Principal FPGA Engineer

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.

Principal FPGA Engineer   Radiant is seeking an accomplished Principal FPGA Engineer to lead technical development within our Embedded Systems team. You will architect, design, and validate mission-critical FPGA systems for reactor instrumentation and control in safety-critical applications, including sensor fusion, actuator control, and deterministic communication protocols. This position demands mentoring engineers, establishing design standards, and collaborating cross-functionally with hardware, embedded software, and verification teams to develop robust architectures that ensure safe operation of fission reactors. You will drive innovation and technical excellence while being instrumental in validating the first commercial reactor design in over 50 years. This role is based onsite full-time in El Segundo, CA. Responsibilities and Duties:

• Architect and own complex sensor processing and control systems from concept through production deployment.
• Establish VHDL design standards, coding guidelines, and review team implementations.
• Lead FPGA/SoC platform selection, evaluation, and integration strategies.
• Develop comprehensive verification frameworks and automated test infrastructure for continuous validation.
• Drive the technical roadmap in collaboration with the embedded software leadership team.
• Mentor engineers and establish best practices across disciplines while fostering technical excellence.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or related field; Master's strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of experience architecting and delivering FPGA-based systems.
• Expert proficiency in VHDL and RTL design methodologies.
• Proven track record in resolving complex timing closure and signal integrity challenges.
• Deep expertise with advanced multi-clock domain architectures and clock domain crossing techniques.
• Mastery of formal verification methodologies and simulation frameworks.

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

• Proficiency in embedded C/C++ and hardware-software co-design principles.
• Experience in architecting solutions on Microchip PolarFire SoC platforms.
• Strong Linux kernel development and advanced bash scripting capabilities.
• Container orchestration experience with Docker and modern CI/CD pipelines.
• Outstanding technical documentation and cross-functional leadership in complex engineering environments.

Benefits

• Lead integrated cross-functional teams spanning embedded software, FPGA, and hardware disciplines.
• Shape technical direction and influence product architecture beyond traditional FPGA scope.
• Own complete design lifecycle with significant organizational impact and technical autonomy.

This is an exempt salaried role.

 

Annual Salary Range$200,500—$265,500 USD

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.

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