Senior Mechanical Designer - Fuel Recycling

The posting, as Oklo wrote it

Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a Mechanical Designer to join our Fuel Recycling Engineering team.

Position Description

The person in this role is responsible for developing detailed mechanical designs, 3D CAD models, fabrication drawings, and prototype hardware supporting Oklo's first-of-a-kind nuclear fuel recycling technology. This work directly supports the development of advanced electrochemical processing equipment used to close the nuclear fuel cycle.

This position is heavily focused on translating engineering concepts into practical, manufacturable hardware. Working closely with mechanical, process, nuclear, materials, and controls engineers, the Mechanical Designer will create production-quality CAD models and drawing packages for custom equipment ranging from benchtop prototypes to production-scale process systems.

The ideal candidate enjoys designing hardware that gets built, working directly with machinists and fabricators, and iterating designs through hands-on prototyping and testing.

The equipment developed will operate in high-temperature (>500 °C), chemically aggressive, and high-radiation environments and includes molten salt vessels, high-temperature furnaces, gloveboxes, hot cells, tooling, fixtures, remote handling equipment, and other custom process hardware.

There is a strong preference for candidates located in the Oak Ridge, Tennessee area.

Specific responsibilities may include

Develop detailed 3D CAD models and manufacturing drawings using SolidWorks.

Produce fabrication, assembly, weldment, machining, and installation drawings suitable for manufacturing and procurement.

Translate engineering concepts into manufacturable mechanical designs with strong attention to detail.

Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles throughout the design process.

Collaborate closely with engineers, machinists, welders, and fabrication vendors to optimize designs for manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance.

Develop custom mechanical assemblies, fixtures, tooling, furnace components, vessels, and supporting process equipment.

Support prototype fabrication by responding to shop questions, incorporating manufacturing feedback, and revising drawings as designs evolve.

Maintain engineering documentation including bills of materials, drawing revisions, and controlled CAD files.

Participate in design reviews and contribute practical fabrication and assembly recommendations.

Assist with prototype assembly, equipment integration, and iterative design improvements based on testing and operational feedback.

Help develop CAD standards, drawing templates, and design best practices that improve consistency across the engineering organization.

Minimum Qualifications

Associate's degree, technical certification, or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Design, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Drafting, or a related technical field (or equivalent pro
[…]
o National Laboratory, and submitted the first custom combined license application for an advanced reactor to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Oklo is also developing advanced fuel recycling technologies in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. National Laboratories.

#CHOP: Oklo’s Values
Collaboration : We go further, together. We bring diverse perspectives, listen actively, and build trust through transparency and respect. We work across disciplines, sharing ownership to turn complex challenges into shared successes.
Humility : We are team players who act for the good of the company and for the world. We are focused on our mission, not personal recognition.
Ownership : We take pride in what we do and how we do it. We are proactive in finding solutions and see tasks through to completion. We are committed to delivering on our promises to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy.
Pathfinding : We chart new ground where no path exists by approaching challenges with curiosity, courage, and creativity while navigating ambiguity.
Candidates should be aware that employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a drug screening, and employees may be subject to drug testing at any time in accordance with company policy and applicable laws.

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