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Role Description

Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a Hot Cell Design Engineer to join our dynamic fuel recycling engineering group, which is designing and deploying a modern nuclear fuel recycling facility. This is a rare opportunity to contribute to the design and development of one of the most advanced radiological hot cell systems ever.

As a Hot Cell Design Engineer at Oklo, you will help shape a highly specialized, remotely-operable hot cell environment that enables the safe, efficient processing of used nuclear fuel (UNF).

You’ll work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team of mechanical, nuclear, chemical, and controls engineers to integrate critical systems such as shielding, containment, and remote operations into an industrial-scale recycling facility.

Key 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.
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status (due to export control requirements).

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with hot cells used in nuclear fuel cycle facilities, isotope production, or defense applications.
• Proficiency with CAD software (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, Inventor) and engineering drawing standards.
• Knowledge of NRC and/or DOE regulatory requirements and nuclear standards for nuclear facilities.
• Prior hands-on experience with mockups, prototyping, or commissioning of radiological systems.
• Experience with vendor coordination, A&E firms, and project management.

Benefits

• Salary: $80,000-$180,000 (dependent on applicant experience).
• Flexible time off.
• Equity.
• Competitive pay.
• 401k.
• Health insurance.
• FSA.
• Flexible work hours.
• Other benefits.

Company Description

Oklo Inc. is developing fast fission power plants to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy at scale; establishing a domestic supply chain for critical radioisotopes; and advancing nuclear fuel recycling to convert nuclear waste into clean energy.

Oklo was the first to receive a site use permit from the U.S. Department of Energy for a commercial advanced fission plant, was awarded fuel material from Idaho 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.