Hot Cell Design Engineer

Summary

Join Oklo's dynamic fuel recycling engineering group as a Radiological Hot Cell Design Engineer to contribute to the design and development of advanced radiological hot cell systems for a modern nuclear fuel recycling facility. You will help shape a remotely-operable hot cell environment for safe and efficient used nuclear fuel processing. Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to integrate critical systems, including shielding, containment, and remote operations. Lead or support mechanical and systems design, define equipment layouts, work with safety specialists on shielding requirements, and integrate robotic technologies. Contribute to structural evaluations, participate in safety assessments, and support prototyping and commissioning. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to clean energy and fuel recycling.

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

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

Preferred 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 of radiological systems
• Experience with vendor coordination, A&E firms, and project management

Benefits

• Flexible time off
• Equity
• Competitive pay
• 401k
• Health insurance
• FSA
• Flexible work hours