Senior Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer

Oklo Inc. is developing advanced fission power plants, nuclear fuel recycling technologies, and clean energy solutions. The Senior Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer will perform criticality safety evaluations, develop the nuclear criticality safety basis, and architect the nuclear criticality safety program for a first-of-a-kind used nuclear fuel recycling facility. The role also supports safety basis development, licensing efforts, emergency planning, and program administration.

Responsibilities:

• Identifying and evaluating nuclear criticality safety (NCS) hazards for fuel cycle facilities
• Performing criticality safety evaluations (CSEs) to demonstrate subcriticality under normal and credible abnormal conditions
• Developing the criticality code validation report
• Demonstrating compliance with the double-contingency principle
• Documenting criticality hazard analyses, CSEs, and supporting technical information
• Evaluating and implementing controlled parameters for the NCS program
• Developing the criticality accident alarm system and inadvertent criticality emergency response plan
• Supporting safety basis development and licensing efforts
• Developing and administering the NCS program, methodologies, and management measures

Requirements:

• • Bachelors, Masters, or PhD in nuclear engineering, chemical engineering, or chemistry, or related field
• • Minimum 5+ years experience performing CSEs as a part of a nuclear facility's safety basis
• • Knowledge of nuclear science, physics of criticality, and chemistry
• • Knowledge of nuclear fuel cycle processes and nuclear fuel cycle facility accident scenarios
• • Proficient with Attila4MC, MCNP, SCALE, and/or Serpent codes and modules
• • Familiarity with critical experiments and their purpose
• • Knowledge of criticality-specific codes, standards, regulatory requirements, and industry practices for nuclear fuel cycle facilities
• • Familiarity with NUREG-1513, NUREG-1520, NUREG/CR-6410, NUREG/CR-6698, NUREG/CR-7311, and NRC RG 3.71
• • Knowledgeable about structural design, analysis, and construction
• • An excellent writer who can communicate technical concepts in modern active voice
• 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 upbeat communicator
• Creative: Being creative means that when things fall outside clear scopes or processes or problems arise without clear solutions, you are able to identify it as well as invent ways to solve a problem or fill a need without micromanagement. The successful person in this job will not only be creative, but also enjoy being creative and solving open-ended problems which may change day-by-day
• Detail-oriented: This focus is a big part of excellence, consistency, and quality. Excellent grammar and spelling matter for both good communication as well as the image of the company that we put forward
• 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
• This position may involve access to information subject to U.S. export control laws. Only applicants who meet the definition of a U.S. person under applicable laws may be eligible
• • Knowledge of used nuclear fuel recycling technologies
• • 10+ years of experience performing criticality safety evaluations for an NRC licensed fuel cycle facility