About This Career

Conducts research on nuclear engineering projects or applies principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.

This career is part of the Energy cluster Engineering pathway.

A person in this career:

• Designs or develops nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.
• Monitors nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations.
• Initiates corrective actions or orders plant shutdowns in emergency situations.
• Examines accidents to obtain data for use in design of preventive measures.
• Directs operating or maintenance activities of nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.
• Designs or oversees construction or operation of nuclear reactors, power plants, or nuclear fuels reprocessing and reclamation systems.
• Directs environmental compliance activities associated with nuclear plant operations or maintenance.
• Prepares environmental impact statements, reports, or presentations for regulatory or other agencies.
• Prepares technical reports of findings or recommendations, based on synthesized analyses of test results.
• Writes operational instructions to be used in nuclear plant operation or nuclear fuel or waste handling and disposal.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

• Regular working hours and limited travel