Chris Hansen

Chris Hansen is an experienced aerospace engineer who has held leadership roles at both SpaceX and Radiant Nuclear. Here are the key details about his career:

SpaceX Career

Chris Hansen spent over 18 years at SpaceX, where he served as Director of Development Testing for much of his tenure.2 Some highlights of his time at SpaceX include:

• Joined SpaceX in 2003 as one of the first few dozen employees1
• Initially assigned as the responsible engineer for stage and fairing separation events on Falcon rockets1
• Built up a team of 50 engineers and technicians to perform testing of structures and mechanisms for Falcon, Dragon, Starlink, and Starship programs2
• Focused heavily on extensive testing to ensure high reliability of critical systems12

Current Role

In June 2022, Chris Hansen joined Radiant Nuclear as Head of Mechanical Engineering.3 At Radiant, he is:

• Leading the mechanical engineering team developing a portable nuclear microreactor1
• Applying lessons from SpaceX to build an agile team while meeting nuclear regulatory requirements1
• Partnering with the Department of Energy and Idaho National Labs to test a prototype in 20262

Background

• Graduated from Don Bosco Technical Institute high school12
• Earned bachelor's and master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California12
• Developed a passion for manufacturing and hands-on engineering from an early age12

Chris Hansen's extensive experience in aerospace testing and development at SpaceX has positioned him well to lead mechanical engineering efforts on innovative nuclear technology at Radiant. His career demonstrates expertise in building high-performing engineering teams to tackle complex technical challenges.