How to apply for Director of Development Engineering

About Oklo

Oklo is developing next-generation fast fission technology and recycling nuclear waste to provide clean, reliable, affordable energy. The company is working to deploy Aurora powerhouse sites, which means the engineering work directly supports building real nuclear projects, not just research.

About the role

This role leads all civil, site, and nuclear engineering work needed to move Aurora powerhouse sites from development into construction readiness. You own the technical deliverables — site layouts, basis-of-design packages, geotechnical and environmental assessments, and permitting inputs — that support state and local approvals, NRC licensing, project financing, and EPC handoff. You manage third-party consultants and coordinate with Oklo's internal nuclear design team and Environmental & Permitting team.

A typical day

You might review geotechnical reports from a third-party consultant, then meet with the internal nuclear design team to align on site layout constraints. Later you could work on a basis-of-design package for a project finance review, or coordinate with the Environmental & Permitting team on engineering inputs for an NRC submittal. The mix changes based on which sites are active and what stage they are in.

Who Oklo is looking for

• Has led civil, site, or nuclear engineering for large industrial or energy projects, ideally through development into construction readiness
• Has produced basis-of-design documentation used for project finance due diligence and EPC handoff
• Has managed third-party engineering consultants and coordinated with internal design and permitting teams
• Has experience with NRC licensing or NEPA processes, or has provided engineering inputs to those processes
• Has built engineering standards, templates, and quality protocols for a development engineering function

Tips for this application

• In your resume, list specific projects where you produced basis-of-design packages that supported financing or EPC handoff. Name the project type, size, and your role.
• Describe your experience managing third-party engineering consultants. Include how many firms, what scope, and how you handled quality control.
• If you have worked on nuclear, include it. If not, describe how your civil/site work interfaced with nuclear design teams or licensing processes.
• Mention any direct experience with NRC licensing or NEPA. If you only coordinated with those teams, say that clearly.
• Explain your approach to developing engineering standards and templates. Give an example of a standard you created and how it was used.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your experience leading civil, site, and geotechnical engineering for projects that reached construction readiness.', 'A specific example of producing basis-of-design documentation that supported project finance due diligence or EPC handoff.', 'How you have managed third-party engineering consultants and coordinated with internal nuclear design teams.', 'Your familiarity with NRC licensing or NEPA processes, even if only as an engineering input provider.']

Research before applying

• Read Oklo's public materials on the Aurora powerhouse design and its fast fission technology.
• Look up Oklo's recent NRC licensing activities and any NEPA documentation for proposed sites.
• Check Oklo's announcements about site selection and co-location plans, such as advanced manufacturing or data centers.
• Research Oklo's leadership team and any public statements about development engineering or project delivery.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would structure the development engineering function for multiple Aurora powerhouse sites at different stages.
• Your approach to producing basis-of-design packages that satisfy project finance due diligence and EPC handoff requirements.
• How you have managed third-party engineering consultants and ensured quality and schedule alignment.
• How you coordinate engineering inputs with an Environmental & Permitting team for NRC licensing and NEPA.
• Your experience with site layout, civil/grading design, geotechnical investigation, hydrology, and infrastructure planning.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic resume that does not name specific projects, deliverables, or engineering packages you produced.
• Claiming nuclear experience you do not have. Oklo works on fast fission and NRC licensing. Be precise about what you know and what you would need to learn.
• Ignoring the project finance and EPC handoff aspects. This role is not just technical design; it produces documents that lenders and contractors rely on.