Hot Cell Design Engineer

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 Bonus Qua lifications: - Experience with hot cells used in nuclear fuel cycle facilities, isotope production, or defense applications - Proficiency with CAD software (e. g.