Thermal-Hydraulics Engineer (Systems)

Thanks for your interest in Oklo!  We are searching for a Systems Thermal-Hydraulics Engineer to join our team. 

Position Description

Thermal-Hydraulics Engineers at Oklo are responsible for analyzing fluid flow and heat transfer within a reactor and associated systems. This work includes engineering analyses of thermal-fluid dynamics, clear and thorough documentation of the analyses, as well as interfacing with design teams. A Systems Thermal-Hydraulics Engineer will contribute to the development, qualification, and validation of systems-level models of steady-state and transient thermal-hydraulic reactor behavior.

Specific responsibilities may include:

• Modeling thermal-hydraulic systems using codes such as SAS4A/SASSYS-1, SAM, or GOTHIC

• Developing systems-level analyses to analyze coupled neutronic and thermal-hydraulic behavior at steady-state and during transients

• Developing and utilizing analysis methods that efficiently and effectively build confidence in a design

• Automation, verification, and validation of modeling and simulation tools in support of analyses

• Collaborating cross-functionally to define design requirements, and providing technical feedback to quick-iterating design teams

• Document work using modern tools and techniques, and write well-written, thoughtful technical reports

Competencies

We are looking for a Thermal-Hydraulics Engineer that is:

• Passionate about clean energy

• Passionate about making advanced fission a reality

• Willing and able to learn quickly

• Skilled with tools such as SAS4A/SASSYS-1, SAM, RELAP, TRACE, GOTHIC, Flomaster, or similar

• Experienced with systems-level thermal-hydraulic (thermal fluids) analysis

• Eager to work on a dynamic team, receive constructive feedback, and grow with us

• Comfortable in a fast-paced, highly iterative environment

• Excited to think creatively, critically, and reflectively about the problems they are solving, while not leaning only on what has been done before 

• An excellent writer who can write in modern active voice, so make your cover letter compelling and write it well!

• Able to communicate technical content and results verbally 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors, Masters, or PhD in a technical field, such as nuclear, mechanical, or aerospace engineering

• Proficiency with thermal-hydraulics (thermal fluids) analysis methods

• Core competencies in heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics first principles 

• Experience with systems-level thermal fluids analysis codes, such as Flomaster, GOTHIC, or TRACE

• Experience with data processing (e.g., pre-processing, post-processing, scripting)

• Fluency with Python

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience with reactor transient analysis methods

• Experience with advanced reactor systems codes such as SAS4A/SASSYS-1, SAM, and RELAP

• Experience with qualification and validation of analyses

• Experience with nuclear engineering principles and multi-physics analysis methods for engineering applications, particularly as they relate to advanced reactors

• Competency with modern software engineering practices and programming languages

• Experience with CI/CD computing environments

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 competent but