Lead thermal modeling for the Kaleidos microreactor at a pioneering nuclear startup in El Segundo.
Posted by employer 1 day ago
First seen on Joblaze 8 hours ago
Last verified on the company career page 8 hours ago
Skills & Technologies
What you'll build
- Serve as the technical authority for thermal CFD and thermal FEA modeling
- Define modeling strategy and best practices
- Lead model verification and validation
- Architect automated simulation workflows
- Mentor and develop engineers
Must have
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or a similar field
- 10+ years of relevant industry experience
- Extensive experience with STAR-CCM+, Ansys Fluent, or other commercial CFD codes
- Mastery of finite element and computational fluid dynamics principles
- Proficiency with CAD software (Siemens NX)
Nice to have
- Experience with radiation heat transport modeling
- Knowledge of nuclear reactor design
- Experience with multi-physics coupling
- Experience with reduced-order modeling
- Prior nuclear experience is not required
Practical constraints
- Must work 100% onsite at El Segundo HQ
- Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends
Requirements
- Experience
- 10+ years
- Education
- Master's degree
Not disclosed in this posting: compensation, visa sponsorship.
Benefits
Joblaze summary
The Principal Thermal Modeling Analyst at Radiant focuses on leading complex thermal and fluid simulations for the Kaleidos microreactor, ensuring the technical direction aligns with safety and design standards. This role requires expertise in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and thermal finite element analysis (FEA), particularly with tools like STAR-CCM+ and Ansys Fluent. Ideal candidates possess over a decade of experience in high-stakes engineering environments, with a strong background in mentoring and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Radiant, a company at the forefront of nuclear microreactor technology, emphasizes innovation and technical leadership in its mission.
Joblaze insights
Quick facts
- Is the Principal Thermal Modeling Analyst role remote?
- No — this is an on-site role in El Segundo, CA, United States.
- How much experience is required?
- At least 10 years of relevant experience for this Principal Thermal Modeling Analyst role.
- Where is the role based?
- Radiant is hiring for this position in El Segundo, CA, United States.
- What's the tech stack?
- Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: ANSYS Fluent, CAD, CFD, Siemens NX, Star-CCM+, thermal FEA.
- What seniority level is this role?
- Radiant targets principal-level candidates for this position.
- Is this full-time or contract?
- Full-time for this Principal Thermal Modeling Analyst role at Radiant.
From the original posting
About the Role
Radiant is seeking a Principal Thermal Modeling Analyst with deep expertise in CFD and thermal FEA to set the technical direction for thermal and fluid simulation of the Kaleidos microreactor. You will lead the most complex and consequential modeling problems for a high-temperature gas reactor, defining the methods, standards, and validation strategy that inform decisions across reactor systems, cooling systems, shielding, and more. As a recognized technical authority, you will mentor engineers, influence program-level decisions, and help drive the milestones that unlock commercialization of the first mass-produced nuclear reactor.
Responsibilities & Duties
Serve as the technical authority for thermal CFD and thermal FEA modeling of Kaleidos reactor systems, owning the most complex and highest-risk analyses.
Define modeling strategy, methodology, and best practices for turbulent flow, heat transfer, and multi-physics interactions, and drive their adoption across the team.
Lead model verification and validation, correlating simulation results with test data and establishing confidence and uncertainty bounds for design and safety decisions.
Architect automated simulation workflows and tooling that expand capability, accuracy, and efficiency, and set the roadmap for simulation infrastructure.
Lead the development of reduced-order analysis methods in partnership with design, systems, and test teams.
Influence reactor, cooling, and shielding design decisions by translating analysis results into clear recommendations for engineering leadership.
Mentor and develop engineers, set the technical bar through design and analysis reviews, and contribute to hiring.
Collaborate across disciplines to define analysis requirements, align priorities, and resolve cross-team technical tradeoffs.
Required Qualifications & Skills
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or a similar field from an accredited institution; advanced degree (MS or PhD) preferred.
10+ years of relevant industry experience, with a track record of technical leadership on complex, high-consequence programs.
Extensive experience with STAR-CCM+, Ansys Fluent, or other commercial CFD codes, including advanced turbulence and conjugate heat transfer modeling.
Mastery of finite element and computational fluid dynamics principles and methods, with demonstrated experience validating models against test data.
Proficiency with CAD software (Siemens NX).
Experience building automated simulation workflows and scripting tools.
Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and communicate complex technical results to cross-functional teams and leadership.
Desired Qualifications & Skills
Experience with radiation heat transport modeling.
Knowledge of nuclear reactor design, thermal-hydraulics, or safety analysis.
Experience with multi-physics coupling, such as thermal-structural or neutronics-thermal.
Experience with reduced-order modeling or system-level thermal-hydraulic codes.
Experience with regulatory or safety-basis analysis.
Driven, self-motivated, and takes ownership of work end to end.
Prior nuclear experience is not required. Applicants with former or current aerospace or automotive industry experience are encouraged to apply.
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.
Benefits and Perks
Stock: Substantial incentive stock plan for all full-time employees.
Daily catered lunch. Free snacks and drinks.
Flexible PTO policy. Remote workday allocation.
Standard company text repeated across Radiant's postings is omitted here.