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What They Do

Nuclear Engineers Career Video

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 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics cluster Engineering and Technology pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Initiates corrective actions or orders plant shutdowns in emergency situations.
  • Monitors nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations.
  • Designs or develops nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.
  • 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.
  • Recommends preventive measures to be taken in the handling of nuclear technology, based on data obtained from operations monitoring or from evaluation of test results.
  • Writes operational instructions to be used in nuclear plant operation or nuclear fuel or waste handling and disposal.
  • Conducts environmental studies on topics such as nuclear power generation, nuclear waste disposal, or nuclear weapon deployment.
  • Directs environmental compliance activities associated with nuclear plant operations or maintenance.
  • Prepares environmental impact statements, reports, or presentations for regulatory or other agencies.

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 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

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Engineer
  • Nuclear Design Engineer
  • Nuclear Licensing Engineer
  • Nuclear Process Engineer
  • Nuclear Reactor Engineer
  • Radiological Engineer
  • System Engineer

Contact

  • Email Support
  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900
  • North Dakota Career Resource Network
    ndcrn@nd.gov | (701) 328-9733

Support