Nuclear Engineer

Background

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proud to be ranked among the best places to work for compensation, work-life balance, and performance for mid-sized agencies in the Federal Government. 

The NRC protects public health and safety and advances the nation’s common defense and security by enabling the safe and secure use and deployment of civilian nuclear energy technologies and radioactive materials through efficient and reliable licensing, oversight, and regulation for the benefit of society and the environment.

These two (2) positions are located in Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), Division of Risk Assessment and Safety Systems (DRSS), Nuclear Engineering Branch B (NEBB) and Office of Advanced Reactors (OAR).

Duties

The successful candidate is responsible for the following as pertains to reactor core or fuel design, nuclear methods, reactor systems and evaluations of operating performance for operating or new light-water or non-light-water power or non-power production or utilization facility applications:

1) performing and supporting reviews and evaluations of the reactor core, fuel and thermal-hydraulic systems design, process design parameters, nuclear methods, and performance,

2) supporting the resolution of complex technical issues and licensing problems,

3) providing in-depth technical assistance and authoritative advice relating to the safety aspects of the reactor core and systems design.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as: Experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the work of this position at the GG/GS-14 grade level or equivalent pay band to include experience performing complex nuclear engineering reviews, support of regulatory reviews, policy, and technical decision-making. And, experience collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to accomplish goals and objectives.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Demonstrate capacity to apply the theories, principles, and practices in the field of reactor core, fuel and thermal-hydraulic systems design and nuclear methods sufficient to perform complex reviews and evaluations of nuclear and thermal-hydraulic aspects of the reactor core under steady-state, transient, and accident conditions, including issues pertaining to core physics, fuel behavior, and reactivity control system and control rod design for operating or new light-water or non-light-water power or non-power reactor or nuclear fuel designs.
2. Demonstrate ability in formulating sound technical judgements, making technical or policy recommendations, and finding solutions to unique first of a kind technical or policy challenges regarding issues pertaining to event evaluation in the areas of core physics, fuel behavior, reactivity control system and control rod design, and core thermal-hydraulic performance.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of NRC rules, regulations, and policies pertaining to light-water or non-light-water power or non-power production or utilization facilities through familiarity with NRC's advanced reactor vison, strategy, and policy activities, reactor licensing regulations, passive reactor design policies, system design standards, and regulatory guides and practices.
4. Demonstrate ability to communicate information, ideas, and advice in a clear, concise, and logical manner, both orally and in writing. Demonstrate ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships with management and staff, colleagues, and representatives of external organizations.

A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate must be addressed in your resume. Applicants may also use the supplemental vacancy question to provide additional information pertaining to the specialized experience and ideal candidate criteria.

Education 

Basic Requirement for 0840 Series:

A. Degree: Engineering to be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience-- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:

1. Professional registration or licensure-- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico.

2.Written Test --Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

3. Specified academic courses --Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.

4. Related curriculum --Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all inclusive.)

You must include an unofficial or official copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application. Transcript must include the School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). Education must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you have multiple degrees (e.g., BS, MS, PhD) please submit transcripts for each degree.

How to Apply

Visit www.nrc.gov Review the NRC Career Opportunities page, click on “Apply Now” then “Search for New Opportunities” and click on “view a list of current NRC vacancies at USAJOBS.”  Or, click on the apply button/link on this site to be taken to NRC ‘s USAJOBS.gov employment page.  Find the Nuclear Engineer Announcement Number DEST-13071367-26-LT and apply on-line by October 23, 2026.

Note: It is essential for you to view the official Job Opportunity Announcement found on USAJOBS.  It will provide precise information about the qualification requirements and the exact documents to be submitted for you to be evaluated, which will include your resume (not to exceed two pages in length), your transcripts, your responses to all required vacancy questions and any documents related to application eligibilities you may be claiming.

If you are viewing this opportunity after October 23rd please visit NRC’s website and discover additional opportunities for which you might be interested or visit:  https://www.usajobs.gov/Search/Results?a=NU00”.