Job Description
Thanks for your interest in Oklo! We are searching for a Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property (IP) to join our Legal team.
Position Description
The Senior Counsel, IP will play a critical role helping to build out Oklo’s intellectual property function. This role sits at the intersection of cutting-edge nuclear technology and IP strategy.
This person’s primary responsibilities will be to lead our patenting efforts, both in terms of helping to develop our patenting strategy, leading patent mining sessions with inventors, helping to draft claims, and working with outside counsel to file and prosecute applications. They will also be responsible for working closely with our product and engineering teams to train them on patentability, and to have regular touchpoints to discuss potential inventions. Beyond patents, they will be responsible for IP-related negotiations, including licensing discussions (for example in discussions with National Laboratories) and supporting commercial discussions around IP development and ownership, along with other legal needs across the company as they arise. Finally, they will lead on IP-related diligence for potential investments and M&A, and patent portfolio acquisitions. This role, which reports directly to our General Counsel, is perfect for a mid-level IP attorney who is looking to roll up their sleeves and help build a world class IP function in a high growth and dynamic environment.
We are not looking for someone who is looking to operate in a silo: we are a lean team and hire lawyers who are great at what they do, but are excited to do work beyond their areas of expertise. Oklo is growing fast and every day presents new opportunities and challenging legal questions—we care more about you and your ability to learn and grow than your specific substantive experience or which boxes you check. If you are someone who thrives in exciting and fast-moving environments, and are eager to grow and push yourself, this role may be for you.
Specific responsibilities may include:
- Help build out our patent program, including helping to further develop our patenting strategy, conducting patent mining sessions with inventors, helping to draft and refine claims, and working with outside counsel to file and prosecute patent applications
- Managing our existing patent portfolio, including making decisions on renewals, international filings, annuities, and potentially patent sales
- Work closely with our product and engineering teams to train them on IP related topics and best practices
- Lead IP-related licensing and contracting discussions, including negotiations with National Laboratories, federal agencies, contractors, and commercial counterparties
- Support freedom-to-operate analyses, IP due diligence, and other IP-related matters that arise across the business, and help build scalable IP processes and policies as the company grows
Minimum Qualifications:
- A J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and admission to practice law in at least one U.S. state
- U.S. Patent bar admission
- 5-7 years of Intellectual Property experience at a large law firm or in-house legal department
- Experience drafting patent claims and managing patent prosecution
- Experience negotiating IP licensing and technology transfer agreements
- A technical background in nuclear, electrical, or chemical engineering (whether through a technical degree or substantial work experience with relevant technologies)
- Strong attention to detail and ability to manage and prioritize multiple matters simultaneously
Bonus Qualifications:
- Experience working in-house at a high-growth or startup company
- Experience managing IP or licensing discussions with the U.S. government, National Laboratories (e.g., INL, ANL, LANL), or other federal research institutions
- Experience building or managing a patent portfolio at a comparable company
- Experience with joint ventures and/or project finance
- Interest in experimenting with AI and other tools to support a lean IP function
- Nuclear and/or nuclear-adjacent technologies or renewables experience
Competencies
We are looking for a Senior Counsel that is:
- Deeply knowledgeable in patent prosecution and IP licensing, with a background in relevant technologies
- A strategic thinker that will help us step back and make sure we are focused on protecting the right inventions
- Effective at triaging and prioritizing across a wide range of tasks and project managing cross-functional tasks to completion
- An excellent communicator (including to engineers and other non-lawyers) focused on solutions and willing to explain the “why” behind legal advice
- Substantively agile: someone who enjoys leaning into new areas, and is comfortable learning new things (and learning quickly!)
- Detail-oriented while moving lightning fast
- Passionate about clean energy and making advanced fission a reality
- An optimist at heart
- Resourceful, inquisitive, and willing and able to learn quickly
- Comfortable in a fast-paced, highly iterative startup environment
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. For the first two weeks of onboarding, employees are required to be in person at headquarters in Santa Clara, CA.
About Oklo compensation:
Salary: $200,000-$225,000
Oklo offers flexible time off, bonuses, equity, competitive pay, 401k, health insurance, FSA, HSA, 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.
