Senior Manager Test Engineering

Position Description

Oklo is looking for an experienced and driven leader to manage and grow our test engineering function. This role will oversee the planning, execution, and continuous improvement of test programs across Oklo’s engineering portfolio, including prototypic thermal-hydraulic facilities, sodium test systems, and component qualification testing. You will work closely with design engineering, safety analysis, and regulatory teams to ensure test data supports licensing and deployment of Oklo’s advanced reactors.

As Sr. Manager, you will both help set the vision and dive into the details: building teams, developing infrastructure, and rolling up your sleeves to solve problems. You will be instrumental in ensuring Oklo’s test facilities deliver high-quality, traceable data that enables our technology to move quickly and confidently through design, licensing, and deployment.

Specific responsibilities may include:

• Own the roadmap for Oklo’s hardware test infrastructure.

• Develop and maintain a structured approach for test planning, execution, and reporting that meets technical, regulatory, and safety requirements.

• Manage multidisciplinary teams of engineers and technicians to execute tests on time and within budget.

• Collaborate with design engineers to define test objectives, test acceptance criteria, and instrumentation strategies.

• Lead procurement and integration of major test equipment and facilities.

• Ensure data quality, traceability, and configuration control for all test results, with links to requirements and V&V artifacts.

• Build strong interfaces with safety, licensing, and regulatory teams to ensure test programs provide defensible results.

• Mentor and grow a high-performing test engineering team, fostering a culture of rigor, creativity, and accountability.

Competencies

• Strategic and hands-on: able to set long-term direction while engaging in daily problem-solving.

• Strong technical background in thermal-hydraulic testing, component qualification, or large-scale experimental facilities.

• Proven ability to manage teams, schedules, budgets, and complex projects.

• Excellent communicator—able to bridge technical detail and high-level objectives.

• Demonstrated ability to implement quality and safety processes in test environments.

• Thrives in fast-moving environments and is motivated by building first-of-a-kind systems.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, nuclear, electrical, or related engineering discipline.

• At least 10 years of experience in test engineering, with increasing responsibility in leadership or management.

• Experience in developing and executing test programs in highly regulated industries (nuclear, aerospace, defense, or similar).

• Familiarity with instrumentation, data acquisition systems, and facility operations.

• Demonstrated track record of delivering complex test programs.

Bonus Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in a relevant engineering field.

• Experience with sodium or other alkali metal test systems.

• Prior experience supporting regulatory submittals with test data.

• Familiarity with Siemens Teamcenter or other PLM/requirements traceability tools.

• Strong network within the test engineering and facility operations community.

Who you are:

A startup person: You aren't driven by titles or hierarchy, and prefer efficiency to excess process. You don't need or expect to have a lot of guidance but you enjoy working in a fast-paced team. If you prefer the culture and feel of a large organization, that is great, but you likely won’t enjoy working with us! There is plenty of important work and plenty of good opportunities with organizations like that.

Motivated: You are self-motivated. You bring an enthusiasm to the team, and imbue a sense of passion that goes beyond clocking in and clocking out. This isn’t about a fake or arbitrary “pieces of flair” mentality or lack of work-life balance! It is about being a part of the vision and feeling a part of reaching team goals.

A team-player: Oklo genuinely is a team. We aren’t about taking credit for ourselves, and we aren’t about pushing blame to others. We do incredible things because we work as a team.

An excellent communicator: We need a person who is not only technically com