Quality Control Manager

About Radiant

Radiant is an El Segundo, CA-based company building the world's only mass-produced, transportable nuclear microreactors. The U.S. grid is under growing strain, with power demand accelerating, driving higher utility costs, rising carbon emissions, and interconnection backlogs. Radiant has a solution, transportable, on-site power. Our first reactor, Kaleidos, is 1 megawatt: small enough to be factory-built, transported by land, sea, or air, and deployed wherever power is needed. 1 MW can power 1000 homes for five years. Ship it back and we refuel for a 20 year operating life. We made energy a product that can be used for critical infrastructure like military bases, data centers, hospitals, and remote sites, as well as the commercial main street businesses that keep America running. Founded in 2020, Radiant is under contract to deliver power to the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force and has signed pre-order agreements with Equinix, with deployments beginning in 2028.

The Role

We are looking for a Quality Control Manager to build and lead Radiant's inspection, nonconformance control, and metrology operations as we transition from reactor development to scaled production. You will own the capabilities that ensure hardware is accurately verified, issues are identified early, and nonconforming products are controlled before they become escapes or failures.

This is a builder role, not simply an inspection management position. You will grow and develop a high-performing team, establish advanced inspection and measurement capabilities, and help design, equip, and launch Radiant's future inspection facility. You will shape how Quality Control operates today while building the people, processes, technologies, and infrastructure needed for repeatable reactor production.

You will work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Reliability & Quality to solve challenging technical problems, strengthen inspection strategies, and continuously improve how Radiant verifies and controls product quality. We are looking for someone who combines technical depth, sound operational judgment, and a passion for building capabilities that do not yet exist.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Build and lead Radiant's Quality Control organization by developing the people, technical competencies, and operating structure needed to support increasing reactor production.

• Own end-to-end inspection execution across receiving, in-process, and final inspection, ensuring hardware meets engineering and quality requirements while supporting manufacturing priorities.

• Develop scalable inspection strategies and capabilities across receiving, in-process, and final inspection, ensuring hardware conformity, configuration verification, and accurate quality records while supporting manufacturing priorities.

• Lead nonconforming material control by ensuring effective identification, containment, segregation, documentation, and coordination of technical dispositions to prevent unintended use or release.

• Establish and advance metrology and calibration capabilities by developing trusted measurement systems, equipment controls, and verification practices that support accurate and repeatable acceptance decisions.

• Build Radiant's future inspection infrastructure by leading the development of inspection capabilities and helping plan, equip, and operationalize our next-generation inspection facility.

• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to integrate quality verification into design and production processes, including special process verification and resolving hardware quality challenges.

• Drive continuous improvement and operational performance by strengthening inspection efficiency, nonconformance control, measurement capability, and digital quality systems as Radiant scales.

• Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related technical field, or equivalent industry experience.

• 7+ years of experience in Quality Control, inspection, metrology, or manufacturing quality within a precision hardware environment.

• Demonstrated experience leading technical teams and building inspection capabilities, including developing people, processes, and operational performance.

• Strong technical knowledge of engineering drawings, GD&T, manufacturing processes, inspection methods, and precision measurement technologies.

• Hands-on experience with inspection planning, nonconformance control, metrology, and calibration management.

• Proven ability to solve technical and operational challenges, exercise sound judgment, and collaborate effectively across Engineering, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain.

• Desired Qualifications

• Experience building or scaling inspection organizations, metrology capabilities, or inspection facilities.

• Experience introducing and operating advanced inspection technologies, automation, or digital quality systems.

• Experience transitioning complex hardware from development into repeatable production.

• Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, NQA-1, ASME, ISO/IEC 17025, or other applicable quality standards.

• Experience in aerospace, defense, nuclear, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments, particularly within a startup or scaling organization.

Who You Are

• You are a builder. You want to develop people, capabilities, and infrastructure, not just manage an existing inspection operation.

• You think in systems. You look beyond individual defects and build better methods to identify issues earlier and prevent escapes.

• You are a hands-on technical leader. You understand the details but can step back to define the capabilities and organization needed for the future.

• You are technology-agnostic and improvement-minded. You evaluate methods and technologies based on effectiveness rather than familiarity or precedent.

• You balance rigor with practicality. You exercise sound judgment, maintain quality standards, and help manufacturing move without unnecessary friction.

• You take ownership beyond your immediate responsibilities. You collaborate across functions, resolve problems, and drive decisions to closure.

• You thrive in ambiguity. You can establish structure, adapt to changing priorities, and execute while building for tomorrow.

• You care about the mission. You want to build the inspection and measurement capabilities that make reliable, mass-produced nuclear reactors possible.

• Additional Requirements

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as necessary to accomplish program objectives

• Must work 100% onsite at Radiant’s El Segundo headquarters

Benefits and Perks

• 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.

• Nuclear Engineering Certificate Program: 100% covered educational program with Penn State University, for eligible employees, to rapidly upscale into nuclear.

• 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.

Total Compensation and Benefits
Radiant compensates people for impact and invests in those who continue to raise the bar. Radiant’s full-time 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: [email protected].

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.

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.