How to apply for Mechanical Engineer - Fuel Recycling

About Oklo

Oklo is developing next-generation fast fission technology and recycling nuclear waste to provide clean, reliable, affordable energy. The company is hiring for a Fuel Recycling Team, which means you would work on the front end of its waste-to-energy approach. This is a chance to work on nuclear waste treatment systems from concept through deployment.

About the role

As a Mechanical Engineer on the Fuel Recycling Team, you will develop waste processing equipment by defining process and mechanical requirements, working with equipment vendors, and ensuring systems are practical, maintainable, and ready for nuclear operation. You will not do detailed equipment design yourself. Instead, you will translate waste processing objectives into equipment requirements, operating concepts, vendor specifications, and acceptance criteria. Your work will directly support integrated waste treatment systems.

A typical day

A typical day might involve reviewing vendor designs against mechanical requirements, coordinating with process engineers and safety teams, and developing acceptance criteria for waste processing equipment. You could also spend time evaluating operating concepts for maintainability and remote operation, or meeting with procurement and external vendors to ensure systems are ready for deployment.

Who Oklo is looking for

• Has experience defining mechanical requirements, equipment specifications, and acceptance criteria for industrial process equipment, preferably in nuclear or other regulated environments.
• Can evaluate designs for maintainability, reliability, contamination control, remote operation, and regulatory compliance.
• Is skilled at working with external vendors and cross-functional teams including process engineering, controls, safety, radiation protection, licensing, procurement, and operations.
• Has sound mechanical engineering judgment and can recognize when a design is overly complex, under-specified, or not ready for production use.

Tips for this application

• Highlight any experience with radioactive waste treatment systems or nuclear waste processing in your resume and cover letter.
• Show that you have worked with equipment vendors to define requirements and acceptance criteria, not just performed detailed design.
• Emphasize familiarity with regulatory compliance, contamination control, and remote operation in nuclear or similarly regulated environments.
• Mention specific examples of translating process objectives into mechanical requirements and operating concepts.
• If you have worked on systems from concept through deployment, describe that full lifecycle experience clearly.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your experience defining mechanical requirements and equipment specifications for waste processing or similar industrial systems.', 'How you have worked with vendors to ensure designs are practical, maintainable, and ready for operation in a nuclear environment.', 'Your ability to evaluate designs for maintainability, reliability, contamination control, remote operation, and regulatory compliance.', 'Your track record of collaborating with cross-functional teams such as process engineering, safety, licensing, and operations.']

Research before applying

• Oklo's fast fission technology and its approach to recycling nuclear waste.
• The specific waste treatment systems and processes the Fuel Recycling Team might work on.
• Nuclear regulatory requirements for waste processing equipment, including contamination control and remote operation.
• Oklo's recent projects, partnerships, or licensing activities related to fuel recycling.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would translate waste processing objectives into equipment requirements and acceptance criteria.
• Your approach to evaluating vendor designs for maintainability, reliability, and contamination control in a nuclear environment.
• A time you recognized a design was overly complex or under-specified and how you addressed it.
• How you work with cross-functional teams including process engineering, safety, radiation protection, and licensing.
• Your understanding of regulatory compliance and remote operation considerations for radioactive waste treatment systems.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on detailed equipment design experience when the role is about defining requirements and working with vendors.
• Ignoring the nuclear context and not addressing regulatory compliance, contamination control, or remote operation.
• Using generic language about engineering without connecting to waste processing or fuel recycling specifically.