Core Mechanical Design - Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Core Mechanical Design Engineer

As a Core Mechanical Design Engineer, you will be responsible for designing core assemblies and components that will be used in our advanced reactors. You will take designs through our process from conceptual to final design. During this design lifecycle, you will work with Oklo’s Fuel Fabrication team to refine the design for improved manufacturability and inspectability. You will also create documentation to support the definition of these components, including drawings, product and material specifications, design basis documents and calculation documents.

• Develop the design of these 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 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…