Senior Software Engineer Santa Clara, CA or Remote

Oklo; Santa Clara (CA); Remote; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible time off

Equity

Competitive pay

Health insurance

Flexible work hours

Job summary

A pioneering energy startup in Santa Clara seeks a Senior Software Engineer to lead reactor design and analysis efforts. This role focuses on developing and managing systems for reactor data handling, implementing CI/CD pipelines, and mentoring engineering staff. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in computer science, 8+ years of software engineering experience, and fluency in Python. Join to contribute to cutting-edge nuclear technology while enjoying competitive benefits and flexible working arrangements.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• Demonstrated ability to own projects end-to-end.
• Experience designing and implementing CI/CD pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of systems for storing reactor data.
• Architect and own CI/CD pipelines for multiphysics analyses.
• Develop tools for reactor engineers to visualize designs.

Skills

Fluency in Python

Strong proficiency with Git

Strong communication skills

Curiosity and passion for nuclear power

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science or computer engineering

Tools

GitLab CI/CD

Job description

Overview

Join us in pioneering the next generation of nuclear reactors! You'll leverage your software skills alongside nuclear engineers to model, simulate, design, and deploy advanced fission power technology. You will work at the forefront of the nuclear industry, developing novel techniques to reach new levels of safety, efficiency, and resiliency. Come be a part of powering the future with advanced fission power plants to provide clean, reliable, affordable energy.

Position Description

Oklo is a fast-moving startup where you will be responsible for tackling a wide range of challenges in reactor design and analysis. A nuclear background is not required, but a healthy curiosity and eagerness to learn are essential in this role.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of systems for storing and retrieving reactor data and physics results at scale.
• Architect and own CI/CD pipelines for multiphysics analyses, ensuring reliability, observability, and reproducibility of complex simulations.
• Develop tools and platforms that enable reactor engineers to visualize, compare, and evaluate reactor designs.
• Develop physics kernels to solve unanswered problems, or to improve performance of existing models.
• Develop reactor optimization schemes and statistical experiments to inform design changes.
• Mentor other engineers, set technical direction, and contribute to building a strong engineering culture.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or equivalent work experience.
• 8+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• Fluency in Python.
• Strong proficiency with Git.
• Experience designing, implementing, and maintaining CI/CD pipelines.
• Demonstrated ability to own projects end-to-end: requirements gathering, architecture, implementation, testing, deployment, and iteration.
• Strong communication skills and experience collaborating with cross‑functional partners (e.g., scientists, analysts, or domain experts).
• Curiosity and passion for nuclear power, closing the nuclear fuel cycle, and sustainable energy generation.

Bonus Qualifications

• Proficiency in Rust.
• Experience growing and mentoring small software teams or organizations.
• Experience designing and operating large data collection or analysis pipelines.
• Experience with optimization, statistics, and design of experiments.
• Knowledge of GitLab CI/CD.
• Prior work developing and implementing software quality assurance programs and testing strategies, especially in quality‑oriented or safety‑focused industries.
• Experience working in regulated environments (e.g., energy, aerospace, medical, automotive).

Who you are

• Startup person: You aren't driven by titles or hierarchy and prefer efficiency to excess process.
• Motivated: Self‑motivated, enthusiastic, passion beyond routine work.
• A team‑player: Collaborate, share credit, avoid blame.
• An excellent communicator: Clear, upbeat communication.

Compensation & Benefits

Oklo offers flexible time off, equity, competitive pay, 401(k), health insurance, FSA, flexible work hours, and other benefits.

Remote & Travel

Remote employees may be required to travel to headquarters (Santa Clara, CA) twice a quarter.

Oklo Inc. – Our Mission

Oklo Inc. is developing fast fission power plants to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy at scale; establishing a domestic supply chain for critical radioisotopes; and advancing nuclear fuel recycling to convert nuclear waste into clean energy. Oklo was the first to receive a site use permit from the U.S. Department of Energy for a commercial advanced fission plant, was awarded fuel material from Idaho National Laboratory, and submitted the first custom combined license application for an advanced reactor to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Values

• Collaboration: We go further, together.
• Humility: We are team players who act for the good of the company and for the world.
• Ownership: We take pride in what we do and see tasks through to completion.
• Pathfinding: We chart new ground where no path exists.

Recruitment Fraud Disclaimer

Oklo is aware of recent recruitment fraud attempts targeting job seekers. Please be cautious of anyone claiming to represent Oklo who does not contact you from an official Oklo email address.

All legitimate communications from our recruiting team—including application updates, interview requests, and job offers—will come exclusively from an Oklo email. Oklo will never ask for sensitive personal information, payments, or account credentials during the hiring process.