Lead Reactor Operations Engineer (Nuclear)

Location: 100% onsite at the El Segundo, California headquarters; willingness to travel 50–60% and work extended hours or weekends as needed.

Salary: $161,288–$223,650 per year, plus equity.

Company

hirify.global is a startup developing mass-produced, portable nuclear microreactors, including the 1-megawatt Kaleidos reactor designed for safe, long-duration power generation.

What you will do

• Lead, mentor, and grow the Reactor Operations Engineering team while setting priorities for testing, commissioning, and operations.
• Qualify as a Kaleidos Reactor Operator and remain technically hands-on with operational execution.
• Establish conduct-of-operations and fleet-monitoring processes for Kaleidos reactors.
• Support control algorithms for semi-autonomous and manual reactor operation.
• Evaluate integrated plant responses to events, accidents, and malfunctions, and participate in design reviews.
• Oversee operational procedures and documentation while ensuring alignment with DOE and NRC standards.

Requirements

• 6+ years of professional engineering experience in system design, analysis, or testing, including 2+ years in a technical leadership role.
• Understanding of integrated nuclear, mechanical, instrumentation and controls, and electrical reactor systems.
• Senior Reactor Operator license or Naval equivalent required.
• Experience in a highly regulated industry such as nuclear, aerospace, aviation, or maritime.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to apply first-principles thinking in ambiguous situations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams, manage risk, and remain hands-on.

Nice to have

• 3+ years of full-time nuclear operations experience.
• Operator experience in nuclear energy, naval reactors, or radiation-controlled facilities.
• Experience developing technical procedures, applying human factors engineering, or designing operational interfaces.
• Mission control room operator experience.

Culture & Benefits

• Substantial incentive stock plan for full-time employees.
• Medical, dental, vision, and voluntary supplemental benefit plans, including FSA/HSA options.
• Eight weeks of paid parental leave for all parents, plus additional paid pregnancy leave for California employees.
• Flexible PTO, catered daily lunch, snacks, drinks, and sponsored One Medical memberships.
• In-person team events and an El Segundo headquarters near the Pacific Ocean.