Description

Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a Facilities Design Engineer to join our Fuel Fabrication Team. As a Facilities Design Engineer on Oklo’s fuel fabrication team, you will provide technical oversight, review, and direction for contract engineering firms developing HVAC and fire protection designs for nuclear fuel‑cycle facilities. The role acts as an owner’s engineer, ensuring contractor‑produced designs meet nuclear safety requirements, support radiological confinement, and comply with all applicable codes, standards, and QA programs.

The position is highly cross‑functional, requiring both technical excellence and a collaborative mindset. You will coordinate with internal stakeholders such as safety basis, operations, QA, procurement, I&C, and electrical teams while working closely with external engineering firms to integrate designs, track milestones, and maintain audit‑ready documentation.

• Oversee and review HVAC and fire protection designs for fuel‑cycle facilities
• Verify contractor deliverables for technical accuracy, code compliance, and safety basis alignment
• Ensure contractor adherence to NQA‑1, configuration control, design verification, and nuclear QA documentation
• Evaluate design approaches for pressure cascades, confinement ventilation, HEPA filtration, exhaust/airflow management, and hazard‑classified fire protection systems
• Provide technical direction, comments, and resolution guidance to contractors and incorporate design changes promptly
• Coordinate internal stakeholders (safety, operations, QA, procurement, I&C, electrical) with contract engineering firms
• Participate in design reviews, readiness assessments, and constructability evaluations as the facility’s technical authority
• Document decisions, design basis changes, and comment resolutions for audit‑ready traceability
• Maintain oversight of multiple contractor design packages, comment cycles, and submittals; track deadlines, milestones, design maturity, and revision control
• Provide clear, actionable feedback while maintaining schedule, quality, and scope alignment
• Involvement in safety analyses, design reviews, and licensing workflows
• Diplomatic enforcement of requirements while maintaining productive vendor relationships
• Identify gaps, deviations, and risks in contractor compliance
• Produce clear, concise design review comments and technical memos
• Identify safety‑basis impacts and propose mitigation strategies to maintain safety, schedule, and quality

Requirements

We require at least five years of HVAC and/or fire protection design experience in fuel‑cycle, nuclear, or similarly regulated industrial facilities, a bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical, Electrical, Nuclear Engineering or a related field, and proven ability to oversee work performed by external design firms. Strong knowledge of radiological confinement ventilation, HEPA filtration, glovebox and hot‑cell exhaust, hazard‑classified fire protection, and relevant codes (NFPA, ASHRAE, IMC/IFC, DOE/NRC) and NQA‑1 quality requirements is essential.

Preferred qualifications include experience with advanced reactor technologies, familiarity with NRC, DOE, and ASME regulatory processes, prior owner’s‑engineer or design‑oversight roles in nuclear or process facilities, and exposure to vendor qualification, safety‑basis development, fire‑hazard analyses, and licensing workflows.

Key competencies include a strong commitment to nuclear safety, deep expertise in confinement ventilation and fire‑protection systems, ability to evaluate calculations and system‑level integration, and skill in providing clear, actionable design review feedback while maintaining productive vendor relationships.

Oklo seeks a self‑motivated startup‑person who thrives without extensive hierarchy, brings enthusiasm and optimism, works collaboratively as a team‑player, communicates clearly, solves open‑ended problems creatively, and pays meticulous attention to detail and grammar.

• 5+ years HVAC and/or fire protection design experience in fuel‑cycle, nuclear, or highly regulated industrial facilities
• Bachelor’s or higher in Mechanical, Electrical, Nuclear Engineering or related discipline
• Experience reviewing and overseeing work performed by external engineering or A/E design firms
• Strong understanding of radiological confinement ventilation, HEPA filtration, glovebox/hot‑cell exhaust, and hazard‑classified fire protection systems
• Knowledge of NFPA, ASHRAE, IMC/IFC, DOE/NRC regulations, and NQA‑1 quality requirements
• Proven ability to collaborate through the full development cycle from concept to production
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with advanced reactor technologies (microreactors, fast reactors, SMRs)
• Familiarity with NRC, DOE, and ASME code compliance and regulatory processes
• Knowledge of nuclear QA requirements (NQA‑1 or equivalent)
• Exposure to vendor qualification, commercial‑grade dedication, and nuclear‑grade procurement
• Prior owner’s‑engineer or design oversight role in nuclear or process facilities
• Experience with DOE O 420.1C, safety basis development, fire hazard analyses, and nuclear design interfaces
• Basic knowledge of nuclear fission and radiation effects on materials
• Deep knowledge of confinement ventilation, HEPA filtration, pressure cascading, glovebox and hot‑cell exhaust, and off‑gas systems
• Understanding of hazard‑classified fire protection, clean‑agent suppression, detection/alarm systems, and NFPA requirements
• Ability to evaluate engineering calculations, design criteria, and system integration
• Skilled at interpreting, reviewing, and guiding contractor design work; ensure timely comment closure
• Collaborative team player across internal resources and external suppliers
• Self‑motivated, thrives in fast‑paced startup environment
• Excellent communicator, both written and verbal
• Creative problem‑solver comfortable with open‑ended challenges
• Detail‑oriented with strong grammar and spelling

Benefits

Remote employees are expected to travel to Oklo’s headquarters in Santa Clara, CA twice each quarter for meetings, off‑sites, and company events. The compensation range is $115,000‑$170,000 plus equity, flexible time off, 401k, health insurance, FSA, flexible work hours, and other benefits.

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance