What does a nuclear engineer do?
A nuclear engineer directs the operation and maintenance of operational nuclear power plants. Nuclear engineers make sure that the power plants are efficient and in conformity with the safety standards. They research and create instruments, systems, and processes to derive the benefits of nuclear radiation and energy. Their duties and responsibilities include finding the medical and industrial uses of radioactive materials. They also perform other tasks related to nuclear technology and radiation.
Nuclear engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real nuclear engineer resumes:
- Manage the implementation of technology for better communicating and displaying radiological data used during emergency response.
- Manage Jenkins security by providing specific access to authorize developers/testers using project base matrix authorization strategy.
- Perform and document technical evaluations in accordance with 10 CFR 50.59.
- Provide technical support, resolutions, and oversight during shipboard operations.
- Conduct technical training on MRI scanners.
- Interface new equipment into the existing PACS system.
- Automate the TXU LOCA methods by developing FORTRAN routines.
- Provide technical support and ALARA reviews for outage work packages.
- Organize and develop status presentations for the department for NAVSEA reviews.
- Develop, estimate, tracking for NAVSEA engineering scopes for contracts.
- Represent NRC at regional workshops including federal, state, industry, and public interest groups.
- Appoint to represent the company as the ALARA coordinator for the plutonium stabilization program including solution processing.
- Perform role of project engineer for filter testing as well as primary manway removal during the refueling outage.
- Conduct the verification testing by directing the required equipment manipulation to validate the analysis and exit the issue with NRC.
- Revise equipment procurement specifications to ensure QC and QA for all HV transmission and substation equipment on the utility grid.
Nuclear engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Nuclear Engineers are proficient in Security Clearance, Oversight, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Nuclear Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Security Clearance, 11%
Maintained Confidential Security Clearance, Department of Defense.
- Oversight, 10%
Provided continuous oversight in work planning to ensure maximum power plant operations, ensuring successful completion of 367 corrective maintenance items.
- Project Management, 8%
Provided project management services and engineering support during nuclear facility outages, primarily concerning fuel-handling robotics systems.
- Safety Analysis, 7%
Performed reactor core design, optimization and safety analysis support for various nuclear power customers.
- DOE, 5%
Performed verification and inspection activities of components and systems; and provides recommendation of product acceptance to DOE and NASA customers.
- DOD, 5%
Specialized in DOD confidential nuclear instrumentation panels.
"security clearance," "oversight," and "project management" are among the most common skills that nuclear engineers use at work. You can find even more nuclear engineer responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a nuclear engineer to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what nuclear engineers do because "nuclear engineers must evaluate technical information for safe use of nuclear energy and materials." Additionally, a nuclear engineer resume shows how nuclear engineers use analytical skills: "managed the implementation of technology for better communicating and displaying radiological data used during emergency response. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform nuclear engineer duties is communication skills. Nuclear engineers responsibilities require that "nuclear engineers collaborate with other engineers and technicians." Nuclear engineers also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "trained on and utilized confined space, loto, respiratory protection, hazard communication. "
Detail oriented. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of nuclear engineers is detail oriented. This skill is critical to many everyday nuclear engineer duties, as "nuclear engineers supervise nuclear facilities and must pay attention to ensure that they operate safely." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "developed detailed design packages for multiple disciplines including: mechanical, civil, electrical, and i&c.;"
Math skills. nuclear engineer responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "nuclear engineers use calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced math in their work." This resume example shows what nuclear engineers do with math skills on a typical day: "managed multiple employees on prototype development - directed designers on maturing math and drawings for production parts. "
Problem-solving skills. Another common skill required for nuclear engineer responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." This skill comes up in the duties of nuclear engineers all the time, as "nuclear engineers must be able to identify and fix problems that arise in designing and maintaining facilities." An excerpt from a real nuclear engineer resume shows how this skill is central to what a nuclear engineer does: "provided innovative engineered solutions for radiological ventilations systems. "
The three companies that hire the most nuclear engineers are:
- Us Navy193 nuclear engineers jobs
- Guidehouse24 nuclear engineers jobs
- Florida Power and Light 13 nuclear engineers jobs
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Compare different nuclear engineers
Nuclear engineer vs. Radiation officer
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a nuclear engineer are more likely to require skills like "security clearance," "oversight," "project management," and "safety analysis." On the other hand, a job as a radiation officer requires skills like "epa," "osha," "c-arm," and "gi lab." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that radiation officers earn slightly differ from nuclear engineers. In particular, radiation officers are 4.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a nuclear engineer. Additionally, they're 1.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Nuclear engineer vs. Radiation protection engineer
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that nuclear engineer responsibilities requires skills like "security clearance," "oversight," "project management," and "safety analysis." But a radiation protection engineer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "health physics," "epa," "safety assessments," and "ventilation."
In general, radiation protection engineers achieve higher levels of education than nuclear engineers. They're 15.4% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 1.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Nuclear engineer vs. Nuclear reactor inspector
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, nuclear engineers are more likely to have skills like "security clearance," "oversight," "project management," and "safety analysis." But a nuclear reactor inspector is more likely to have skills like "nde," "iii," "asme code," and "pressure vessels."
Most nuclear reactor inspectors achieve a lower degree level compared to nuclear engineers. For example, they're 9.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Nuclear engineer vs. Criticality safety engineer
Even though a few skill sets overlap between nuclear engineers and criticality safety engineers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a nuclear engineer might have more use for skills like "security clearance," "oversight," "project management," and "doe." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of criticality safety engineers require skills like "development," "review," "ncs," and "srs. "
In general, criticality safety engineers hold similar degree levels compared to nuclear engineers. Criticality safety engineers are 3.5% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 3.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of nuclear engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
