Creative Lead

About Us At Antares, our long-term mission is to make clean energy abundant from Earth to the Asteroid Belt. We’re fueled by the belief that advanced nuclear energy can strengthen our military, solve the climate crisis, elevate global living standards, and expand humanity's presence in outer space. To achieve our mission, we’re building mass-producible, inherently safe, deployable microreactors that can be used terrestrially, underwater, and in space. Formed in 2023, the Antares team hails from SpaceX, The White House, MIT, Rigetti Computing, The Air Force, General Atomics, Relativity Space, Ursa Major, and National Laboratories like Los Alamos, Idaho, and Oak Ridge. Antares has raised over $600M in venture capital from top-tier investors and has over $13M in government funding. About the Role Antares is seeking a Creative Lead as its first in-house creative hire. You will own the company's visual identity and produce its creative output — photography, video, and design — while directing external agencies and production partners on larger-scale projects. The ideal candidate is both a skilled individual content creator and a capable creative director, comfortable working in secure industrial environments and building processes from scratch. The candidate will report to the Communications Manager of Antares. Responsibilities: - Owning and evolving the Antares visual identity, serving as the internal authority on brand standards, creative guidelines, and design systems - Shooting, editing, and designing content across social, web, press, events, and executive communications - Briefing, directing, and managing creative agencies and production vendors on larger-scale projects — brand campaigns, website development, video series — tracking priorities, setting deadlines, and holding partners to a high standard from scoping through delivery - Driving and executing the creative vision for campaigns, announcements, and key brand moments in partnership with Communications - Championing a culture of craft, speed, and continuous improvement within the creative function Basic Qualifications: - Minimum 4 years of professional experience in visual content creation, multimedia production, or equivalent - A portfolio demonstrating both self-produced work (photography, video, design) and work directed through agencies or production teams - Expert in industry-standard software, including Adobe Creative Suite and Figma; professional video editing proficiency (Premiere or equivalent) - Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate cross-functionally with communications, engineering, and leadership - A reliable self-starter, organized, with strong attention to detail - Sound judgment regarding what can and cannot be captured or published in a regulated, security-conscious industry - Ability to travel approximately 25% (Idaho Falls, ID; Aiken, SC; Washington, DC; San Antonio, TX; other sites possible) Preferred Skills & Experience: - Experience shooting in industrial, technical, or field environments (energy, aerospace, defense, or manufacturing). - Venture-backed startup experience. - Experience with digital asset management systems and content calendars. - Familiarity with energy, nuclear, defense, or deep-tech audiences. - Excellent communication and organizational skills with strong attention to detail. - Proven ability to manage multiple projects, improve processes, and thrive in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment. - Demonstrated ability to present creative concepts clearly to executives and cross-functional stakeholders. Location - We are located in Torrance, CA in a 322,000 square foot, brand new facility featuring large open spaces for team collaboration, R&D, and production, as well as easy access to the 405, 105, and 110 freeways. Our facility is in the heart of Los Angeles' vibrant emerging tech ecosystem alongside many other high growth startups and enterprises. Culture At Antares, we like to specifically tie each role to ou…