Lead Machinist

Thanks for your interest in Oklo!  We are searching for a Lead Machinist to join our team. 

Position Description

The Lead Machinist is responsible for leading and guiding a team of machinists; reviewing technical drawings with the engineering team; addressing machining concerns; and ensuring that parts meet specified design requirements. This role collaborates with engineering, production, fabrication, machining, and assembly teams to source parts, materials, and equipment necessary for product development.

The Lead Machinist oversees the plant’s machining capabilities and works closely with the Fabrication Lead to ensure that parts are delivered on time and meet all QA standards. The role will also assist in outsourcing machining work and coordinating external machining resources when needed.

Specific responsibilities may include:

• Collaborate with the engineering team to interpret design specifications and ensure machining processes align with engineering requirements.

• Supervise and lead a team of machinists; provide guidance, support, and direction to ensure efficient and effective performance.

• Develop and manage work schedules for the machining team; assign tasks based on priorities and deadlines.

• Implement and maintain quality control procedures to ensure machined products meet established standards and specifications.

• Work with production planning teams to schedule machining activities in alignment with overall production schedules and customer requirements.

• Coordinate and manage workflow within the machining department to ensure smooth, continuous production.

• Oversee the maintenance and operation of machining equipment; schedule regular maintenance and address equipment issues promptly to minimize downtime.

• Manage and control inventory of raw materials required for machining operations; coordinate with procurement to ensure timely availability.

• Enforce safety protocols and ensure compliance with safety regulations; conduct regular safety training for the team.

• Identify opportunities for process improvement within the machining department; implement measures to enhance efficiency and reduce waste.

• Train team members in machining techniques, equipment operation, and safety procedures; support ongoing skill development.

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date records of machining processes, quality control checks, and production outputs.

• Facilitate communication within the machining team and between departments; relay information relevant to production goals and objectives.

• Troubleshoot issues that arise during machining and collaborate with the team to develop effective solutions.

• Optimize machining-related costs by managing resources efficiently and identifying cost-saving opportunities.

• Conduct performance evaluations; provide constructive feedback and identify development opportunities for team members.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in a machining-based leadership role.

• 10+ years of experience operating CNC equipment, including lathes, mills, VTLs, or horizontal boring mills.

• Knowledge of Fanuc controls and the ability to read and edit G-code.

• Technical or vocational education in Precision Machining or Machine Shop Technology.

• Relevant certificates or licenses.

• Experience working with design specifications, machine parameters, and material characteristics.

• In-process and post-process inspection experience.

Bonus Qualifications:

• Six Sigma training

• Rigging and material handling experience

• Quality system exposure (ISO 9001 / AS9100)

Competencies

We are looking for a Lead Machinist who has:

• A demonstrated track record of building out an organization’s machining capabilities.

• The ability to build and inspire a technical team over time.

• A willingness to develop plans from a first-principles approach.

• Passion for clean energy and a strong sense of optimism.

• Motivation to help make advanced fission a reality.

• The ability to learn quickly and think creatively.

• Comfort operating in a fast-paced, highly iterative startup environment.

• A mindset that embraces creative, critical, and reflective problem-solving rather than relying solely on precedent.

• A propensity for proposing novel and well-reasoned technical solutions.

• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to communicate in a modern, active voice.

• Strong verbal communication skills for conveying technical content and results.

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: $110,000–$150,000
Salary may fall outside this range depending on experience.

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

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.