Oklo

Senior Mechanical Designer - Fuel Recycling

Santa Clara, CA or Remote · Senior

Sponsorship not specified$100k-$150kDetected 3 days ago

SolidWorksGD&TMechanical DesignCommunication

About the role

This position is heavily focused on translating engineering concepts into practical, manufacturable hardware.
Who you are: A startup person: You aren't driven by titles or hierarchy, and prefer efficiency to excess process.
You don't need or expect to have a lot of guidance but you enjoy working in a fast-paced team.

Develop detailed 3D CAD models and manufacturing drawings using SolidWorks.
Translate engineering concepts into manufacturable mechanical designs with strong attention to detail.
Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles throughout the design process.
Collaborate closely with engineers, machinists, welders, and fabrication vendors to optimize designs for manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance.
Develop custom mechanical assemblies, fixtures, tooling, furnace components, vessels, and supporting process equipment.
Support prototype fabrication by responding to shop questions, incorporating manufacturing feedback, and revising drawings as designs evolve.
Maintain engineering documentation including bills of materials, drawing revisions, and controlled CAD files.
Participate in design reviews and contribute practical fabrication and assembly recommendations.
Assist with prototype assembly, equipment integration, and iterative design improvements based on testing and operational feedback.
Help develop CAD standards, drawing templates, and design best practices that improve consistency across the engineering organization.

Associate's degree, technical certification, or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Design, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Drafting, or a related technical field (or equivalent professional experience).
5+ years of experience developing detailed mechanical designs and fabrication drawings.
Advanced proficiency with SolidWorks, including complex assemblies, weldments, sheet metal, and drawing creation.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes including machining, welding, sheet metal fabrication, and mechanical assembly.
Experience creating fabrication drawings with appropriate GD&T, tolerancing, bills of materials, and manufacturing notes.
Ability to interpret engineering requirements and produce accurate, complete mechanical documentation.

Experience designing equipment for radiological or nuclear facilities.
Experience designing high-temperature process equipment, including furnaces or thermal processing systems operating above 500 °C.
Experience with molten salt systems, vacuum systems, or corrosive chemical processing equipment.
Experience producing large weldments, pressure-containing assemblies, or custom process vessels.
Familiarity with ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards and industrial drafting best practices.
Experience supporting rapid prototyping and iterative hardware development.
Experience collaborating directly with machine shops, fabrication vendors, and equipment installers.
Experience in commercial or governmental nuclear projects.

Salary: $100,000 - $150,000 DOE
Oklo offers flexible time off, equity, bonuses, competitive pay, 401(k), health insurance (with employer contribution), HSA, FSA, flexible work hours, wellness credits, and other benefits.

It is about being a part of the vision and feeling a part of reaching team goals.

This focus is a big part of excellence, consistency, and quality.
Excellent grammar and spelling matter for both good communication as well as the image of the company that we put forward.

This listing is sourced directly from Oklo's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.