Mechanical Design Engineer - Fuel Manufacturing
About the role
Mechanical Design Engineer on Oklo’s fuel fabrication team, responsible for designing manufacturing equipment and mechanical systems for Oklo’s fuel facilities, from concept to manufacturable designs and collaboration with vendors and analysis teams.
Responsibilities
- Develop and own the design of equipment and mechanical components within Oklo’s fuel fabrication facilities
- Collaborate cross-functionally with other engineering teams to define design and functional requirements, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and industry standards
- Use CAD tools to translate functional requirements into robust designs that meet facility 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
- Create and maintain clear, well-written engineering documentation, including design rationales, functional requirements, reviews of historical designs, and detailed explanations of system architecture and performance
- Work closely with fabrication partners to refine designs for cost-effective and practical production
- Manage engagements with consultants and engineering firms to support high-fidelity analysis, ASME code compliance, and design maturity advancement
- Contribute to continuous improvement of Oklo’s mechanical design processes, tools, and standards through feedback and development of best practices
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or higher degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline
- 5-10 years of experience, with 4+ years of industry experience in mechanical or structural design within sectors such as aerospace, automotive, energy, or industrial equipment
- Proficiency in 3D CAD modeling software (e.g., SolidWorks), including part modeling, large assemblies, and detailed drawings
- Experience with CAD version control using PDM/PLM tools (e.g., SolidWorks PDM, Teamcenter, Windchill)
- Solid understanding of mechanical design principles, including DFM (Design for Manufacturability), DFA (Design for Assembly), and tolerance stack-up analysis
- Ability to interpret and produce engineering drawings that apply GD&T in line with ASME Y14.5 or similar standards
- 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
Skills
Benefits
- flexible time off
- equity
- competitive pay
- 401k
- health insurance
- FSA
- flexible work hours
About Oklo
Emission free, always on power from advanced fission power plants.
About Oklo Inc.: Oklo Inc. (Oklo) is developing advanced fission power plants to provide emission-free, reliable, and affordable energy. Oklo received a Site Use Permit from the U.S Department of Energy, has performed successful prototypic fuel fabrication, was awarded fuel material from Idaho National Laboratory, developed the first advanced fission combined license application accepted and docketed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and is developing advanced fuel recycling technologies in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and national laboratories. Oklo has been featured in Time, Newsweek, Wall Street Journal, CNBC, Popular Mechanics, Wired, Architectural Digest, Hyperallergic, POWER Magazine, has been the subject of a Harvard Business School case, and is featured in the Oliver Stone documentary Nuclear, among other features.
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