Mechanical Design Engineer - Core Mechanical Design

Oklo Inc. is developing advanced fission power plants and nuclear fuel recycling technologies to deliver clean energy. The company is seeking a Core Mechanical Design Engineer to design reactor core assemblies and components from concept through final design, while creating technical documentation and collaborating with fuel fabrication, analysis, manufacturing, and systems engineering teams.

Responsibilities:

• Develop the design of these components to satisfy both performance and manufacturing requirements
• Create and develop design documentation to define requirements
• Conduct and participate in design reviews, providing and receiving technical feedback
• Rigorously evaluate mechanical designs to identify deficiencies and proactively propose and implement solutions
• Generate and maintain detailed 3D CAD models, 2D drawings, and bills of materials using controlled processes in PDM/PLM systems
• Coordinate closely with analysis teams to guide and interpret thermal, structural, fatigue, and safety analyses in support of design validation
• Perform detailed manufacturability reviews, tolerance studies, and DFM/DFA assessments to prepare components for fabrication and assembly
• Contribute to continuous improvement of Oklo’s mechanical design processes, tools, and standards through feedback and development of best practices

Requirements:

• 3-10 years of industry experience in mechanical or structural design within sectors such as aerospace, automotive, energy, or industrial equipment
• Bachelor's or higher degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline
• Proficiency in 3D CAD modeling software (e.g., Siemens NX, CATIA, SolidWorks), including part modeling, large assemblies, and detailed drawings
• Experience with CAD version control using PDM/PLM tools (e.g., Teamcenter, SolidWorks PDM, Windchill)
• Solid understanding of mechanical design principles, including DFM (Design for Manufacturability), DFA (Design for Assembly), and tolerance stack-up analysis
• Ability to apply GD&T per ASME Y14.5-2018 (or other similar standard) to engineering drawings
• Working knowledge of material selection (particularly metals), manufacturing methods, and fabrication techniques
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate on cross-functional teams, integrating feedback from analysis, manufacturing, and systems engineering
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly document and present engineering work
• Comfortable working with external manufacturers and engineering consultants for fabrication and analysis support
• Competent in 3D modeling software and has a solid understanding of mechanical design principals
• An experienced team player who can work effectively across both internal resources and external suppliers
• Willing and able to learn quickly
• Excited to think creatively, critically, and reflectively about the problems they are solving while not leaning only on what has been done before
• Willing to propose novel and creative solutions to technical problems
• An excellent writer who can write in a modern active voice
• Able to communicate technical content and results verbally
• Background in designing components for high-integrity or safety-critical systems (e.g., nuclear, aerospace, defense, or heavy industry)
• Proven ability to lead hardware projects through the full development cycle—from concept and design to testing and production
• Comfortable working with manufacturers and engineering consultants for fabrication and analysis support
• Knowledge of manufacturing and inspection processes
• Experience with precision machine design and tolerancing
• Understanding of thermal-mechanical analysis principles, with experience designing for high-temperature environments
• Basic knowledge of nuclear fission and radiation effects on materials and components
• Exposure to simulation tools (e.g., ANSYS) and scripting languages (e.g., Python)
• ASME GD&T Professional certification (Senior or Technologist Level)
• Proficiency with SolidWorks software
• Passionate about clean energy
• Passionate about making advanced fission a reality