Credentials that matter
Skills and tools
- CAD Software
- Fea/cfd Simulation
- High-temperature Materials
- Radiation Tolerance
- Remote Maintenance
- Pyroprocessing
Required 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
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
Preferred qualifications
- 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
Similar roles
Mechanical Design Engineer - Fuel Recycling
Oklo · $80k–$155k/yr