Hot Cell Design Engineer

Oklo·Santa Clara, CA or Remote·Posted July 2026

Nuclear industryUS only

About this role

Design and develop advanced radiological hot cell systems for nuclear fuel recycling. Lead mechanical and systems engineering for remotely-operable facilities that safely process used nuclear fuel, working across multidisciplinary teams on shielding, ventilation, confinement, and remote handling systems.

Responsibilities

—Lead or support mechanical and systems design of radiological hot cells including shielding, ventilation, confinement, and remote handling systems
—Define equipment and material layouts, including transfer pathways and maintenance access strategies
—Work with radiation modeling and safety specialists to develop shielding requirements and design constraints
—Integrate robotic and remote handling technologies (manipulators, cameras, cranes) into cell design
—Contribute to structural evaluation of confinement systems for compliance with fire protection and hazard requirements
—Collaborate with structural, HVAC, instrumentation, and process engineers on cross-system integration
—Participate in Failure Modes and Effects Analyses, hazard analyses, and radiological safety assessments
—Contribute to design reviews, procurement specifications, and installation/commissioning plans
—Support prototyping, testing, and commissioning of hot cell subsystems

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or related discipline; 5+ years of experience in radiological facility design, glovebox or hot cell engineering, or radiological material handling; strong working knowledge of remote handling systems, robotics, or manipulator technologies; understanding of radiation shielding principles, criticality safety, and radiological protection standards; demonstrated ability to collaborate on cross-functional teams and integrate feedback from engineering, licensing, and safety; strong systems engineering intuition and problem-solving capabilities.

Desired

Experience with hot cells used in nuclear fuel cycle facilities, isotope production, or defense applications; proficiency with CAD software (NX, SolidWorks, Inventor); knowledge of NRC and DOE regulatory requirements and nuclear standards; prior hands-on experience with mockups, prototyping, or commissioning of radiological systems; experience with vendor coordination, A&E firms, and project management.