Materials Test Engineer

Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a Materials Test Engineer to join our team in Idaho Falls.

Position Description

Oklo is transforming the future of energy, and we are looking for a Materials Test Engineer to plan, develop, and execute materials-testing programs that support advanced nuclear technology development.

In this role, you will support materials and components throughout the test lifecycle—from defining test objectives and preparing specimens through laboratory execution, data analysis, failure investigation, and final reporting with travel up to 10%.

The ideal candidate combines strong materials-science fundamentals with practical test experience. You should be comfortable developing test methods, operating laboratory equipment, reviewing specimen preparation, assessing data quality, interpreting material behavior, and communicating technically defensible conclusions.

Specific responsibilities may include:

• Test Program Development: Translate engineering data requirements into executable tests. Prepare test plans, laboratory procedures, work instructions, equipment requirements, inspection points, and data-collection methods for materials-characterization activities.
• Test Execution: Lead or support test setup, readiness reviews, equipment checkout, specimen installation, startup, monitoring, shutdown, and post-test activities.
• Data Validation and Analysis: Review raw data for completeness and validity, identify anomalies, assess measurement uncertainty, calculate material properties, evaluate repeatability, and compare results with expected behavior or established requirements.
• Procurement Support: Assist with the selection and procurement of laboratory equipment, reference materials, specimens, consumables, fixtures, instrumentation, and testing services.
• Technical Reporting: Prepare test reports, materials evaluations, failure-analysis reports, engineering memos, data summaries, and recommendations. Clearly document methods, assumptions, deviations, results, uncertainties, and conclusions.
• Laboratory Development: Help establish and improve materials-laboratory capabilities, equipment-maintenance programs, calibration practices, specimen-storage methods, test templates, and safe operating procedures.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering, metallurgical engineering, mechanical engineering, welding engineering, nuclear engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience interpreting test data and preparing clear technical reports.
• Ability to lift, move, and position objects weighing up to 30 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to operate motor vehicles when required for assigned work.

Bonus Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in materials science, metallurgy, mechanical engineering, welding engineering, nuclear engineering, or a related field.
• Experience testing materials for nuclear, aerospace, defense, power-generation, chemical-processing, or other highly regulated applications.
• Experience with molten sodium or other molten alkali-metal systems.
• Familiarity with ASME NQA-1 requirements, particularly requirements related to test control, calibration, procurement, document control, material traceability, and configuration management.
• Experience designing or commissioning laboratory equipment, fixtures, environmental chambers, or custom test systems.

Competencies

• Materials Engineering Fundamentals: Strong understanding of physical metallurgy, mechanical behavior, microstructure, phase transformations, heat treatment, degradation mechanisms, and material-processing relationships.
• Analytical Ability: Able to interpret complex data, distinguish material behavior from test artifacts, identify trends and anomalies, and develop technically defensible conclusions.
• Communication: Clearly communicates test requirements, material conditions, technical risks, results, uncertainties, and recommendations to multidisciplinary teams.
• Adaptability: Works effectively in a research and development environment where test needs, equipment configurations, and technical priorities may evolve.

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 also a clear and upbeat communicator.

Creative: Being creative means that when things fall outside clear scopes or processes or problems arise without clear solutions, you are able to identify it as well as invent ways to solve a problem or fill a need without micromanagement. The successful person in this job will not only be creative, but also enjoy being creative and solving open-ended problems which may change day-by-day.

Detail-oriented: This focus is a big part of excellence, consistency, and quality. Excellent grammar and spelling matter for both good communication as well as the image of the company that we put forward.

About Oklo travel requirements:

Oklo requires remote employees to travel to headquarters (Santa Clara, CA) twice a quarter annually, based on business or team needs, including attendance at team meetings, off-sites, and other company events or gatherings. For the first two weeks of onboarding, employees are required to be in person at headquarters in Santa Clara, CA.

About Oklo compensation:

Salary: $90,000-$150,000

Salary may fall outside of the range provided and will be dependent on applicant experience.

Oklo offers flexible time off, equity, bonuses, competitive pay, 401(k), health insurance (with employer contribution), HSA, FSA, flexible work hours, wellness credits, and other benefits.

This position may involve access to information subject to U.S. export control laws. Only applicants who meet the definition of a U.S. person under applicable laws may be eligible.

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About Oklo Inc.: 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. Oklo is also developing advanced fuel recycling technologies in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. National Laboratories.

#CHOP: Oklo’s Values
Collaboration: We go further, together. We bring diverse perspectives, listen actively, and build trust through transparency and respect. We work across disciplines, sharing ownership to turn complex challenges into shared successes.
Humility: We are team players who act for the good of the company and for the world. We are focused on our mission, not personal recognition.
Ownership: We take pride in what we do and how we do it. We are proactive in finding solutions and see tasks through to completion. We are committed to delivering on our promises to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy.
Pathfinding: We chart new ground where no path exists by approaching challenges with curiosity, courage, and creativity while navigating ambiguity.