How to apply for Core Design Engineer

About Oklo

Oklo is developing next-generation fast fission technology and recycling nuclear waste to provide clean, reliable, affordable energy. The company is hiring a Core Design Engineer to work remotely while traveling to Santa Clara, CA twice per quarter.

About the role

This role involves designing reactor cores that balance neutronic, thermal hydraulic, material, mechanical, and economic considerations. You will run multiphysics simulations, write design documentation, validate requirements, and work with fabrication engineers to mature designs.

A typical day

You will run multiphysics simulations to assess core performance, document design decisions, and collaborate with fabrication engineers. You may also translate requirements, validate designs, and prepare for quarterly travel to Santa Clara for team meetings.

Who Oklo is looking for

• Has a holistic understanding of reactor physics and can quickly assess how design changes affect core performance.
• Experienced with multiphysics simulations and first principles approaches for modeling core performance over time.
• Skilled at translating stakeholder requirements into system functional requirements and writing clear technical reports.
• Comfortable collaborating cross-functionally and traveling to Santa Clara, CA twice per quarter.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific experience with multiphysics simulation tools and reactor core design in your resume.
• Provide examples of translating high-level requirements into functional requirements or design documentation.
• Mention any experience with fabrication or manufacturability considerations for reactor components.
• Confirm you can travel to Santa Clara, CA twice per calendar quarter and note this in your application.
• Use the job title 'Core Design Engineer' in your application materials and avoid generic phrasing.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your hands-on experience with multiphysics simulations and first principles modeling for reactor cores.', 'A concrete example of balancing neutronic, thermal hydraulic, material, and mechanical constraints in a design.', 'Your ability to write clear technical documentation and validate design requirements.', "Your interest in Oklo's work on fast fission technology and nuclear waste recycling."]

Research before applying

• Oklo's specific fast fission technology and how it differs from conventional reactors.
• Their nuclear waste recycling process and how it fits into the fuel cycle.
• Recent news or public documents about Oklo's reactor designs and deployment plans.
• The company's location in Santa Clara, CA, and what the quarterly travel entails.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you approach multiphysics simulation for core performance over time.
• A time you translated stakeholder requirements into system functional requirements.
• How you balance competing constraints like neutronic, thermal hydraulic, and economic factors in core design.
• Your experience working with fabrication engineers to ensure designs are manufacturable.
• Why you want to work on fast fission technology and nuclear waste recycling at Oklo.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic resume that does not mention multiphysics simulations or reactor core design.
• Failing to address the travel requirement to Santa Clara twice per quarter.
• Using vague language about reactor physics without concrete examples of design work.