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Nuclear Engineers

Description
Conduct research on nuclear engineering problems or apply principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and utilization of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.
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Experience
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Education
A bachelor's degree is the minimum formal education required for these occupations. However, many also require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Training
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Tasks
  • Determines potential hazard and accident conditions that may exist in fuel handling and storage and recommends preventive measures.
  • Performs experiments to determine acceptable methods of nuclear material usage, nuclear fuel reclamation, and waste disposal.
  • Formulates equations that describe phenomena occurring during fission of nuclear fuels and develops analytical models for research.
  • Examines accidents and obtains data to formulate preventive measures.
  • Synthesizes analyses of tests results and prepares technical reports of findings and recommendations.
  • Monitors nuclear operations to identify potential or inherent design, construction, or operational problems to ensure safe operations.
  • Designs and oversees construction and operation of nuclear fuels reprocessing systems and reclamation systems.
  • Formulates and initiates corrective actions and orders plant shut down in emergency situations.
  • Computes cost estimates of construction projects, prepares project proposals, and discusses projects with vendors, contractors, and nuclear facility's review board.
  • Directs operating and maintenance activities of operational nuclear facility.
  • Writes operational instructions relative to nuclear plant operation and nuclear fuel and waste handling and disposal.
  • Maintains reports to summarize work and document plant operations.
  • Designs and develops nuclear machinery and equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, and associated instrumentation and control mechanisms.
  • Inspects nuclear fuels, waste, equipment, test-reactor vessel and related systems, and control instrumentation to identify potential problems or hazards.
  • Evaluates research findings to develop new concepts of thermonuclear analysis and new uses of radioactive models.
  • Conducts tests to research nuclear fuel behavior and nuclear machinery and equipment performance.
  • Plans and designs nuclear research to discover facts or to test, prove, or modify known nuclear theories.
  • Analyzes available data and consults with other scientists to determine parameters of experimentation and suitability of analytical models.
National Average Salary
$80,200.00/year

Average Salary in Maryland
$91,870.00/year

Important Abilities
   1. Mathematical Reasoning
   2. Deductive Reasoning
   3. Written Expression
   4. Oral Comprehension
   5. Written Comprehension

General Work Activities
   1. Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
   2. Analyzing Data or Information
   3. Processing Information
   4. Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
   5. Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Important Skills
   1. Science
   2. Information Gathering
   3. Judgment and Decision Making
   4. Mathematics
   5. Problem Identification

Frequent Work Context
   1. Consequence of Error
   2. Responsible for Others' Health & Safety
   3. Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
   4. Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
   5. Job-Required Social Interaction

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The majors and institutions listed here are based on the current information in our database. Please be aware this information may be subject to change. We strongly encourage you to consult with your career counselor.




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