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Nuclear Specialist | Engineering & Regulatory Compliance

💰 $110,000 - $185,000

EngineeringEnergyNuclearSafety & Compliance

🎯 Role Definition

As a Nuclear Specialist, you will be a key technical authority responsible for a wide range of engineering analyses, safety assessments, and operational support activities. You will serve as a subject matter expert, providing critical insights and solutions for reactor systems, plant modifications, and licensing activities. This position requires a proactive problem-solver who can navigate complex regulatory landscapes and collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams to maintain and enhance plant safety and performance. You are the technical backbone ensuring our commitment to safe, clean, and reliable energy generation.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior/Associate Nuclear Engineer
  • Systems Engineer or Component Engineer from a related high-reliability industry
  • Recent graduate with an advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Nuclear Engineering

Advancement To:

  • Senior or Principal Nuclear Specialist/Engineer
  • Engineering Supervisor or Manager
  • Operations Shift Manager or Outage Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Regulatory Affairs or Licensing Specialist
  • Quality Assurance Engineer
  • Technical Project Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Develop and execute complex safety analyses, including transient analysis, accident analysis, and Probabilistic Risk Assessments (PRA), to support plant operations and licensing amendments.
  • Spearhead the engineering and design process for plant modifications, ensuring all changes comply with design basis, technical specifications, and regulatory requirements like 10 CFR 50.59.
  • Serve as the technical conscience for the organization, providing expert oversight and review of engineering work packages, calculations, and operational procedures to guarantee nuclear safety.
  • Analyze and interpret complex reactor core performance data, including fuel burnup, power distribution, and reactivity management, to optimize fuel cycle designs and ensure safe core operation.
  • Act as a primary technical liaison with regulatory bodies such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), preparing and defending licensing documentation, responding to Requests for Additional Information (RAIs), and supporting inspections.
  • Provide real-time engineering support to Control Room operators during normal operations, plant transients, and emergency conditions to troubleshoot and resolve complex system issues.
  • Conduct comprehensive thermal-hydraulic and neutronic analyses of reactor systems using industry-standard codes (e.g., RELAP, GOTHIC, MCNP) to validate system performance and safety margins.
  • Lead root cause analysis investigations for significant plant events, equipment failures, and performance deviations to identify corrective actions and prevent recurrence.
  • Develop and maintain critical engineering programs, such as In-service Inspection (ISI), Equipment Qualification (EQ), and Flow-Accelerated Corrosion (FAC) programs.
  • Oversee and provide technical direction for major projects, including steam generator replacements, power uprates, and digital I&C upgrades, from conception through implementation.
  • Prepare and review updates to the plant's Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR), Technical Specifications, and other licensing basis documents to reflect plant modifications and new analyses.
  • Perform detailed shielding, criticality safety, and radiation transport calculations to support radioactive material handling, waste management, and ALARA planning.
  • Evaluate the impact of industry-wide operating experience (OE) and generic communications on the plant, and recommend appropriate actions for implementation.
  • Develop, maintain, and execute fuel management plans, including core loading patterns and reload safety evaluations for each operating cycle.
  • Provide expert technical support during refueling and maintenance outages, including planning, execution, and post-outage system restoration and testing.

Secondary Functions

  • Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior engineers and technical staff, fostering a culture of continuous learning and technical rigor.
  • Represent the company by participating in industry groups, technical committees, and owner's group meetings (e.g., INPO, NEI, EPRI) to share best practices and influence industry standards.
  • Support the Supply Chain and Procurement Engineering teams by providing technical evaluations for the procurement of safety-related components and services.
  • Participate as a qualified member of the Emergency Response Organization (ERO), filling a key technical role during drills, exercises, and actual plant emergencies.
  • Develop and deliver specialized technical training to licensed and non-licensed plant personnel on topics such as reactor theory, system design, and regulatory compliance.
  • Support long-term asset management strategies by performing component health monitoring, obsolescence analysis, and developing long-range replacement plans.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Regulatory Expertise: Deep understanding of nuclear regulations, particularly 10 CFR 50, 10 CFR 50.59, and plant-specific Technical Specifications.
  • Analytical Software Proficiency: Hands-on experience with nuclear analysis codes such as MCNP, RELAP5, GOTHIC, SCALE, CASMO/SIMULATE, or similar software.
  • Reactor Theory & Engineering Principles: Strong foundational knowledge of reactor physics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer as they apply to nuclear power systems.
  • System Analysis: Proven ability to perform complex calculations and analyses for nuclear plant systems, structures, and components.
  • Technical Writing: Demonstrated skill in preparing clear, concise, and defensible technical documents, including safety evaluations, licensing reports, and engineering analyses.
  • Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA): Knowledge of PRA methodologies and their application in risk-informed decision-making.

Soft Skills

  • Analytical Problem-Solving: Superior ability to diagnose complex technical problems, evaluate multiple solutions, and implement the most effective course of action.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous and thorough approach to all work, recognizing that small errors can have significant safety or operational consequences.
  • Effective Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical information clearly to diverse audiences, from regulators to plant technicians.
  • Teamwork and Collaboration: Ability to work effectively within and across multidisciplinary teams in a high-pressure environment.
  • Decision Making: Sound judgment and the ability to make timely, risk-informed decisions, especially under pressure.
  • Leadership & Mentoring: Capacity to lead technical projects and guide the professional development of junior colleagues.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Nuclear Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline (e.g., Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical Engineering) from an ABET-accredited institution.

Preferred Education:

  • Master of Science (M.S.) or Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Nuclear Engineering or a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Nuclear Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Engineering Physics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5-15 years of progressive experience in the nuclear power industry or a related field.

Preferred:

  • Direct experience working at a commercial nuclear power plant in an engineering capacity.
  • Professional Engineer (PE) license is highly desirable.
  • Prior qualification as a Shift Technical Advisor (STA) or in the Emergency Response Organization (ERO) is a significant plus.
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