California Legislative Director at Radiant in El Segundo, CA

Job description

About Radiant Radiant is an El Segundo, CA-based startup building the world’s first mass-produced, portable nuclear microreactors. Rising energy demand is straining the U.S. grid and driving up utility costs, emissions, and interconnection backlogs. Radiant decentralizes energy, producing power close to where it’s used. Its first reactor, Kaleidos, is a factory-built, 1-megawatt, fail-safe microreactor that can be transported by land, sea, or air and runs up to 5 years without refueling. Deployed locally without a decade-long build or permitting fight, Kaleidos provides independent power for critical infrastructure like military bases, data centers, hospitals, and remote sites. Founded in 2020, Radiant is under contract to deliver power to the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, and has pre-order agreements with Equinix, with deployments beginning in 2028. About the Role The California Legislative Director owns California and priority state state and local government engagement for a fast-growing hard-tech company operating at the intersection of aerospace, defense, and energy. This role is highly hands-on and outcome-driven, focused on shaping policy, enabling deployment, and unlocking sites where state and local decisions directly impact our ability to build and operate. You’ll work closely with internal technical, regulatory, legal, and operations teams while representing the company externally with policymakers, regulators, and partners in California and priority states. Responsibilities & Duties: • Work across a national footprint, focused initially on California and other key priority States for commercial deployment. • Develop and ensure the implementation of state legislation, regulations, rulemakings, and executive actions affecting industrial siting, permitting of power generation assets, grid interconnection, and critical infrastructure. • Lead company engagement with state regulators and public utility commissions; represent the company in hearings, meetings, and industry forums. • Hire, manage, and coordinate external lobbyists and advisors; set strategy and ensure alignment with company goals. • Work cross-functionally with engineering, regulatory, legal, policy, communications, and operations teams to translate complex technical concepts into clear policy and regulatory positions. • Track and actively shape state-level policy developments; provide crisp, actionable guidance to leadership. • Ensure compliance with state ethics, lobbying, and disclosure requirements. Required Qualifications & Skills: • 5+ years of experience in California government affairs, public policy, regulatory engagement, or related roles within energy, defense, aerospace, or other highly regulated industries. • Proven ability to influence state-level policy or regulatory outcomes, not just monitor them. • Strong understanding of California legislative processes, regulatory bodies, and permitting environments. • Comfortable operating in ambiguity and fast-moving environments with limited precedent. • Clear, confident communicator who can work equally well with policymakers and engineers. Desired Qualifications & Skills: • Experience working in or closely with other state government, regulatory agencies, or governor’s offices. • Familiarity with energy markets, grid integration, industrial permitting, or large-scale infrastructure projects. • Experience supporting site selection, facility development, or first-of-a-kind deployments. Additional Requirements: • Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as necessary to accomplish our mission. • 100% onsite in El Segundo, CA, or remote from Sacramento CA for the right candidate. 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 depe