Core Mechanical Design - Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Overview

Core Mechanical Design - Senior Mechanical Design Engineer — Santa Clara, CA or Remote

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

• Develop the design of core assemblies and components to satisfy both performance and manufacturing requirements
• Create and develop design documentation to define requirements
• Conduct and participate in design reviews, providing and receiving technical feedback
• Rigorously evaluate mechanical designs to identify deficiencies and proactively propose and implement solutions
• Generate and maintain detailed 3D CAD models, 2D drawings, and bills of materials using controlled processes in PDM/PLM systems
• Coordinate closely with analysis teams to guide and interpret thermal, structural, fatigue, and safety analyses in support of design validation
• Perform detailed manufacturability reviews, tolerance studies, and DFM/DFA assessments to prepare components for fabrication and assembly
• Contribute to continuous improvement of Oklo’s mechanical design processes, tools, and standards through feedback and development of best practices

5-10 years of industry experience in mechanical or structural design within sectors such as aerospace, automotive, energy, or industrial equipment

• Bachelor’s or higher degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline
• Proficiency in 3D CAD modeling software (e.g., Siemens NX, CATIA, Solid Works), including part modeling, large assemblies, and detailed drawings
• Experience with CAD version control using PDM/PLM tools (e.g., Teamcenter, Solid Works PDM, Windchill)
• Solid understanding of mechanical design principles, including DFM (Design for Manufacturability), DFA (Design for Assembly), and tolerance stack-up analysis
• Ability to apply GD&T per ASME Y14.5-2018 (or other similar standard) to engineering drawings
• Working knowledge of material selection (particularly metals), manufacturing methods, and fabrication techniques
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate on cross-functional teams, integrating feedback from analysis, manufacturing, and systems engineering
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly document and present engineering work
• Comfortable working with external manufacturers and engineering consultants for fabrication and analysis support

• Background in designing components for high-integrity or safety-critical systems (e.g., nuclear, aerospace, defense, or heavy industry)
• Proven ability to lead hardware projects through the full development cycle—from concept and design to testing and production
• Comfortable working with manufacturers and engineering consultants for fabrication and analysis support
• Knowledge of manufacturing and inspection processes
• Experience with precision machine design and tolerancing
• Understanding of thermal-mechanical analysis principles, with experience designing for high-temperature environments
• Basic knowledge of nuclear fission and radiation effects on materials and components
• Exposure to simulation tools (e.g., ANSYS) and scripting languages (e.g., Python) is a plus
• ASME GD&T Professional certification (Senior or Technologist Level) is a plus
• Proficiency with Siemens NX CAD software is a plus

• Competent in 3D modeling software and has a solid understanding of mechanical design principles
• An experienced team player who can work effectively across both internal resources and external suppliers
• Passionate about clean energy
• An optimist at heart
• Passionate about making advanced fission a reality
• Willing and able to learn quickly
• Willing to think differently and do things in new ways
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, highly iterative startup environment
• Excited to think creatively, critically, and reflectively about the problems they are solving while not leaning only on what has been done before
• Willing to propose novel and creative solutions to technical problems
• An excellent writer who can write in a modern active voice
• Able to communicate technical content and results verbally

Oklo requires remote employees to travel to…