Vice President, People

Vice President, People

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 scaling rapidly. We're looking for a Vice President of People to help preserve what makes Radiant special while building the people infrastructure to support the next phase of growth.

This is a hands-on leadership role reporting to the COO. You'll lead Radiant's People function end-to-end—culture, performance management, HR operations, total rewards, compliance, employee relations, and systems—while partnering closely with the VP of Talent Acquisition and leaders across Engineering, Operations, and Finance. You'll inherit a Director of People Operations as a direct report and grow the team thoughtfully (expected to expand to ~4 by the end of this year, including this hire). You'll be a core culture steward as we scale across multiple sites, with the El Segundo HQ as the center of gravity.

This role is based in El Segundo and requires in-office presence five days per week.

What You'll Do

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 "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

What We're Looking For

Required

• 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

Preferred

• 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 workforces)
• 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, and scalable process design)

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% 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.

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.