Occupation · SOC 17-2161
Nuclear Engineers
Conduct research on nuclear engineering projects or apply principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.
Median wage
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Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
—
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
30 mapped
Core skills
ScienceCritical ThinkingMonitoringReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningWritingMathematics
Knowledge areas
Engineering and TechnologyPhysicsMathematicsEnglish LanguagePublic Safety and Security
Technology & tools
Analytical or scientific softwareObject or component oriented development softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareDesktop publishing softwareDevelopment environment software
Representative tasks
Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrMonitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices thaInitiate corrective actions or order plant shutdowns in emergency situations.Recommend preventive measures to be taken in handling nuclear technology based on data obtained from operations monitoring, systematic analysis, or evaluation of test results.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Nuclear reactor system components — identify and describe under direct supervision during introductory facility walkthroughs at a licensed nuclear power plant.Safety regulations and operational protocols — read and interpret with guidance from senior engineers in a nuclear facility control room environment.Basic radiation shielding principles — apply to entry-level design tasks using analytical software under the direction of a licensed nuclear engineer.Nuclear plant operational data — monitor and record using standard instrumentation panels under close supervision during routine shift activities.Technical drawings and engineering specifications for reactor cores — review and annotate with oversight from a senior design engineer in a CAD-supported environment.Introductory nuclear physics and chemistry concepts — use to support equipment inspection tasks under direct mentorship at a research or power reactor facility.Draft operational instructions for nuclear fuel handling procedures — prepare in structured templates following established formats under supervisor review.Mathematical and scientific software tools — operate to perform basic nuclear engineering calculations under the guidance of an experienced project engineer.Incident and near-miss reports — read and summarize key findings under supervision to support accident prevention data collection at a nuclear facility.Environmental compliance documentation requirements — identify and compile relevant data under direct instruction from a regulatory affairs team in a nuclear plant setting.
developing
Reactor core design parameters — evaluate and refine using CAD and analytical software with moderate oversight on assigned projects at a commercial nuclear power plant.Nuclear facility operations — monitor for deviations from safety standards and report anomalies to senior engineers during routine operational periods.Radiation shielding configurations and associated instrumentation — design using established engineering methods with limited supervision on discrete project scopes.Plant efficiency metrics and safety conformance data — analyze and compile into technical reports for review by senior engineering staff at a nuclear facility.Corrective action procedures — initiate and document for non-emergency operational discrepancies in accordance with plant procedures and regulatory requirements.Operational instructions for nuclear fuel and waste handling — draft, revise, and validate against current safety regulations with peer and supervisor review.Accident investigation findings — synthesize into structured engineering analyses used to recommend design improvements at an operating nuclear power plant.Environmental compliance activities associated with plant maintenance — coordinate across internal teams with guidance from a regulatory compliance manager.System performance evaluations — conduct using systems analysis methods to identify operational inefficiencies at an assigned nuclear facility or reprocessing site.Nuclear engineering calculations involving mathematics and physics — perform independently and verify against industry standards for assigned plant systems.
proficient
Nuclear reactor cores, power plant systems, and fuel reprocessing configurations — design and oversee autonomously across full project lifecycles at commercial or research nuclear facilities.Nuclear facility operations — evaluate comprehensively for compliance with NRC safety regulations and internal engineering standards, initiating corrective actions as warranted.Emergency shutdown orders and corrective responses — initiate and lead with full decisional authority in response to plant safety incidents or equipment failures.Accident data and root cause analyses — conduct independently to produce engineering design recommendations that prevent recurrence across nuclear plant systems.Operating and maintenance activities of nuclear power plants — direct cross-functional teams to achieve efficiency targets and sustained regulatory conformance.Construction and operation of nuclear reactors and associated fuel systems — oversee from design authorization through commissioning at a licensed nuclear facility.Operational procedures and technical specifications — author and approve for nuclear plant operation, fuel handling, and radioactive waste disposal in accordance with regulatory frameworks.Complex non-routine nuclear engineering problems — resolve using advanced analytical software, deductive reasoning, and multi-disciplinary technical judgment.Environmental compliance programs for nuclear plant operations — lead and assure through independent audits, corrective action plans, and regulatory agency coordination.Instrumentation, control mechanisms, and safety system designs — evaluate using systems analysis and operations monitoring to optimize performance across reactor facility environments.
advanced
Nuclear equipment design strategies and facility safety frameworks — establish and champion organization-wide, setting standards that govern reactor core and shielding development across multiple projects.Enterprise-level nuclear facility safety culture — cultivate by leading policy development, regulatory engagement, and workforce integrity programs at an organizational or fleet-wide scale.Nuclear emergency management protocols and shutdown authority frameworks — define and institutionalize, ensuring preparedness across all facility operations and regulatory jurisdictions.Accident prevention design philosophies — develop by synthesizing fleet-wide incident data and directing research initiatives that advance industry safety practices.Strategic direction for nuclear plant operations and maintenance programs — set and oversee, aligning efficiency, safety, and regulatory objectives across multiple plant sites.Nuclear reactor construction and fuel reprocessing program governance — lead at the executive level, coordinating regulatory approvals, contractor oversight, and capital investment decisions.Environmental compliance and regulatory strategy for nuclear operations — direct at the corporate or agency level, shaping policy interpretation and long-term stewardship commitments.Organizational knowledge development and technical training curricula — design and sponsor for nuclear engineering teams, advancing disciplinary capability across career levels.Cross-functional nuclear engineering teams and technical leads — mentor and develop, building organizational depth in reactor physics, systems analysis, and operations monitoring competencies.Nuclear industry standards and regulatory frameworks — influence through participation in professional bodies, interagency committees, and public safety rulemaking processes.
Also known as
55 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Research Engineer, Nuclear EquipmentNuclear EngineerNuclear Waste Management EngineerNuclear-Test-Reactor Program CoordinatorNuclear Reactor EngineerNuclear Fuels Reclamation EngineerWaste-Management Engineer, Radioactive MaterialsNuclear-Criticality Safety EngineerInstrumentation and Controls EngineerRegulatory Compliance CoordinatorNuclear MechanicNuclear-Plant Technical AdvisorSystem Safety EngineerReactor Projects EngineerRadiological Defense OfficerAtomic Process EngineerStructural EngineerRegulatory CoordinatorReactor EngineerWeapons DesignerNuclear Radiation EngineerNuclear Power Plant EngineerNuclear Criticality Safety EngineerNuclear Process EngineerNuclear Steam Supply System Engineer (NSSS Engineer)Weapons EngineerNuclear Safety EngineerNuclear Plant Technical AdvisorRadiation OfficerEngineering OfficerNuclear Equipment Research EngineerNuclear Design EngineerNuclear Equipment Design EngineerRadiation-Protection EngineerSystem EngineerNuclear ElectricianNuclear Licensing EngineerNuclear-Fuels Research EngineerRadiation EngineerNuclear Project Manager (Nuclear PM)