Reactor Operator

Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for Reactor Operators to join our team. 

This position will be on-site in the Austin, Texas area.

Position Description

Atomic Alchemy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oklo, is building scalable U.S. radioisotope production capabilities in facilities dedicated to producing essential isotopes for healthcare, industry, research, and defense. In May 2025, executive orders were issued directing the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to take a leading role in unleashing the American nuclear renaissance. Through these directives, DOE established the Reactor Pilot Program (RPP) to demonstrate at least three advanced reactors reaching criticality by July 4, 2026, or as soon as possible under the program. In August 2025, DOE selected Atomic Alchemy and awarded an RPP project for a pilot radioisotope production facility.

We are looking for highly qualified Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) and Reactor Operator (RO) candidates. Operators (SRO/RO) are responsible for the safe and precise manipulation of facility controls to support commissioning, initial startup, testing, and ongoing operational activities. This role requires hands-on operation and maintenance of reactor and facility systems, adherence to detailed procedures, and continuous monitoring of reactor parameters to ensure safe and compliant performance. Operators will play a critical role in bringing the facility from pre-operational testing through initial criticality and into operations.

Successful candidates will be detail-oriented, disciplined, and capable of executing operational tasks in a high-reliability environment. The role requires strong technical aptitude, sound judgment, and the ability to maintain focus during dynamic facility conditions. This is an onsite, hands-on position that will work closely with other operational and engineering personnel to ensure the facility operates safely and efficiently.

Specific responsibilities may include:

• Operate, or direct the operation of, reactor and facility systems in accordance with approved procedures, technical specifications, and safety standards.
• Perform hands-on manipulation of facility controls, including reactor control actions, equipment operation, and system adjustments.
• Monitor reactor parameters, facility instrumentation, and control panels to ensure safe, stable, and compliant operation during commissioning, startup, testing, and steady-state operations.
• Conduct routine equipment checks, operational tests, surveillances, and field walkdowns to verify system readiness and identify abnormal conditions.
• Maintain accurate logs, operational records, and shift documentation in accordance with regulatory and organizational requirements.
• Respond to alarms, transient conditions, and abnormal events by executing required immediate actions and applicable emergency or abnormal operating procedures.
• Perform hands-on maintenance activities, including basic mechanical or electrical tasks within qualification boundaries, and support maintenance teams during troubleshooting and repairs.
• Support commissioning and initial startup testing by performing operational evolutions, assisting with procedure validation, and verifying system performance.
• Ensure strict adherence to conduct-of-operations principles, radiation protection practices, contamination control measures, and industrial safety requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering, maintenance, and operations personnel to resolve equipment issues and support corrective actions.
• Participate in training, drills, and qualification programs to maintain operational proficiency and support continuous improvement within the operations team.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must have a High School Diploma or successfully passed the General Education Development (GED) test. 
• For SROs  candidates: 3 years of nuclear operations experience is required. On a case-by-case basis, formal education (i.e., baccalaureate degree or higher) may be used to substitute part of the experience requirements. Experience acquired at nuclear power, test and research reactors count towards nuclear experience. 

Bonus Qualifications:

• Strong preference for candidates to hold, or have previously held, an SRO/RO NRC License or DOE certification for similar reactor facility
• Individuals qualified U.S. Navy Nuclear Engineering Officer of the Watch (EOOW)/Propulsion Plant Watch Officer (PPWO) will also be considered

Competencies

We are looking for a Reactor Operator that is:

• Passionate about clean energy
• Passionate about making advanced fission a reality
• Willing and able to learn quickly
• Eager to work on a dynamic team, receive constructive feedback, and grow with us
• Willing to think differently and do things in new ways 
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, highly iterative startup environment
• Excited to think creatively, critically, and reflectively about the problems they are solving, while not leaning only on what has been done before 
• Willing to propose novel and creative solutions to technical problems
• 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 

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.

About Oklo compensation:

Salary: $130,000-$180,000

Oklo offers flexible time off, equity, competitive pay, 401k, health insurance, FSA, flexible work hours, 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.

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.