Mechanical Design Engineer - Fuel Recycling

Oklo·Santa Clara, CA·Posted today

Nuclear industryUS only

About this role

Design and develop production-scale, remotely operated electrochemical molten salt process equipment for nuclear fuel recycling. This role demands expertise in high-temperature (>500°C) and high-radiation environments, with a focus on automation-ready, maintainable systems that support Oklo's mission to close the fuel cycle.

Responsibilities

—Develop and own the mechanical design of process and system components within Oklo's nuclear fuel recycling facilities
—Design and validate high-temperature (>500°C) and corrosion-resistant electrochemical process equipment suitable for high-radiation environments
—Incorporate design-for-automation principles to enable remote handling, inspection, and maintenance of systems and components
—Collaborate cross-functionally with nuclear, electrochemical, instrumentation, controls, automation, and process modeling teams to define design requirements and ensure compliance with safety regulations and industry standards
—Lead and participate in formal design reviews, providing and integrating multidisciplinary technical feedback
—Generate and maintain 3D CAD models, 2D drawings, and bills of materials in controlled PDM/PLM environments
—Prepare clear and traceable engineering documentation including design rationales, functional requirements, and regulatory submissions
—Collaborate with fabrication partners and vendors to refine designs for manufacturability, cost effectiveness, and scalability
—Support equipment prototyping, testing, and commissioning at Oklo's recycling development and deployment sites

Qualifications

—Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or related field (Materials or Nuclear Engineering)
—5–10 years of experience taking mechanical systems from concept through detailed design, analysis, fabrication, and deployment
—Experience with custom mechanical design for equipment used in high-temperature or heavy industrial applications (nuclear, petrochemical, or mining)
—Expert-level proficiency with CAD software (Siemens NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks) including 3D model generation and 2D fabrication drawings
—Broad familiarity with engineering principles and strong systems engineering intuition
—Working knowledge of material selection, particularly high-temperature alloys and corrosion-resistant metals, along with related manufacturing and joining techniques

Desired

—Experience with electrochemical manufacturing processes such as electroplating, electrowinning, or pyroprocessing
—Experience designing equipment for >500°C temperature operation or corrosive molten salt environments
—Experience designing for radiation tolerance or remote maintenance in nuclear or space systems
—Familiarity with design for automation, including robotics and control systems integration for lights-out operations
—Experience designing heavy industrial equipment or pilot-scale systems with high reliability and extended maintenance intervals
—Experience with ANSYS or similar FEA/CFD simulation software for structural and thermal analysis
—Knowledge of GD&T and design for manufacturability best practices
—Experience with balance of plant facility design and integration with automated process systems
—Experience in commercial or governmental nuclear projects