Vice President, HR​/Recruitment

Overview

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.

• Build the People function for scale:
  Stand up the processes, systems, and operating cadence needed to support rapid hiring and organizational growth across HQ and new sites
• Protect and strengthen Radiant's culture:
  Identify what makes Radiant, translate it into clear policies and expectations, ensuring they scale as the company grows
• Drive performance and talent systems:
  Implement performance management, feedback, calibration, and career development frameworks that raise the bar while supporting high-velocity execution
• Establish rigorous measurement frameworks to quantify People initiatives, track outcomes, and tie people investments to business results
• Build leadership communication infrastructure:
  Create the systems and rhythms that keep a scaling organization informed and aligned
• Lead employee relations and compliance:
  Ensure consistent, fair, and legally sound practices; manage sensitive issues with discretion and rigor in a high-accountability environment
• Own total rewards strategy:
  Evolve compensation philosophy, leveling, equity administration, benefits, and retention programs to match stage and market realities—including future decisions on PEO structure
• Partner with Recruiting and leadership:
  Collaborate to forecast hiring needs, improve onboarding, and ensure teams are staffed effectively—especially as manufacturing headcount ramps
• Enable multi-site operations:
  Support El Segundo, the DC office (primarily government affairs), and the Oak Ridge facility as it grows into a manufacturing workforce
• Build and lead a high-performing People team:
  Hire, coach, and develop People leaders who can scale programs and deliver excellent employee experiences without bureaucracy
• Create scalable operating infrastructure:
  Optimize HRIS/people systems, policies, workflows, and analytics to help leadership make better decisions and run the business effectively

• Significant experience leading People/HR functions in high-growth environments (e.g., scaling headcount meaningfully in a short period)
• Demonstrated ability to build People infrastructure from scratch or overhaul it for rapid scale (performance management, comp/leveling, policies, HRIS, etc.)
• Strong judgment and executive presence—you can partner with technical and operational leaders, influence decisions, and handle sensitive situations
• Track record of building culture intentionally, not performatively—especially in intense, mission-driven organizations
• Experience leading and developing People teams, with a willingness to be hands-on as needed
• Comfort with ambiguity and speed - Radiant is building something new; you'll need to create clarity without slowing the company down
• Proficient with data and analytics tools; ability to build dashboards and work fluently with People Analytics data

• Experience in hardware, manufacturing, aerospace/defense, energy, or other regulated/physical industries
• Experience supporting multi-site organizations and/or launching new facilities (especially hourly/manufacturing work forces)
• Familiarity with ITAR/EAR environments and operating in export-controlled contexts
• Experience with CMMC or similar federal compliance frameworks
• Comfort operating in environments requiring security clearances
• Strong quantitative and systems mindset (HR analytics, operating rhythms,…