Nature of the Work

Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes, instruments, and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation. They design, develop, monitor, and operate nuclear plants to generate power. They may work on the nuclear fuel cycle—the production, handling, and use of nuclear fuel and the safe disposal of waste produced by the generation of nuclear energy—or on the development of fusion energy. Some specialize in the development of nuclear power sources for naval vessels or spacecraft; others find industrial and medical uses for radioactive materials, as in equipment used to diagnose and treat medical problems.

Watch this video to see how nuclear engineers and scientists are working to fight hunger, malaria, global warming, and cancer.

Work Environment

Nuclear engineers work in offices, research laboratories, and power plant control centers, either on land or aboard nuclear-powered ships and submarines.

Working conditions for nuclear engineers vary according to the job. Nuclear engineers involved in design usually work in well-lit offices and often put in a 40-hour work week. They might have to work overtime to meet deadlines or to handle unforeseen problems. Some engineers need to travel from assignment to assignment. Nuclear engineers employed by nuclear power plants or factories that make or use nuclear equipment sometimes have to work weekends and evening shifts.

Nuclear engineers need to follow special safety measures that keep worksites and workers safe from radiation poisoning. Workers are protected by heavy barriers that seal off the radiation produced by nuclear devices and reactors. Because of these shields and other precautions, the nuclear energy field has an excellent safety record.

Training, Other Qualifications

You generally need at least a bachelor's degree to become a nuclear engineer.

Education and Training

You can earn your bachelor's degree in a science, such as physics, or in engineering. There are some bachelor-level programs in nuclear engineering, but many study for a bachelor's degree in mechanical or chemical engineering instead. A master's degree or a doctoral degree is required for many jobs in nuclear engineering. These advanced degrees can be in nuclear engineering or in another branch of engineering. Because nuclear engineering incorporates knowledge from different areas of science and engineering, the field is relatively easy to enter from other fields.

On-the-job training is usually an important part of the education of a nuclear engineer. Nuclear facilities work closely with the federal government to provide opportunities for on-the-job training and college programs for people working in this field. Because nuclear engineering is a rapidly changing field, engineers need to study and update their skills throughout their careers.

All states require licensing for engineers who offer their services to the public or whose work may affect life, health, or property. In general, you need a bachelor's degree from an approved college and four years of experience to become licensed. You must also pass a state licensing examination. Some nuclear engineers work on projects that are restricted because they are vital to national security. These engineers must obtain security clearance.

Other Qualifications

Engineers should be creative, inquisitive, analytical, and detail oriented. They should be able to work as part of a team and to communicate well, both orally and in writing. Communication abilities are becoming increasingly important as engineers frequently interact with specialists in a wide range of fields outside engineering.

On the Job

• Examine accidents to obtain data that can be used to design preventive measures.
• Monitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or that could jeopardize the safety of operations.
• Keep abreast of developments and changes in the nuclear field by reading technical journals and by independent study and research.
• Perform experiments that will provide information about acceptable methods of nuclear material usage, nuclear fuel reclamation, and waste disposal.
• Design and oversee construction and operation of nuclear reactors and power plants and nuclear fuels reprocessing and reclamation systems.
• Design and develop nuclear equipment such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, and associated instrumentation and control mechanisms.
• Initiate corrective actions or order plant shutdowns in emergency situations.
• Recommend preventive measures to be taken in the handling of nuclear technology, based on data obtained from operations monitoring or from evaluation of test results.
• Write operational instructions to be used in nuclear plant operation and nuclear fuel and waste handling and disposal.
• Conduct tests of nuclear fuel behavior and cycles and performance of nuclear machinery and equipment, to optimize performance of existing plants.
• Direct operating and maintenance activities of operational nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.
• Synthesize analyses of test results, and use the results to prepare technical reports of findings and recommendations.
• Prepare construction project proposals that include cost estimates, and discuss proposals with interested parties such as vendors, contractors, and nuclear facility review boards.
• Analyze available data and consult with other scientists to determine parameters of experimentation and suitability of analytical models.
• Design and direct nuclear research projects to discover facts, to test or modify theoretical models, or to develop new theoretical models or new uses for current models.

Source: BLS

Companies That Hire Nuclear Engineers

• Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Idaho National Laboratory
• Siemens
• Northrop Grumman

Ask Questions

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Additional Information

• ABET, Inc.: www.abet.org
• American Nuclear Society: www.ans.org
• American Society for Engineering Education: www.asee.org
• JETS: www.jets.org

Sources

• O*Net Online. (2009). National Center for O*Net Development. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://online.onetcenter.org/
• Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. (2008). Nuclear Engineer. Retrieved September 3, 2009, from http://www.michigan.gov/careers/0,1607,7-170-46398-64753--,00.html
• aboutnuclear.org and nuclear.gov. (2008, May 1). Nuclear Engineering A Fulfilling Career. Retrieved September 3, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h8KQq6eWGU&NR=1
• PayScale, Inc. (2009). Nuclear Engineer Salary. Retrieved September 3, 2009, from http://blogs.payscale.com/salarystories/2007/11/nuclear-enginee.html
• Idaho National Laboratory. (2008, October 3). INL '@work' Nuclear Engineer. Retrieved September 3, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hecFcVS6_Xw
• Net Industries. (2009). Nuclear Engineer Job Description, Career as a Nuclear Engineer, Salary, Employment - Definition and Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job. Retrieved September 3, 2009, from http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/411/Nuclear-Engineer.html

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