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Lead Electrical Motor Design Engineer

El Segundo, California, United States

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.

Radiant is seeking a Lead Electrical Motor Design Engineer to own the architecture, technical direction, and execution of high-speed alternators and primary loop motors for our nuclear-driven power generation systems. This role leads the electric machine design function responsible for our 1MW high-speed rotating machinery central to commercializing Earth’s first mass-produced nuclear reactors. 

You will set the technical vision for motor design while guiding structural, thermal, and system integration efforts. As a player-coach, you will both contribute directly to design work and mentor a team of engineers to deliver safe, reliable, and production-ready generator systems. 

This is a hands-on technical leadership role with significant cross-functional influence. 

Responsibilities 

Technical Ownership & Architecture 

  • Own system-level architecture and technical roadmap for 1MW, 30krpm alternators and primary loop motors
  • Lead electromagnetic design of permanent magnet machines for closed-loop Brayton cycle power systems
  • Define and flow down generator requirements from system-level constraints
  • Establish best practices for modeling, simulation, validation, and documentation
  • Make key technical decisions on topology selection, magnetics, insulation systems, cooling strategies, and manufacturability
  • Ensure designs meet performance, reliability, safety, and regulatory requirements

Team Leadership 

  • Lead and mentor a team of motor design engineers
  • Conduct design reviews and provide guidance on electromagnetic, structural, and thermal analysis
  • Drive technical prioritization, risk management, and execution planning 
  • Build engineering rigor, documentation standards, and repeatable development processes

Cross-Functional Integration 

  • Partner closely with turbomachinery, power electronics, thermal, packaging, and software teams
  • Optimize electromechanical interfaces between generator, inverter, and control systems
  • Collaborate with manufacturing to transition from prototype to scalable production
  • Own technical engagement with external vendors and suppliers

Prototyping, Testing & Validation 

  • Oversee development and qualification testing of electric machines
  • Guide bench, dynamic, and system-level testing campaigns
  • Lead root cause analysis and rapid design iteration cycles
  • Maintain hands-on involvement in assembly, integration, and troubleshooting as needed

Required Qualifications 

  • B.S. in Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering with specialization in electric machines or rotating machinery
  • 5+ years of experience designing high-voltage, high-power electric motors and/or generators
  • Demonstrated expertise in permanent magnet motor design for +1kV, +1MW applications operating at up to 40,000 rpm
  • Strong proficiency with electromagnetic analysis tools (Ansys Motor-CAD, Maxwell, or equivalent)
  • Experience with structural and thermal analysis of high-speed rotating machinery
  • Deep understanding of motor–inverter interactions and power electronics integration
  • Experience leading complex electromechanical development efforts
  • Hands-on experience with assembly, integration, and testing of electric machines

Preferred Qualifications 

  • 10+ years of generator design experience
  • M.S. or Ph.D. in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering
  • Knowledge of motor control systems including SVM
  • Experience scaling hardware from prototype to production
  • Prior experience leading small, high-performance engineering teams
  • Experience defining engineering standards and technical processes

Leadership Competencies 

  • Strong system-level thinking and architectural judgment
  • Ability to balance technical depth with execution speed
  • Clear communicator capable of aligning cross-functional teams
  • High ownership mindset and mission-driven motivation
  • “One team” mentality across engineering disciplines

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

This is an exempt salaried role.

 

Annual Salary Range

$171,000 - $284,025 USD

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. If that’s you, contact us directly for immediate opportunities: recruiting@radiantnuclear.com.

Benefits and Perks for Eligible Employees:

  • Stock: Substantial incentive stock plan for all full-time employees.
  • Medical: 100% premium coverage for base Silver level plan for employee + 50% premium coverage for dependents. Platinum plans available.
  • One Medical: Sponsored memberships for eligible employees and their dependents.
  • Vision: 100% premium coverage for top tier plan + 50% for dependents.
  • Dental: 100% premium coverage for top tier plan (including orthodontia) + 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.
  • Burgeoning satellite offices in Oak Ridge, TN and Washington, D.C., near Capitol Hill.

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.

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