Hot Cell Design Engineer

About Oklo

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.

Key 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

Competencies

We are looking for a Hot Cell Design Engineer that is:

• Passionate about clean energy, fuel recycling, and efficient stewardship of natural resources
• 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 environment
• Excited to think creatively, critically, and reflectively about the problems they are solving while not leaning only on what has been done before
• Willing to propose novel and creative solutions to technical problems
• An excellent writer who can write in a modern active voice (so make your cover letter compelling and write it well!)
• Able to communicate technical content and results verbally

Minimum Qualifications

• 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
• U.S. citizenship or permanent residency status (due to export control requirements)

Bonus Qualifications

• 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