Senior Mechanical Designer - Fuel Recycling
$100,000–$150,000 year
On-siteSanta Clara, Villa Clara Province, Cuba
Job Summary
Develop detailed 3D CAD models and manufacturing drawings using SolidWorks, translating engineering concepts into manufacturable designs for custom equipment operating in high-temperature, chemically aggressive, and high-radiation environments. Produce fabrication, assembly, weldment, machining, and installation drawings while applying Design for Manufacturability and Design for Assembly principles. Collaborate with engineers, machinists, and vendors to optimize designs, support prototype fabrication, and maintain engineering documentation including bills of materials and controlled CAD files. Participate in design reviews and assist with iterative design improvements based on testing feedback. This role supports Oklo's first-of-a-kind nuclear fuel recycling technology, developing hardware ranging from benchtop prototypes to production-scale process systems.
Required Qualifications
- Associate's degree, technical certification, or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Design, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Drafting, or a related technical field (or equivalent professional experience)
- 5+ years of experience developing detailed mechanical designs and fabrication drawings
- Advanced proficiency with SolidWorks, including complex assemblies, weldments, sheet metal, and drawing creation
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes including machining, welding, sheet metal fabrication, and mechanical assembly
- Experience creating fabrication drawings with appropriate GD&T, tolerancing, bills of materials, and manufacturing notes
- Demonstrated experience applying Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles
- Ability to interpret engineering requirements and produce accurate, complete mechanical documentation
- Must be able to travel to headquarters (Santa Clara, CA) twice a quarter annually
- Must be in person at headquarters in Santa Clara, CA for the first two weeks of onboarding
- Must be a U.S. person under applicable laws
Desired Qualifications
- Experience designing equipment for radiological or nuclear facilities
- Experience designing gloveboxes, hot cells, shielded equipment, or remote handling systems
- Experience designing high-temperature process equipment, including furnaces or thermal processing systems operating above 500 °C
- Experience with molten salt systems, vacuum systems, or corrosive chemical processing equipment
- Experience producing large weldments, pressure-containing assemblies, or custom process vessels
- Familiarity with ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards and industrial drafting best practices
- Experience using PDM/PLM systems for CAD and document management
- Experience supporting rapid prototyping and iterative hardware development
- Experience collaborating directly with machine shops, fabrication vendors, and equipment installers
- Experience in commercial or governmental nuclear projects
- Passionate about clean energy and advancing nuclear technology
- Passionate about creating clean, organized, and accurate fabrication drawings
- Experienced designing components that are straightforward to machine, fabricate, weld, and assemble
- Comfortable working closely with fabrication shops and incorporating practical manufacturing feedback into designs
- Curious about how things are built and motivated to continuously improve designs through rapid iteration
- Comfortable working on first-of-a-kind equipment where requirements evolve as prototypes are developed
- Organized and capable of managing multiple concurrent design efforts
- An optimist at heart, comfortable in a fast-paced, highly iterative startup environment
- An excellent communicator who enjoys collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams
- Creative and able to identify problems without clear solutions and invent ways to solve them
- Detail-oriented with excellent grammar and spelling
Hiring someone like this?
Get your role in front of qualified candidates on Sorce.