Director of Business Development, Defense & National Security

Director of Business Development, Defense & National Security

Santa Clara, CA or Remote

Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a Director of Business Development, Defense & National Security to join our team.

Position Description

Oklo is seeking a Director of Business Development, Defense & National Security to lead our engagement with the US Department of Defense, national security agencies, and federal energy stakeholders.

Oklo designs, builds, and operates advanced fission power plants engineered for resilient, secure, and independent power generation. With a growing demand across the US military and national security enterprise for energy resilience, assured power, and reduced reliance on vulnerable grid infrastructure, Oklo’s “power as a service” model is well suited to support mission‑critical installations, military bases, and strategic federal facilities.

The Director is charged with leading Oklo’s business development efforts across defense, national security, and federal agencies. Responsibilities include managing and growing existing relationships, cultivating new opportunities, and leading commercial and strategic engagements, partnership structures, and coordination with government stakeholders. The focus is on prioritizing near‑term opportunities while building a long‑term pipeline aligned with federal procurement pathways.

This role is highly execution oriented. It goes beyond high level strategy and requires hands‑on engagement with customers, internal teams, and external partners. Responsibilities include developing proposals, negotiating commercial agreements, relationship management, team leadership, and close collaboration with Oklo’s executive leadership.

A technical background may be beneficial but is not required. Similarly, experience in finance or contracting is helpful but not mandatory. At minimum, candidates should have a working understanding of government contracting, project development, customer agreements, and complex negotiations. Familiarity with federal acquisition processes, including DoD, DoE, and other agency engagement models, is required.

Ideally, this person has led business development or capture efforts in defense, national security, or other federal markets, particularly within hard tech, energy, infrastructure, aerospace, or advanced manufacturing environments. Experience navigating government stakeholders, mission‑driven customers, and multi‑year programs is important. Candidates with prior military service, DoD civilian experience, or direct exposure to Military Service level or DoD headquarters level energy programs are strongly encouraged to apply.

We are looking for a dynamic, credible, and disciplined leader who can clearly communicate complex ideas without unnecessary complexity and build trust with senior government, military, and industry counterparts.

Specific responsibilities may include:

• Leading Oklo’s defense, national security, and federal agency business development strategy, building on existing relationships and identifying new opportunities.
• Managing key customer and partner relationships across the DoD, national security organizations, DOE, and other relevant federal agencies.
• Supporting capture strategy, opportunity qualification, and prioritization of near‑term and long‑term federal programs.
• Developing and negotiating commercial structures, term sheets, and partnership agreements in coordination with legal, finance, and executive leadership.
• Preparing briefings, presentations, and written materials for meetings with government, military, and executive stakeholders.
• Working closely with Oklo executives to transition and expand existing relationships and align on strategic priorities.
• Coordinating with communications, policy, and media teams on messaging related to defense, national security, and government applications.
• Partnering with internal technical, regulatory, and project development teams to support customer specific solutions.
• Recruiting, building, and leading a business development team focused on federal and national security markets.
• Traveling to meetings at Oklo headquarters, Washington DC, national laboratories,…