Director of Business Development, Defense & National Security Oklo is seeking a Director of Business Development, Defense & National Security to lead our engagement with the US Department of Defense, national security agencies, and federal energy stakeholders.
Oklo designs, builds, and operates advanced fission power plants engineered for resilient, secure, and independent power generation. With a growing demand across the US military and national security enterprise for energy resilience, assured power, and reduced reliance on vulnerable grid infrastructure, Oklo's "power as a service" model is well suited to support mission critical installations, military bases, and strategic federal facilities.
The Director is charged with leading Oklo's business development efforts across defense, national security, and federal agencies. Responsibilities include managing and growing existing relationships, cultivating new opportunities, and leading commercial and strategic engagements, partnership structures, and coordination with government stakeholders. The focus is on prioritizing near term opportunities while building a long term pipeline aligned with federal procurement pathways.
It goes beyond high level strategy and requires hands on engagement with customers, internal teams, and external partners. Responsibilities include developing proposals, negotiating commercial agreements, relationship management, team leadership, and close collaboration with Oklo's executive leadership.
At minimum, candidates should have a working understanding of government contracting, project development, customer agreements, and complex negotiations. Familiarity with federal acquisition processes, including DoD, DoE, and other agency engagement models, is required.
Ideally, this person has led business development or capture efforts in defense, national security, or other federal markets, particularly within hard tech, energy, infrastructure, aerospace, or advanced manufacturing environments. Experience navigating government stakeholders, mission driven customers, and multi year programs is important. Candidates with prior military service, DoD civilian experience, or direct exposure to Military Service level or DoD headquarters level energy programs are strongly encouraged to apply.
Leading Oklo's defense, national security, and federal agency business development strategy, building on existing relationships and identifying new opportunities.
Managing key customer and partner relationships across the DoD, national security organizations, DOE, and other relevant federal agencies.
Developing and negotiating commercial structures, term sheets, and partnership agreements in coordination with legal, finance, and executive leadership.
Preparing briefings, presentations, and written materials for meetings with government, military, and executive stakeholders.
Coordinating with communications, policy, and media teams on messaging related to defense, national security, and government applications.
Partnering with internal technical, regulatory, and project development teams to support customer specific solutions.
Recruiting, building, and leading a business development team focused on federal and national security markets.
Traveling to meetings at Oklo headquarters, Washington DC, national laboratories, military installations, and customer sites as needed. Expected travel is approximately two to three times per month, with flexibility depending on program needs.
Passionate about delivering clean, resilient energy solutions supporting US national security and mission critical operations
Motivated to help deploy advanced fission in service of U.S. strategic and defense objectives
A strong understanding of military installation energy resilience requirements, including energy assurance, microgrid integration, secure baseload needs, and mission critical load planning.
Familiarity with the structure, mission, and internal mechanics of DoD headquarters energy programs and policy offices, including offices within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military Departments, the Services' Installation and Sustainment organizations, and associated energy, resilience, and infrastructure portfolios.
Working knowledge of the federal acquisition system, including DoD, DoE, DHS and other agency specific procurement and partnership mechanisms.
Able to rapidly learn and operate effectively across technical, commercial, and policy domains
Detail oriented, organized, and disciplined in managing complex opportunities
Skilled at building trust quickly across diverse stakeholder groups
Willing and able to travel as required
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.
This focus is a big part of excellence, consistency, and quality. 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: $180,000-$220,000 and performance incentives. Oklo offers flexible time off, equity, competitive pay, 401k, health insurance, FSA, flexible work hours, and other benefits.
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.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.Nuclear Regulatory Commission. We are focused on our mission, not personal recognition.
We are committed to delivering on our promises to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy.