Core Mechanical Design - Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Thanks for your interest in Oklo!  We are searching for a Core Mechanical Design Engineer to join our engineering team. Position Description As a Core Mechanical Design Engineer, you will be responsible for designing core assemblies and components that will be used in our advanced reactors. You will take designs through our process from conceptual to final design. During this design lifecycle, you will be responsible for working with Oklo’s Fuel Fabrication team to refine the design for improved manufacturability and inspectability. Additionally, you will responsible for creating other documentation to support the definition of these components, including but not limited to, drawings, product and material specifications, design basis documents, and calculation documents. Specific responsibilities may include: 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 Experience Level: 5-10 years of industry experience in mechanical or structural design within sectors such as aerospace, automotive, energy, or industrial equipment Minimum Qualifications: 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 Preferred Qualifications: 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) is a plus ASME GD&T Professional certification (Senior or Technologist Level) is a plus Proficiency with Siemens NX CAD software is a plus Competencies We are looking for a Core Mechanical Design Engineer that is: 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 Passionate about clean energy  An optimist at heart Passionate about making advanced fission a reality Willing and able to learn quickly Willing to think differently and do things in new ways  Comfortable in a fast-paced, highly iterative startup environment 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, so make your cover letter compelling and write it well! Able to communicate technical content and results verbally Who you are: A startup person : You aren't driven by titles or hierarchy, and prefer efficiency to excess process. You don't need or expect to have a lot of guidance but you enjoy working in a fast-paced team. If you prefer the culture and feel of a large organization, that is great, but you likely won’t enjoy working with us! There is plenty of important work and plenty of good opportunities with organizations like that. Motivated : You are self-motivated. You bring an enthusiasm to the team, and imbue a sense of passion that goes beyond clocking in and clocking out. This isn’t about a fake or arbitrary “pieces of flair” mentality or lack of work-life balance! It is about being a part of the vision and feeling a part of reaching team goals. A team-player : Oklo genuinely is a team. We aren’t about taking credit for ourselves, and we aren’t about pushing blame to others. We do incredible things because we work as a team. An excellent communicator : We need a person who is not only technically competent but also a clear and upb