Hot Cell Design Engineer

Oklo•Santa Clara, CA

9h•$80,000 - $180,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a radiological Hot Cell Design Engineer to join our dynamic fuel recycling engineering group, which is designing and deploying a modern nuclear fuel recycling facility. This is a rare opportunity to contribute to the design and development of one of the most advanced radiological hot cell systems ever. Position Description: As a Hot Cell Design Engineer at Oklo, you will help shape a highly specialized, remotely-operable hot cell environment that enables the safe, efficient processing of used nuclear fuel (UNF). You’ll work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team of mechanical, nuclear, chemical, and controls engineers to integrate critical systems such as shielding, containment, and remote operations into an industrial-scale recycling facility.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related discipline
5+ years of experience in radiological facility design, glovebox or hot cell engineering, or radiological material handling
Strong working knowledge of remote handling systems, robotics, or manipulator technologies
Understanding of radiation shielding principles, criticality safety, and radiological protection standards
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Demonstrated ability to collaborate on cross-functional teams and integrate feedback from engineering, licensing, and safety
Strong systems engineering intuition and problem-solving capabilities

Nice To Haves

Experience with hot cells used in nuclear fuel cycle facilities, isotope production, or defense applications
Proficiency with CAD software (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, Inventor) and engineering drawing standards
Knowledge of NRC and/or DOE regulatory requirements and nuclear standards for nuclear facilities
Prior hands-on experience with mockups, prototyping, or commissioning of radiological systems
Experience with vendor coordination, A&E firms, and project management

Responsibilities

Lead or support the mechanical and systems design of radiological hot cells used in UNF recycling, including shielding, ventilation, confinement, and remote handling systems
Define equipment and material layouts, including material transfer pathways and maintenance access strategies
Work with radiation modeling and safety analysis specialists to develop shielding requirements and establish design constraints
Integrate robotic and remote handling technologies (e.g., manipulators, cameras, cranes, etc.) into cell design
Contribute to the structural evaluation of confinement systems, ensuring compliance with fire protection, external hazard, and natural phenomena hazard requirements
Collaborate with structural, HVAC, instrumentation, and process engineers to ensure seamless integration across all hot cell systems
Participate in Failure Modes and Effects Analyses (FMEA), hazard analyses, and radiological safety assessments
Contribute to design reviews, procurement specifications, and installation and commissioning plans
Support prototyping, testing, and commissioning of hot cell subsystems