Nuclear Engineers Occupation Details

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Nuclear Engineers

The main tasks and work activities of Nuclear Engineers are to investigate safety of work environment, monitor processes for compliance with standards, update technical knowledge, research energy production, use, or conservation. In general, for the Nuclear Engineers, science, active Listening, reading Comprehension, monitoring and other 17 skills are required.

Nuclear Engineers Job Description
Education	Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Related Experience	A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Example	Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.

The following chart shows the education/training levels for Nuclear Engineers jobs.

Less than a High School Diploma

0.00%

High School Diploma (or the equivalent)

0.00%

Post-Secondary Certificate

3.70%

Some College Courses

0.00%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

0.00%

Bachelor's Degree and Above

96.30%

Tasks and Work Activities of Nuclear Engineers

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 or by independent study and research.
Perform experiments that will provide information about acceptable methods of nuclear material usage, nuclear fuel reclamation, or waste disposal.
Design or oversee construction or operation of nuclear reactors or power plants or nuclear fuels reprocessing and reclamation systems.
Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or 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 or nuclear fuel or waste handling and disposal.
Conduct tests of nuclear fuel behavior and cycles or performance of nuclear machinery and equipment to optimize performance of existing plants.
Direct operating or maintenance activities of operational nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.
Conduct environmental studies related to topics such as nuclear power generation, nuclear waste disposal, or nuclear weapon deployment.
Design fuel cycle models or processes to reduce the quantity of radioactive waste generated from nuclear activities.
Develop or contribute to the development of plans to remediate or restore environments affected by nuclear radiation, such as waste disposal sites.
Direct environmental compliance activities associated with nuclear plant operations or maintenance.
Prepare environmental impact statements, reports, or presentations for regulatory or other agencies.
Prepare technical reports of findings or recommendations, based on synthesized analyses of test results.
Design or direct nuclear research projects to test or modify theoretical models, develop new theoretical models, or discover new uses for current models.
Consult with other scientists to determine parameters of experimentation or suitability of analytical models.
Discuss construction project proposals with interested parties, such as vendors, contractors, or nuclear facility review boards.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUsing relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Analyzing Data or InformationIdentifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Investigate safety of work environment.
Monitor processes for compliance with standards.
Update technical knowledge.
Research energy production, use, or conservation.
Direct energy production or management activities.
Design energy production or management equipment or systems.
Resolve operational performance problems.
Advise others on health and safety issues.
Prepare procedural documents.
Test performance of electrical, electronic, mechanical, or integrated systems or equipment.
Direct equipment maintenance or repair activities.
Investigate the environmental impact of projects.
Develop operational methods or processes that use green materials or emphasize sustainability.
Prepare detailed work plans.
Coordinate safety or regulatory compliance activities.
Prepare technical or operational reports.
Document design or operational test results.
Analyze test or validation data.
Confer with technical personnel to prepare designs or operational plans.
Communicate technical information to suppliers, contractors, or regulatory agencies.

Skills and Abilities for Nuclear Engineers

ScienceUsing scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Systems AnalysisDetermining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Operations AnalysisAnalyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
MathematicsUsing mathematics to solve problems.
SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
Systems EvaluationIdentifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Mathematical ReasoningThe ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Number FacilityThe ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
OriginalityThe ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Hazardous material protective apparele.g. Anticontamination clothing
Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
Facial shieldse.g. Face masks
Nuclear toolse.g. Nuclear wireline logging instruments
Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
Nuclear reactor control rod systemse.g. Reactivity computer systems
Respiratorse.g. Respirators

Engineering and TechnologyKnowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
PhysicsKnowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
DesignKnowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
ChemistryKnowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Nuclear Engineers Occupation Detailed Description

Tasks and Work Activities of Nuclear Engineers

Skills and Abilities for Nuclear Engineers