Senior Mechanical Engineer – High-Temp Piping & Vessels

Oklo; Santa Clara (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible time off

Equity

Bonuses

Health insurance with employer contrib

401(k)

HSA

FSA

Flexible work hours

Wellness credits

Job summary

Oklo is seeking a Sr. Mechanical Engineer to lead high‑temperature piping and pressure vessel design for the OFRF at the Oak Ridge Fuel Recycling Facility. You will own the basis, analyses, codes, and interfaces from concept through fabrication, testing, and operation.

The role requires strong analytical skills, hands‑on design capability, and clear communication to balance safety, performance, and cost in a fast‑moving environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 10+ years in mechanical engineering with process piping, pressure vessels, or high‑temperature systems.
• Working knowledge of ASME B31.3 and ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII.
• Understanding of thermal expansion, fatigue, creep, buckling, nozzle loads, and high‑temperature behavior.
• Experience developing and reviewing calculations, specs, data sheets, drawings, fabrication packages.
• Experience with materials selection, welding, nondestructive examination, pressure testing, and inspection of piping/vessels.
• Ability to evaluate analytical results, code compliance, and design margins.
• Experience coordinating interfaces across process, structural, equipment, instrumentation, operations, and supplier teams.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical expert for high‑temperature piping, pressure vessels, and boundaries within OFRF.
• Translate process conditions to design basis, codes, loads, and acceptance criteria.
• Perform piping stress and flexibility analyses for various loads and nozzle reactions.
• Perform pressure vessel analyses for internal/external pressure, thermal gradients, and creep/fatigue.
• Conduct steady‑state and transient thermal analyses addressing heat loss, insulation, and warm‑up/cooldown.
• Select and qualify materials for molten‑salt, inert, or corrosive service.
• Define piping layout, supports, isolation, and inspection access for safe operation.
• Coordinate interfaces with process equipment, hot‑cell penetrations, structures, and controls.

Skills

Thermal analysis

Piping stress analysis

Pressure vessel analysis

Materials selection

Engineering judgment

Written & verbal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering (bonus)

Tools

CAESAR II

AutoPIPE

ANSYS

Abaqus

COMPASS

PV Elite

Mathcad

Job description

Oklo is seeking a Sr. Mechanical Engineer to lead high‑temperature piping and pressure vessel design for the OFRF at the Oak Ridge Fuel Recycling Facility. You will own the basis, analyses, codes, and interfaces from concept through fabrication, testing, and operation.

The role requires strong analytical skills, hands‑on design capability, and clear communication to balance safety, performance, and cost in a fast‑moving environment.