Core Mechanical Design - Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Oklo•Santa Clara, CA

2d•$115,000 - $170,000•Remote

About The Position

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 be responsible for working with Oklo’s Fuel Fabrication team to refine the design for improved manufacturability and inspectability. Additionally, you will responsible for creating other documentation to support the definition of these components, including but not limited to, drawings, product and material specifications, design basis documents, and calculation documents.

Requirements

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, SolidWorks), including part modeling, large assemblies, and detailed drawings
Experience with CAD version control using PDM/PLM tools (e.g., Teamcenter, SolidWorks 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

Nice To Haves

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 if a plus

Responsibilities

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