Mechanical Design Engineer - Core Mechanical Design

Oklo Inc. is developing advanced fission power plants, nuclear fuel recycling technologies, and clean energy solutions. The company is seeking a Core Mechanical Design Engineer to design reactor core assemblies and components from concept through final design, while supporting manufacturability, inspection, analysis, documentation, and fabrication.

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
• • 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
• • 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
• • Able to communicate technical content and results verbally
• • Oklo requires remote employees to travel to headquarters (Santa Clara, CA) twice a quarter annually, based on business or team needs, including attendance at team meetings, off-sites, and other company events or gatherings
• • For the first two weeks of onboarding, employees are required to be in person at headquarters in Santa Clara, CA
• • 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 SolidWorks software is a plus