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Hot Cell Design Engineer

Oklo· Fuel Recycling
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Hybrid (Oak Ridge, TN or Remote)$80k - $180kfull-timePosted 2mo ago

About the role

Radiological hot cell design engineer to shape remotely-operable hot cell environments for safe processing of used nuclear fuel, partnering with mechanical, nuclear, chemical, and controls engineers to integrate shielding, containment, and remote operations in an industrial-scale recycling facility.

Responsibilities

  • Lead or support the mechanical and systems design of radiological hot cells used in UNF recycling, including shielding, ventilation, confinement, and remote handling systems
  • Define equipment and material layouts, including material transfer pathways and maintenance access strategies
  • Work with radiation modeling and safety analysis specialists to develop shielding requirements and establish design constraints
  • Integrate robotic and remote handling technologies (e.g., manipulators, cameras, cranes, etc.) into cell design
  • Contribute to the structural evaluation of confinement systems, ensuring compliance with fire protection, external hazard, and natural phenomena hazard requirements
  • Collaborate with structural, HVAC, instrumentation, and process engineers to ensure seamless integration across all hot cell systems
  • Participate in Failure Modes and Effects Analyses (FMEA), hazard analyses, and radiological safety assessments
  • Contribute to design reviews, procurement specifications, and installation and commissioning plans
  • Support prototyping, testing, and commissioning of hot cell subsystems

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related discipline
  • 5+ years of experience in radiological facility design, glovebox or hot cell engineering, or radiological material handling
  • Strong working knowledge of remote handling systems, robotics, or manipulator technologies
  • Understanding of radiation shielding principles, criticality safety, and radiological protection standards
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate on cross-functional teams and integrate feedback from engineering, licensing, and safety
  • Strong systems engineering intuition and problem-solving capabilities

Skills

Required:Mechanical designRadiation shielding principlesRemote handling / roboticsFMEA / hazard analysisSystems engineering

Benefits

  • flexible time off
  • equity
  • competitive pay
  • 401k
  • health insurance
  • FSA
  • flexible work hours
  • other benefits
Last updated Oct 23, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
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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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