Head of Talent

Subcritical Systems, Inc. is a venture-backed startup in Austin, Texas building the accelerator driven systems and the only US commercial manufacturer of accelerator cavities. What Space X did for rockets, we plan to do for accelerator cavities and commercialize across applications of power production, medical isotopes, semiconductors and waste transmutation.

We are in the process of building the Energy Amplifier — a novel nuclear fission system in which a particle accelerator drives a subcritical core, making melt‑down physically impossible for clean power production. Due to its inherent safety, our system has a more streamlined licensing process. Our founding team includes successful entrepreneurs with a track record of building several multibillion dollar companies in deep‑tech, and scientists who were leading U.S. national labs with deep experience in accelerator & nuclear technologies.

We are actively hiring to expand our team as we work toward licensing, regulatory submissions, and construction of our first energy amplifier. More information is available at

ROLE SUMMARY

Subcritical Systems is seeking a Head of Talent to lead recruitment, strengthen employee retention, and help build a culture of excellence, accountability, and performance.

We believe talent relationships deserve the same focus and investment as those with customers and investors. Guided by this philosophy, you will build and nurture meaningful connections, engage exceptional candidates directly, and lead efforts to recruit, retain, and reward the best talent at Subcritical Systems, while building a culture of excellence and performance.

This is a hands‑on role for someone who combines urgency, initiative, and confident outreach with delivery. Every recruiting channel, event, and partnership should serve a clear purpose, with measurable outcomes and accountability for the time and resources invested. We are looking for a relentless go-getter, someone who has to do all of this "to do list" TODAY, who can talk and approach absolutely anyone without any fear or introduction needed, and who can leverage the robust founders & investors network to create pathways and forces so that the best talent in respected fields is naturally drawn Subcritical Systems.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own recruitment across the company. Reporting to the Co-founder and President, and working closely with the Executive team, define hiring priorities, understand team needs, and deliver against agreed hiring plans. Manage Linked In Recruiter, external recruiters, and other sourcing channels.
• Drive direct candidate engagement. Identify and approach candidates, communicate SSI's mission and opportunities, arrange conversations, and maintain momentum from first contact through offer acceptance and contract signing.
• Build strategic talent relationships. Activate founder, investor, and industry networks to generate introductions, referrals, and access to exceptional people in relevant fields.
• Develop SSI's employer brand. Use social media, employee stories, and targeted communications to showcase our work, mission, and culture. Build the story.
• Lead targeted events and outreach. Organize tours of our facilities, build out workshops, seminars, and hackathons. Represent SSI at relevant conferences, with clear objectives, structured follow-up, and measurable recruiting outcomes.
• Build early-career talent pipelines. Establish relationships with universities, student organizations, and relevant professional bodies. Own and develop the company's internship program.
• Support retention and performance. Work with executives to assess team needs, monitor employee engagement and satisfaction, and identify opportunities to improve retention and performance. Provide a…