Deployment Project Manager

Description

Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a Deployment Project Manager to join our team.

Position Description

The Deployment Project Manager is a pivotal, execution-focused role responsible for advancing Oklo’s mission to deliver clean, affordable, and reliable energy. This individual owns the end-to-end delivery of one or more highly complex powerhouse projects, from design integration and site development through construction, startup, commissioning, and turnover to operations.

These multi-year, non-recurring projects include significant first-of-a-kind scope, substantial commercial value, evolving risks, and complex dependencies across internal teams, external partners, regulators, and other key stakeholders. The Deployment Project Manager serves as the central point of coordination, driving integrated planning, decision-making, risk management, and clear communication among project teams, executive leadership, and external parties. Success in this role requires a strategic and hands-on leader with a startup mindset - someone who can bring structure to ambiguity, operate effectively in a resource-constrained environment, and maintain momentum, accountability, and alignment throughout the full project lifecycle.

Requirements

• 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:

Conditions

Specific responsibilities may include:

Lead end-to-end execution of powerhouse facility deployments from design through startup and turnover to operations.

Support and maintain integrated project plans, schedules, milestones, and execution tools to monitor progress and drive delivery.

Identify, manage, and escalate risks, issues, dependencies, and changes to protect critical path, licensing, regulatory, and commercial objectives.

Lead project governance routines, including status reviews, stage-gate reviews, and executive reporting.

Manage project scope, risks, issues, and dependencies while proactively identifying and implementing mitigation strategies.

Communicate project status, recommendations, and strategic insights to stakeholders ranging from project teams to executive leadership.

Support permitting, licensing, facility modifications, equipment installations, and infrastructure upgrade projects.

Oversee contractor performance, procurement activities, material sourcing, and project deliverables.

Serve as the primary point of coordination among internal teams, customers, contractors, vendors, and other external stakeholders.

Contribute to technical strategy, execution planning, and continuous improvement initiatives that support organizational goals.

Ensure projects are executed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with applicable quality, regulatory, and operational requirements.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management, Nuclear Engineering, Business, or a related technical discipline.

Minimum of 5 years of project management experience leading complex technical, engineering, construction, manufacturing, or operational projects.

Experience managing project scope, schedules, budgets, risks, milestones, and cross-functional dependencies.

Demonstrated ability to lead teams, resolve blockers, and communicate effectively with technical and business stakeholders.

Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Ability to operate with agility and sound judgment in a fast-moving, evolving organization.

Proficiency with project planning, scheduling, and collaboration tools.

Bonus Qualifications:

Nuclear experience in design, construction, commissioning, or operations

PMP certification is strongly preferred.

Experience managing contractor-driven projects, capital projects, facility upgrades, or equipment installation efforts.

Familiarity with quality assurance, configuration management, permitting, or regulatory compliance processes.

Competencies

We are looking for a Deployment Project Manager that is:

Passionate about advancing the deployment of next-generation powerhouse facilities

Creative when pursuing tasks in resource constrained environments

You’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves and deliver

You see how the pieces connect and can manage interfaces

You turn ambiguity into momentum

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

An active and effective communicator of priorities

Able to recognize, accept, and manage risk

Passionate about Oklo's mission to design and deploy advanced fission power plants to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy

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

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.

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.

Candidates should be aware that employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a drug screening, and employees may be subject to drug testing at any time in accordance with company policy and applicable laws.

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.com 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.