Sr. Manager, Direct Procurement (Hardware)
Oklo
Santa Clara, CA or Remote
Full-Time
$150,000
RemoteManager
Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a Sr. Manager, Direct Procurement (Hardware) to join our Procurement & Supply Chain organization.
The Sr. Manager, Direct Procurement (Hardware) is responsible for developing and executing sourcing, supplier management, and procurement strategies for hardware systems critical to Oklos products and programs. This role leads procurement activities for complex components, assemblies, equipment, manufacturing systems, and integrated hardware solutions supporting Aurora powerhouses, fuel recycling systems, fuel fabrication capabilities, and future Oklo technologies.
This role is responsible for leading a growing team of procurement professionals, developing strategic supplier relationships, negotiating complex commercial agreements, and ensuring suppliers can meet Oklos cost, quality, schedule, and capacity requirements. The Senior Manager partners closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Legal, and Program Management to support the successful development and deployment of Oklos products.
This role focuses on procurement of Oklo-designed hardware systems and equipment and is distinct from procurement activities related to EPC, construction, and professional services.
Lead, mentor, and develop a growing team of procurement professionals responsible for direct hardware sourcing and supplier management
Develop and execute procurement strategies for complex hardware systems, equipment, components, and assemblies
Support procurement activities across Aurora powerhouses, fuel recycling systems, fuel fabrication capabilities, and future Oklo technologies
Establish and manage competitive sourcing processes, including RFQs, RFPs, supplier evaluations, and supplier selection activities
Lead commercial negotiations for strategic supplier agreements and long-term supply partnerships
Develop and manage supplier relationships to support quality, delivery, capacity, and cost objectives
Partner closely with Engineering teams to align sourcing strategies with product requirements, technical specifications, and development schedules
Develop supplier qualification, segmentation, and performance management processes
Identify and mitigate supply chain risks associated with critical hardware, long-lead equipment, and sole-source suppliers
Support cost reduction initiatives, supplier cost analysis, and value engineering efforts
Monitor supplier performance and drive continuous improvement initiatives
Be involved in development of scalable procurement systems, processes, and tools that support organizational growth
Maintain awareness of manufacturing capabilities, supplier markets, and industry trends relevant to Oklos products and supply chain
Bachelors degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, Operations, or a related field
7+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, supply chain, manufacturing, or related functions
Experience sourcing complex hardware, equipment, manufacturing systems, or highly engineered products
Experience leading and developing procurement, sourcing, or supply chain teams
Experience negotiating complex commercial agreements and supplier contracts
Experience working cross-functionally with engineering and technical organizations
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and supplier operations
Demonstrated ability to build and manage strategic supplier relationships
Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, and procurement requirements
U.S. citizenship required
Experience in nuclear, aerospace, defense, energy, industrial equipment, semiconductor, or other highly regulated industries
Familiarity with ASME, NQA-1, or other regulated quality environments
Experience supporting new product introduction, first-of-a-kind systems, and production scale-up activities
Experience with supplier cost analysis, should-cost modeling, capacity planning, and long-lead equipment procurement
Experience building procurement processes within a high-growth hardware organization
We are looking for aSr. Manager, Direct Procurement (Hardware Systems)that is:
Experienced in sourcing and managing suppliers for complex hardware, equipment, and manufacturing systems
Skilled at developing procurement strategies that balance cost, quality, schedule, and risk
Effective at negotiating commercial agreements and building long-term supplier partnerships
Comfortable working closely with technical teams and understanding complex engineering requirements
Capable of leading and developing high-performing procurement professionals
Strong in supplier relationship management, supplier performance management, and strategic sourcing
An optimist at heart
Passionate about making advanced fission a reality
Willing and able to learn quickly
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 a modern active voice, so make your cover letter compelling and write it well!
Able to communicate technical content and results verbally
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 wont 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 isnt 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 arent about taking credit for ourselves, and we arent 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.
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.
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: Oklos 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.
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.