Fabrication Lead

Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a Fabrication Lead to join our team.


Position Description

The Fabrication Lead is responsible for leading and guiding a team of fabricators; reviewing technical drawings with the engineering team; addressing fabrication concerns; and ensuring that parts meet specified design requirements. This role collaborates closely with engineering, production, fabrication, machining, and assembly teams to source parts, materials, and equipment necessary for product development.

The Fabrication Lead also oversees the site's machining capabilities and partners with the Lead Machinist to ensure that parts are delivered on time and meet all QA standards. In addition, the role oversees the plant's fabrication and welding capabilities and coordinates outsourced welding or fabrication support when needed.

Specific responsibilities may include:

• Collaborate with the engineering team to understand design specifications and ensure fabrication processes align with requirements.
• Supervise and lead a team of fabricators; provide guidance, support, and direction to ensure efficient and effective performance.
• Develop and manage work schedules and assign tasks based on priorities and deadlines.
• Implement and maintain quality control procedures to ensure fabricated products meet established standards and specifications.
• Work with production planning teams to schedule fabrication activities that support overall production timelines and customer requirements.
• Coordinate and manage workflow within the fabrication department to ensure a smooth, continuous production process.
• Oversee the maintenance and operation of fabrication equipment; schedule regular maintenance and promptly address equipment issues to minimize downtime.
• Manage and control inventory of raw materials; coordinate with procurement to ensure timely material availability.
• Enforce safety protocols and ensure compliance with safety regulations; conduct regular safety training.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce waste.
• Train team members in fabrication techniques, equipment operation, and safety procedures; support ongoing skill development.
• Maintain accurate records of fabrication processes, quality control checks, and production outputs.
• Facilitate communication within the fabrication team and across departments to support production goals.
• Address issues and challenges that arise during fabrication and collaborate with the team to identify effective solutions.
• Optimize fabrication costs by managing resources efficiently and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback for team development.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in a fabrication-based leadership role.
• 10+ years of experience in fabrication.
• Certified Welding Supervisor (CWS)
• Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)
• Certified Welder (CW)

Bonus Qualifications:

• Certified Radiographic Interpreter (CRI)
• Certified Resistance Welding Technician (CRWT)
• Certified Welding Engineer (CWE)
• Specialized welding-process certifications

Competencies

We are seeking a Fabrication Lead who has:

• A demonstrated track record of building out fabrication capabilities within an organization.
• The ability to build and inspire a technical team over time.
• A willingness to develop plans from a first-principles approach.
• Passion for clean energy and a strong sense of optimism.
• Motivation to make advanced fission a reality.
• The ability to learn quickly and think creatively.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, highly iterative startup environment.
• A mindset geared toward creative, critical, and reflective problem-solving rather than relying solely on precedent.
• A propensity for proposing novel, well-reasoned technical solutions.
• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to communicate in a modern, active voice.
• Strong verbal communication skills in conveying technical content and results.

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. If you prefer the culture and feel of a large organization, that is great, but you likely won't enjoy working with us! There is plenty of important work and plenty of good opportunities with organizations like that.

Motivated: You are self-motivated. You bring an enthusiasm to the team, and imbue a sense of passion that goes beyond clocking in and clocking out. This isn't about a fake or arbitrary "pieces of flair" mentality or lack of work-life balance! It is about being a part of the vision and feeling a part of reaching team goals.

A team-player: Oklo genuinely is a team. We aren't about taking credit for ourselves, and we aren't about pushing blame to others. We do incredible things because we work as a team.

An excellent communicator: We need a person who is not only technically competent but also a clear and upbeat communicator.

Creative: Being creative means that when things fall outside clear scopes or processes or problems arise without clear solutions, you are able to identify it as well as invent ways to solve a problem or fill a need without micromanagement. The successful person in this job will not only be creative, but also enjoy being creative and solving open-ended problems which may change day-by-day.

Detail-oriented: 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.

About Oklo travel requirements:

Oklo requires remote employees to travel to headquarters (Santa Clara, CA) twice a quarter annually, based on business or team needs, including attendance at team meetings, off-sites, and other company events or gatherings. For the first two weeks of onboarding, employees are required to be in person at headquarters in Santa Clara, CA.

About Oklo compensation: $110,000-$150,000
Salary may fall outside this range depending on experience.

Oklo offers flexible time off, equity, competitive pay, 401k, health insurance, FSA, flexible work hours, and other benefits.

About Oklo Inc.: Oklo Inc. is developing fast fission power plants to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy at scale; establishing a domestic supply chain for critical radioisotopes; and advancing nuclear fuel recycling to convert nuclear waste into clean energy. Oklo was the first to receive a site use permit from the U.S. Department of Energy for a commercial advanced fission plant, was awarded fuel material from Idaho National Laboratory, and submitted the first custom combined license application for an advanced reactor to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Oklo is also developing advanced fuel recycling technologies in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. National Laboratories.

#CHOP: Oklo's Values
Collaboration : We go further, together. We bring diverse perspectives, listen actively, and build trust through transparency and respect. We work across disciplines, sharing ownership to turn complex challenges into shared successes.
Humility : We are team players who act for the good of the company and for the world. We are focused on our mission, not personal recognition.
Ownership : We take pride in what we do and how we do it. We are proactive in finding solutions and see tasks through to completion. We are committed to delivering on our promises to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy.
Pathfinding : We chart new ground where no path exists by approaching challenges with curiosity, courage, and creativity while navigating ambiguity.

Candidates should be aware that employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a drug screening, and employees may be subject to drug testing at any time in accordance with company policy and applicable laws.
Recruitment Fraud Disclaimer

Oklo is aware of recent recruitment fraud attempts targeting job seekers. Please be cautious of anyone claiming to represent Oklo who does not contact you from an official Oklo email address.

All legitimate communications from our recruiting team- including application updates, interview requests, and job offers - will come exclusively from an @oklo.com email. Oklo will never ask for sensitive personal information, payments, or account credentials during the hiring process.

If you receive suspicious outreach or have concerns about the authenticity of any communication claiming to be from Oklo, please contact us through the official channels listed on our website.