Senior Embedded Engineer - DSP

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 next year, with initial customer deliveries beginning in 2028.

About The Role

Radiant is seeking a

Senior Embedded Engineer

with a strong focus on digital signal processing (DSP) to lead the development of signal processing and data acquisition architectures for reactor control systems, with a long-term path toward space reactor applications. You will serve as the technical authority for real-time signal processing, owning the design and deployment of DSP pipelines—from requirements definition and algorithm development through implementation, validation, and deployment.

Responsibilities And Duties

- Own end-to-end DSP pipelines for reactor control systems, from requirements and algorithm development through implementation, validation, and deployment.

- Develop real-time signal processing algorithms—including digital filtering, detection, estimation, and spectral analysis—for embedded and FPGA platforms.

- Ensure algorithmic performance meets the determinism, low latency, and fault-tolerance requirements of high-reliability nuclear control environments.

- Interface with mixed-signal hardware (ADC/DACs, sensors, instrumentation) to ensure accurate sampling, low-noise signal conditioning, and robust data acquisition.

- Partner with software and hardware teams on co-design, translating system-level signal requirements into implementable DSP architectures.

- Integrate DSP subsystems into the broader reactor control architecture, serving as the technical authority for signal processing.

- Define and execute test and verification plans for DSP algorithms, FPGA simulations, and embedded system validation, including noise characterization and calibration.

- Support development of signal processing architectures for space reactor applications, adapting terrestrial designs to radiation-tolerant and resource-constrained environments.

Required Qualifications And Skills

- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.

- 5+ years of experience in DSP, including filtering, signal conditioning, estimation, and real-time signal analysis. - Strong proficiency in embedded C/C++ and experience with real-time operating systems (RTOS).

- Experience with FPGA design and implementation, including HDL (VHDL/Verilog) coding, simulation, and DSP algorithm deployment.

- Understanding of analog and mixed-signal systems, including ADC/DAC interfacing, sampling theory, and quantization effects.

- Hands-on experience with test planning, verification, and debugging of DSP algorithms, FPGA systems, and embedded platforms.

- Ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams, including software, hardware, and systems engineers.

Desired Qualifications And Skills

- Master's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.

- Familiarity with high-reliability or harsh environments (nuclear, aerospace, defense, or industrial) and constraints on determinism, latency, and fault tolerance.

- Understanding of radiation effects on digital systems and approaches to radiation-tolerant design.

- Experience with sensor data and instrumentation systems, including noise characterization, calibration, and signal extraction.

- Exposure to nuclear instrumentation, radiation detection, or similar low-SNR signal environments.

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.

- 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.

- 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 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: recruiting@radiantnuclear.com.

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.

Compensation Range: $158,000 - $219,450