Nuclear Engineers

Nuclear engineers should have experience in preparing and interpreting drawings and client specifications. They must be seasoned at reviewing work, maintaining schedules, and adhering to budgets. In addition, they should be skilled at performing field investigations and evaluating existing systems to determine capacity for upgrading. Nuclear engineers should have a solid background in providing technical guidance and briefings to all members on a particular project. They must also have experience in interacting with clients as well as writing proposals and estimating projects.

Nuclear design engineers should possess experience in designing instrumentation or equipment for the specific industry in which they specialize. For instance, an engineer in the nuclear fuels field should have a working background involving radioactive waste removal, while those in the equipment arena should have experience in utilizing radioactive materials to solve problems in medicine, science, and agriculture.

Nuclear construction engineers should have a lengthy history with on-site facilities projects, such as power plants and reactors. These engineers must possess a proven track record of teamwork as they work closely with other specialists and often are responsible for supervising crew members. In addition, they must be capable of analyzing and solving critical aspects that can lead to nuclear disasters.

Nuclear engineers will encounter two unique concerns. First, exposure to high levels of radiation may be hazardous; thus, engineers must always follow safety measures. Those working near radioactive materials must adhere to strict precautions outlined by regulatory standards. In addition, female engineers of childbearing age may not be allowed to work in certain areas or perform particular duties because of the potential harm to the human fetus from radiation.

Finally, nuclear engineers must be prepared for a lifetime of continuing education. In some states, license renewal is contingent upon earning continuing education credits.