Fire Protection Engineer

Thanks for your interest in Oklo!  We are searching for a Fire Protection Engineer to join our team. 

Position Description

Oklo is seeking a Fire Protection Engineer to lead the development and execution of our fire protection program. This engineer will be instrumental in supporting fire hazard analyses, defining mitigation strategies for sodium-related fire risks, and integrating fire-safety requirements into Oklo’s advanced reactor design. This position will work closely with engineering and construction partners on the design of fire-protection systems and the development of fire-protection program documentation.

The ideal candidate will have experience in fire protection engineering design and in implementing fire-protection programs in industrial or high-hazard environments. Nuclear industry experience is a strong plus, as is familiarity with NRC/ DOE fire protection regulations, directives, and industry standards. Candidates should be comfortable working across engineering disciplines to ensure fire-protection requirements are properly integrated into facility operations and system design.

Specific responsibilities may include:

• Define, build, and maintain a fire protection program, from technical basis documentation to inspection strategies and program implementation.
• Provide technical leadership for post-fire safe shutdown analysis and fire hazards analysis (FHA), coordinating internal resources and external consultants as needed to ensure timely and high-quality outputs.
• Integrate understanding of sodium fire hazards into design basis events and mitigation strategies. Influence system architecture, material choices, and suppression methods with sodium specific fire behavior in mind.
• Work across multiple engineering disciplines (e.g., mechanical, process, facility, plant operations, and I&C teams) to embed fire protection into physical layout, equipment design, operations planning, and accident scenarios ensuring practical, efficient, and regulatory sound solutions.
• Interpret and apply NFPA, DOE, NRC, and industry standards to meet fire safety and licensing requirements for non-light-water reactor systems.
• Prepare and deliver clear technical documentation, presentations, and reviews to internal design teams, senior leadership, and external/regulatory audiences.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, or a related field.
• Experience performing post-fire safe shutdown and fire hazards analyses in complex, safety-critical systems and developing or implementing fire protection programs within industrial, energy, or nuclear environments.
• Familiarity with sodium fire hazards and mitigation strategies.
• Working knowledge of relevant codes and standards: NFPA, applicable ASME, and nuclear-specific fire safety regulations.

Competencies

We are seeking a Fire Protection Engineer who embodies the following qualities:

• Experienced in fire protection engineering, with a deep understanding of how fire safety integrates into complex, safety-critical systems—particularly in advanced energy or industrial environments.
• Passionate about clean energy and excited to contribute meaningfully to making advanced fission a safe, scalable, and deployable reality.
• Eager to absorb new technical and regulatory information quickly and apply it in a fast-moving, iterative environment. Able to navigate novel challenges where precedents may not yet exist.
• Willing to challenge conventional fire protection paradigms and explore new methods for solving tough technical and regulatory problems—particularly where sodium hazards and advanced reactors are concerned.
• Comfortable operating in a dynamic, high-speed startup culture that values ownership, iteration, and creative problem-solving over bureaucracy.
• Brings a thoughtful balance of critical thinking and innovative design to fire protection strategy—able to look beyond established templates while maintaining rigor and safety.
• Focused on identifying and leading implementation of practical, effective fire protection solutions that integrate seamlessly with system design and operational realities.
• Writes clear, concise, and persuasive technical documentation.
• Confident presenting ideas, strategies, and results across multidisciplinary teams, leadership, and regulatory stakeholders.

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: $100,000-$160,000

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.

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.

If you receive suspicious outreach or have concerns about the authenticity of any communication claiming to be from Oklo, please contact us through the official channels listed on our website.