Controls Engineer, Fuel Fabrication

Controls Engineer, Fuel Fabrication

Idaho Falls,  Remote

Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a Controls Engineer to join our engineering team.

Position Description

As a Controls Engineer on Oklo's Fuel Fabrication team, you'll be responsible for developing instrumentation and controls (I&C) systems and the end-to-end data lifecycle for fuel manufacturing facilities that are currently being designed and constructed. This role will be pivotal in commissioning our fuel fabrication facilities, ensuring that all process equipment and facility systems are digitally integrated to provide traceability and meet facility quality requirements.

Your responsibilities will include developing fuel fabrication I&C systems, connecting manufacturing equipment to the facilities' Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, designing and maintaining SQL databases to store process and product quality data, developing inventory tracking and control tools, and supporting various other facility digital systems (e.g., preventative maintenance and work order tracking, EH&S reporting, etc.).

This is a highly cross-functional role where technical excellence and a collaborative mindset are equally valued.

Specific responsibilities may include:

• Control Systems: Program, troubleshoot, and optimize Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Distributed Control Systems (DCS), and Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs).
• Instrumentation: Select, calibrate, and maintain field devices (temperature, pressure, flow, and level transmitters).
• SCADA & PLC Integration: Collaborate with equipment vendors and Oklo process engineers to integrate machine-level data (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, etc.) into the facility-wide SCADA system.
• Database Architecture: Design, implement, and manage SQL databases to store high-fidelity process data and product quality metrics.
• Digital System Development: Design, implement, and manage manufacturing facility tools, such as preventative maintenance and work order tracking, inventory tracking and control, etc.
• Automated Quality Assurance: Develop automated "Pass/Fail" logic within the SCADA/MES layer to ensure product genealogy and traceability meet nuclear regulatory standards. Develop digital product reports that can be generated from the manufacturing facility SQL database.
• Commissioning Support: Perform Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) for software and control interfaces, ensuring data packets are accurately captured during equipment cycling.
• Protocol Development: Draft and execute validation protocols (IQ/OQ/PQ) for the digital systems, ensuring they are "inspection-ready" for quality audits.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or higher degree in Electrical Mechatronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• 3+ years of industry experience in instrumentation and controls engineering – including PLC, SCADA, SQL database, and software verification and validation (V&V) experience – preferably in a highly regulated manufacturing environment
• Ability to write scripts in Python, VBA, or similar for data manipulation
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, P&IDs, process flow diagrams, and other manufacturing facility documentation
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate on cross-functional teams, integrating feedback from other engineering disciplines and vendors
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly document and present engineering work
• Comfortable working with external manufacturers and engineering consultants

Bonus Qualifications:

• Experience integrating custom manufacturing equipment into facility SCADA systems
• Experience building custom manufacturing facility SQL databases for process data, product quality data, and/or auxiliary facility functions, such as preventative maintenance and work order tracking, EH&S reporting, facility inventory and procurement, etc.
• Experience in the nuclear industry, including working under NQA-1 or similar quality standards

Competencies

We are looking for a Controls Engineer that is:

• Proficient in programming,…