Construction Manager

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. ABOUT THE ROLE We are building a first-of-kind advanced nuclear manufacturing facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and are seeking a hands-on Construction Manager / Owner’s Representative to drive execution on the ground. This role is the company’s onsite decision-maker during construction, responsible for translating aggressive schedules and evolving design intent into real, built outcomes. This is a startup player-coach role, not a passive oversight position. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-moving, ambiguous environments, is comfortable making real-time field decisions, and can push contractors, designers, and internal teams to deliver. The role is intentionally structured to either: - Remain focused on capital projects and future build phases, or - Transition into a site facilities / operations leadership role after construction. Responsibilities & Duties: Owner’s Representative & Field Execution: - Serve as the primary onsite authority representing ownership during all phases of construction, upholding high standards of excellence for site safety and work completion. - Maintain daily field presence, driving execution across GC(s), subcontractors, and vendors. - Hold contractors accountable to schedule, manpower, sequencing, and quality commitments. - Identify issues early and resolve them decisively to avoid schedule or cost impact. - Review and manage RFIs, submittals, pay applications, and change orders with a bias toward speed and clarity. Schedule-Driven Delivery: - Own day-to-day schedule awareness and near-term lookahead planning. - Leverage first principles / creative problem solving to recover lost time and protect critical path activities. - Support cost tracking and change management with a strong understanding of trade-offs between schedule, scope, and cost. - Ensure inspections, testing, and commissioning activities are sequenced to avoid delays. Design Interface & Future Phases: - Actively participate in design discussions for future construction phases, expansions, or follow-on facilities. - Provide constructability, sequencing, and operational feedback to design teams based on real-world field conditions. - Translate lessons learned from active construction into improved designs, scopes, and execution strategies for future phases. - Support early planning for utilities, equipment layouts, access, maintenance, and operational flow. Regulatory & Stakeholder Coordination: - Interface directly with local AHJs, inspectors, and third-party reviewers. - Coordinate closely with internal Engineering, Facilities, Operations, EHS, Security, and Regulatory teams to ensure alignment between design intent and field execution. - Support documentation, turnover, and readiness activities required for a regulated manufacturing environment. Transition to Operations (Optional Path): - Drive facility turnover, commissioning, and startup readiness. - Depending on business needs and candidate strengths, transition into a Facilities or Site Operations role owning: - Preventive maintenance and service contracts - Contractor oversight - Building systems and utilities - Continuous improvement and future expansions Required Qualifications & Skills: - 7+ years of experience in construction management, owner’s representation, or capital project execution for industrial or manufacturing facilities. - Demonstrated success in onsite, field-driven roles with direct GC oversight. - Strong command of construction sequencing, schedule control, and change management. - Comfortable making decisions in ambiguous, fast-paced environments with limited precedent. - Willingness to be fully onsite in Oak Ridge, TN, including weekends during active construction. Desired Qualifications & Skills: - Experience delivering projects in highly regulated or high-consequence environments (energy, nuclear, defense, aerospace, advanced manufacturing). - Direct involvement in design-for-construction or design-for-operations efforts. - Background that supports long-term ownership of site facilities or future build phases. What Success Looks Like: - The project moves fast without losing control of scope or quality. - Issues are resolved in the field before they escalate. - Contractors are clear on expectations and execution standards. - Design decisions improve with each phase based on real construction feedback. - The facility transitions cleanly from build to operations, positioning the site for future expansion. Additional Requirements: - Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as necessary to accomplish our mission. - Must work 100% onsite in Oak Ridge, TN. 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. 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.