Senior Manager, Platform Engineering

📋 Job Overview

We're building a new team to own Radiant's internal data infrastructure, executive analytics, and AI capabilities. As the Senior Manager, Enterprise Data, you'll set the technical direction for the team—architecting the data platform, owning the AI strategy, and ensuring we make the right build-vs-buy decisions.

🏢 About Radiant

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, fail-safe microreactor that can be transported anywhere power is needed and run for up to 5 years without refueling. 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 leverages modern software engineering to rapidly deliver safe, factory-built microreactors that use existing, well-qualified materials. Founded in 2020, Radiant is on track to test its first reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory this summer, with initial customer deliveries beginning in 2028.

🎯 The Role

This is a player-coach role. You'll lead technical direction and mentor engineers, but you'll also go hands-on when needed. You'll own the AI vendor evaluation process, which is critical given our ITAR/EAR security requirements—standard AI tools don't work out of the box, and we need someone who can navigate the landscape and find compliant solutions.

✅ Key Responsibilities

• Set technical direction: Define the architecture for our data platform (Databricks, Fivetran, dbt) and AI tooling; make build-vs-buy decisions.
• Own AI strategy: Evaluate and select AI platforms (chatbot, enterprise search, specialized tools) that meet security requirements; lead RAG evaluation in H2.
• Lead technical delivery: Ensure the ION-Ramp integration, dashboards, and AI tools are built correctly; hands-on when needed.
• Mentor engineers: Set the technical bar for hiring; develop the DevOps and Data Platform Engineers on the team.
• Interface with SWE: Coordinate with the Software Engineering team on shared Databricks infrastructure; ensure operational and engineering workloads coexist.
• Navigate security: Work with IT/Security to ensure all technical decisions meet ITAR/EAR compliance requirements.

📌 Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of software or data engineering experience, including hands-on AI/ML work.
• Deep understanding of the AI landscape—you can evaluate vendor tools, understand RAG architectures, and advise on build-vs-buy tradeoffs.
• Data platform architecture experience—you've designed and built systems on Databricks, Snowflake, or similar.
• Strong technical leadership—you can set direction, mentor engineers, and interface effectively with non-technical stakeholders.
• Hands-on ability—you're a player-coach who can write code when needed, not just draw diagrams.

⭐ Desirable Experience

• Background in hardware, aerospace, or defense—you understand manufacturing data, supply chain systems, and the complexity of physical product development.
• Experience shipping AI products or building AI capabilities at a company (not just research).
• Experience with data integration tools (Fivetran, Airbyte, dbt).
• Experience in regulated environments (SOC 2, FedRAMP, ITAR).
• Familiarity with BI/analytics tools (Looker, Tableau, Power BI, Databricks dashboards).

🎁 Benefits

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.

Leave: 8-weeks of paid parental leave for all parents. Additional paid pregnancy leave for CA employees.
Perks: Daily catered lunch. Free snacks and drinks.
Time Off: Flexible PTO policy. Remote workday allocation.
Team Culture: Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and in-person camaraderie.
Environment: Beautiful El Segundo headquarters close to the Pacific Ocean.