties: 

• Work directly with engineering, production and operation in a hardware-focused fashion to streamline builds while reducing variation and non-conformances. 
• Support other departments as they develop and implement their quality requirements and procedures; drive accountability and enforcement to process owners.
• Own and manage Radiant’s NQA-1 quality program, ensuring full compliance with applicable standards while maintaining a lean program. 
• Manage the corrective action program to identify root causes, implement corrective actions, and prevent recurrence of quality issues. 
• Foster and drive a positive QA culture across all teams. 
• Continuously evaluate and improve the quality system by analyzing data, identifying trends, and leveraging lessons learned to enhance QA processes. 
• Own the evaluation and disposition of deviations from quality requirements.

Required Skills and Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering, physics, or related technical discipline. 
• 10 years of related technical experience (engineering design, quality, reliability, production) in a manufacturing environment.
• Direct responsibility for owning or implementing quality assurance requirements. (ISO 9001, AS9100, IATF 16949, NQA-1 etc.). 
• Experience in management leading a team and interfacing with executives; comfortable negotiating resources and responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.

Desired Skills and Qualifications: 

• Familiarity with continuous improvement methodologies, such as Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma, within a QA framework. 
• Experience in auditing suppliers and/or source inspection at supplier facilities. 
• Familiarity with the Code of Federal Regulations or ASME certification processes.

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. 

Total Compensation and Benefits

Radiant's new hire compensation package includes base salary, substantial equity grants, and comprehensive benefits. Total compensation and level are determined through a holistic evaluation of your interview performance, experience, education, and qualifications. 

Benefits and Perks for Eligible Employees:

• 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.

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.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time.

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.