Mechatronics Engineer
Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a Mechatronics Engineer to join our nuclear fuel recycling engineering team.
Position Description
The mechatronics engineer is responsible for designing automated systems and robotic material-handling equipment for remote-operated processes in radiological hot cells for the Oklo Fuel Recycling Facility. Day-to-day activities will include system design, CAD modeling, requirements generation, and eventual prototyping and integration of augmentation into various systems. This role involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams including facility design, chemical engineering, pyroprocessing, instrumentation and controls, software engineering, process modeling, quality assurance, and licensing.
There is a strong preference for candidates in the Oak Ridge, TN area.
Specific responsibilities may include:
Designing robotic and electromechanical systems for remote handling of materials in high-temperature, high corrosion, and high-radiation environments
Defining architecture, specifications, control logic, and performance criteria for automated material-handling and process systems
Integrating automation hardware, sensors, and control systems for reliable unmanned operations
Serving as technical lead for automation and handling systems across their lifecycle
Developing documentation to guide fabrication, installation, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of automated equipment
Generating technical documentation for regulatory filings and internal knowledge capture
Building, testing, and iterating on prototypes for automation and handling subsystems
Writing clear, concise reports and communicating results across disciplines
Minimum Qualifications:
Engineering education in mechatronics, mechanical engineering, robotics, electrical engineering, or related discipline
5 to 10 years’ experience with automation or robotic system design
Hands-on experience with PLCs, industrial automation, and robotics programming
Expert proficiency with CAD software, preferably Solidworks
Broad familiarity with engineering principles and strong systems integration intuition
Bonus Qualifications:
Experience with robotic arms, conveyors, or other automated handling systems
Experience designing for remote or hazardous environments
Experience with radiological hot cell environments
Experience with high-temperature (>500 °C) equipment design
Knowledge of GD&T and design for manufacturing
Experience with simulation tools (e.g., ANSYS, ROS, MATLAB/Simulink)
Background in nuclear, petrochemical, or pharmaceutical industries with automated systems
Experience deploying or working on pilot plants or unmanned manufacturing systems
Located by Oak Ridge, TN
Competencies
We are looking for a Mechatronics Engineer who is
Passionate about clean energy and advanced fission
Proficient in 2D/3D modeling and CAD for mechanical and robotic systems
Experienced with electromechanical systems, controls, and automation integration
Energized by prototyping and deploying real-world hardware
Creative and persistent when tackling novel engineering challenges
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, highly iterative startup environment
A strong communicator, both in technical writing and in collaborative discussions
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: $100,000–$195,000
Salary will be determined on a number of factors, including but not limited to years of experience.
Oklo offers flexible time off, equity, competitive pay, 401k, health insurance, FSA, flexible work hours, and other benefits.
We are looking to fill this position immediately!
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.