Lead Test Engineer, Power Generation

The role

You will own the strategy, execution, and team leadership for testing the power generation system including turbomachinery, heat exchangers, controls, and primary cooling systems. You will lead testing development for high-speed machinery and build test infrastructure from the ground up.

What you will do

• Lead requirements definition, design, and implementation of the test site.
• Design, build, commission, and maintain test rigs, fixtures, instrumentation, and support systems.
• Establish operating procedures, safety controls, and facility readiness.
• Own and lead the turbomachinery test strategy across development, qualification, and production acceptance phases.
• Define test objectives, plans, success criteria, instrumentation strategies, and data requirements.
• Serve as the technical authority for vibration, rotordynamic, and bearing-related testing.
• Plan and execute development, qualification, and acceptance tests.
• Operate test hardware hands-on.
• Analyze test data to assess vibration behavior, rotordynamic stability, bearing performance, and thermal response.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to test engineers and technicians.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of experience in testing, development, or validation of turbomachinery, rotating equipment, or complex mechanical systems.
• Hands-on experience testing high-speed rotating machinery and high-temperature hardware.
• Experience correlating test results with analytical predictions and design intent.
• Demonstrated technical leadership and ability to drive complex test efforts to completion.
• Strong written, verbal, and organizational skills.
• Must work 100% onsite at El Segundo HQ.

Nice to have

• Prior experience leading or mentoring test engineers or technicians.
• Experience with power generation or other high-reliability power generation systems.
• Strong understanding of rotordynamics, vibration, and bearing behavior as applied to real hardware testing.
• Familiarity with rotordynamic analysis tools (e.g., XLrotor, Dyrobes, or equivalent) from a test correlation or validation perspective.
• Familiarity with relevant industry standards (API, ASME, ISO).
• Startup or fast-paced hardware development experience.

Benefits

• 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.
• Daily catered lunch.
• Free snacks and drinks.
• Flexible PTO policy.

Before you apply

• Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls.

About the company

Radiant is an El Segundo, CA-based company building the world's only mass-produced, transportable nuclear microreactors. Founded in 2020, Radiant is under contract to deliver power to the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force.