External Quality Assurance Lead

External Quality Assurance Lead Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for an External Quality Assurance Lead to join our team. Position Description The External Quality Assurance Lead provides senior‑level oversight of external suppliers supporting our advanced nuclear reactors and related projects. The role leads nuclear quality audits, qualifies and monitors suppliers, and ensures purchased materials, equipment, software, and services conform to applicable quality, regulatory, technical, and procurement requirements. Responsibilities Serve as Lead Auditor for external supplier audits, including audit planning, team coordination, checklist development, entrance and exit meetings, evaluation of objective evidence, issuance of audit reports, and verification of corrective‑action closure. Provide guidance and mentoring to audit team members and internal stakeholders on audit practices, supplier oversight expectations, procurement quality controls, and evidence‑based assessment methods. Manage supplier evaluations and qualifications, including initial qualification, requalification, scope changes, technical capability reviews, QA program evaluations, and upkeep of the approved supplier list. Handle supplier nonconformances, audit findings, corrective‑action requests, and supplier performance issues from identification through causal evaluation, corrective action, effectiveness review, and closure. Develop and maintain annual and long‑range supplier audit and surveillance schedules using risk, safety significance, procurement scope, supplier performance, and project needs. Plan and perform supplier surveillances, source inspections, witness and hold‑point oversight, and performance‑based assessments at supplier facilities. Review supplier quality assurance programs, procedures, records, and implementation for alignment with applicable requirements, including ASME NQA‑1, 10 CFR Part 50 Appendix B, procurement quality clauses, and contractual commitments. Partner with Procurement and Engineering to define and flow down procurement quality requirements, acceptance criteria, documentation requirements, special process requirements, inspection requirements, and applicable Part 21 obligations. Support evaluation of deviations, defects, counterfeit/fraudulent/suspect items, and supplier‑reported issues, including escalation to appropriate internal stakeholders for Part 21 or other reportability screening when applicable. Ensure supplier documentation and records—certificates of conformance, material certifications, inspection records, test reports, calibration records, special process qualifications, traceability records—are complete and acceptable before use or acceptance. Monitor supplier performance metrics, trends, and risks; prepare supplier quality status reports; and recommend supplier restrictions, corrective actions, disqualification, or enhanced oversight when warranted. Contribute to continuous improvement of supplier quality procedures, audit tools, checklists, qualification criteria, and oversight processes. Minimum Qualifications Current documented qualification as an NQA‑1 Lead Auditor, capable of performing all duties of a Lead Auditor under the company quality assurance program. Working knowledge of 10 CFR 50 Appendix B, ASME NQA‑1, and nuclear quality assurance program implementation, including audit planning, audit performance, objective evidence review, finding development, reporting, and corrective‑action closure. Experience evaluating suppliers, supplier QA programs, quality records, procurement requirements, and implementation of quality controls for safety‑related or quality‑affecting items and services. Experience managing supplier oversight activities such as surveillances, source inspections, nonconformances, corrective actions, and supplier performance reviews. Ability to interpret technical and quality requirements in purchase orders, specifications, drawings, procedures, codes, standards, and supplier quality documentation. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to write clear audit reports, document findings, lead supplier meetings, and communicate risk‑based recommendations to cross‑functional stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound quality judgment, and appropriately elevate supplier quality risks. Willingness and ability to travel to supplier locations, including domestic and occasional international travel, as business needs require. Bonus Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in engineering, quality, physical sciences, nuclear technology, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience supporting advanced reactor, small modular reactor, micro‑reactor, nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear construction, or nuclear manufacturing programs. Experience with commercial‑grade dedication, item/service classification, critical characteristics, special processes, source verification, or supplier technical evaluations. Experience overseeing suppliers performing welding, nondestructive examination, heat treatment, machining, fabrication, software, engineering services, or other quality‑affecting work. Certification or training in root‑cause analysis, corrective action program management, ISO 9001 auditing, ASME Section III, pressure boundary components, or nuclear procurement quality. Experience developing supplier quality procedures, audit checklists, qualification scorecards, risk models, and supplier performance metrics. Experience mentoring auditors or leading multi‑discipline audit teams. Key Attributes Well‑versed in nuclear QA regulations, standards, and codes. A proponent of a strong nuclear safety culture. Able to apply a graded approach to quality assurance. Confident while communicating with technical teams, suppliers, and leadership. A professional who values integrity above all else. Passionate about clean energy and advanced fission. Comfortable in a fast‑paced, highly iterative startup environment. Excellent writer capable of modern active‑voice communication. Able to communicate technical content and results verbally. 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. Employment Terms Oklo offers flexible time off, equity, competitive pay, a 401(k) plan, health insurance, FSA, flexible work hours, and other benefits. This position may involve access to information subject to U.S. export control laws. Only applicants who meet the definition of a U.S. person under applicable laws are eligible. Oklo requires employees to travel twice a quarter annually to headquarters or another designated location for team meetings, off‑sites, and company events. For the first two weeks of onboarding, employees must be on‑site at headquarters in Santa Clara, CA. Export Control Compliance Oklo is required to obtain applications’ answers regarding whether the applicant is a U.S. person (or a non‑U.S. person from an approved list of countries) to ensure compliance with U.S. export regulations (10 CFR Part 810, 15 CFR Parts 730‑774). Only U.S. persons are guaranteed unrestricted access to technical information, while non‑U.S. persons may face restrictions until the company obtains export authorization. #J-18808-Ljbffr Oklo Inc