Nuclear Engineer III or Senior (Mechanical)-Catawba Nuclear Station

Duke Energy Corporation; York (SC); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K matching

PTO / Vacation

Holidays & Sick Time

Dependent Care

Job summary

Duke Energy Corporation is seeking a Mechanical Systems Engineer (Nuclear) to support preventive maintenance, monitor equipment health, and provide technical leadership at the Catawba Nuclear Plant. The role emphasizes safety, reliability, and collaboration with Operations and Maintenance to ensure grid stability.

The position is hybrid, with on-site work 2 days per week after onboarding; 4-day workweek model possible, and opportunities for growth within Plant Engineering-Operations Support

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET accredited program; Master’s may substitute.
• Minimum of 4 years of engineering experience.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates high conduct of safety culture (personal, nuclear and environmental).
• Monitor and trend system performance to identify issues proactively.
• Provide input to station management regarding work priority for long-term reliability.
• Review maintenance window scope and prioritize work while minimizing unavailability.
• Collaborate with Operations and Maintenance to solve emergent plant issues.
• Lead or support audits and inspections for Catawba Engineering.
• Conduct plant walkdowns and inspections for license renewal and program support.
• Provide engineering support during plant outages and in emergent issues.
• Develop relationships with Maintenance and Operations to resolve complex issues.
• Participate in industry groups to share operating experiences.
• Support the company’s goals and present professional conduct.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering (ABET accredited)

Master’s degree in engineering (preferred)

Job description

Important Application Submission Information

In order to ensure your application is successfully received before the job posting expires, please submit your application by 11:59 PM on Sunday, November 1, 2026

More than a career - a chance to make a difference in people’s lives.

Build an exciting, rewarding career with us – help us make a difference for millions of people every day. Consider joining the Duke Energy team, where you’ll find a friendly work environment, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for your work, and competitive pay and benefits.

Catawba Nuclear Plant is seeking a Mechanical Systems Engineer to join the Plant Engineering-Operations Support Engineering team. Join the engineering team and make a measurable impact on plant performance. In this role, candidates will support preventive maintenance initiatives, analyze and trend equipment health, provide technical leadership to Operations and Maintenance, and influence long‑range equipment strategies that ensure optimal reliability of critical power plant assets.

Step into a role that combines variety, purpose, and real‑world impact. With infrequent overtime and a wide range of responsibilities, you’ll work inside an operating nuclear power plant—conducting field inspections, walkdowns, and engineering work that directly supports the delivery of safe, reliable electricity to the community and power grid.

This position offers a 4-day 10h workweek (Mon-Thurs) with a hybrid work schedule (at least 2 of 4 days are in the office, the others may be taken at home). As a Duke Energy employee, you are offered a package of Paid Time Off / Vacation in addition to Holidays, Sick Time, and Dependent Care. Applicants are also eligible for Duke Energy’s 401K program, including matching contributions.

This is an Engineer III/senior level of the Engineering classification hierarchy. Employees at this level manage work in engineering areas of specialization, with minimal supervision. Incumbents are expected to develop advanced skills and to have the ability to work independently, with guidance limited to unusual or complex projects or issues. They are fully competent in use of concepts and procedures. They identify problems, develop solutions and take actions to resolve. Senior Engineer represents a level at which career may stabilize for many years.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates high conduct of safety culture (personal, nuclear and environmental).
• Monitor and trend system performance with the intent to identify issues in a preventative space versus a reactive one.
• Provide input to station management regarding priority of work to be performed on systems to ensure long term reliability.
• Review system maintenance window scope, including corrective and preventative maintenance, and provide input to work management to prioritize work while minimizing system unavailability.
• Work with Operations and Maintenance personnel to solve emergent plant issues.
• Conduct formal self-assessments and benchmarking to ensure Catawba engineering performance remains the industry best.
• Lead, or support, Catawba Engineering during internal and external audits and inspections.
• Conduct plant walkdowns and inspections as required for license renewal and other program support activities.
• Provide general Mechanical Engineering and emergent issue support during plant outages.
• Develop collaborative relationships with Maintenance and Operations personnel to solve complex and challenging plant issues.
• Participation in industry groups to share operating experiences and lessons learned.
• Supports the company’s goals and represents the company positively and professionally.

Basic / Required Qualifications – Nuclear Engineer III

Note: This posting is for one open position. Dependent on relevant experience, the level to which a candidate is aligned is outlined below.

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET accredited program. A Master’s degree in engineering will be considered in lieu of the B. S. engineering degree.
• Minimum of 4 years of engineering experience.

Basic / Required Qualifications – Senior Nuclear Engineer

Note: This posting is for one open position. Dependent on relevant experience, the level to which a candidate is aligned is outlined below.

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET accredited program. A Master’s degree in engineering will be considered in lieu of the B. S. engineering degree.
• Minimum of 6 years of engineering experience or 5 years of engineering experience with state registration as a Professional Engineer.

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Registered Professional Engineer.
• Direct experience at Catawba or McGuire.
• Proficient in practices of researching engineering and design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations and preparing and presenting recommendations.
• Ability to deal with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Good written and oral communication skills.

Specific Requirements

• Able to achieve nuclear site Unescorted Access.
• This position may be required to have Emergency Response Organization (ERO) responsibilities which could include callouts with a defined response time to the site and an on-call duty rotation requiring the employee to be Fit for Duty.

Working Conditions

• An office environment with some routine work in the plant to conduct inspections and/or walkdowns.
• Hybrid work posture: At least 2 days per week are supported on-site at the Catawba Nuclear Station after onboarding period.

Travel Requirements

5-15%

Relocation Assistance Provided (as applicable)

Yes

Represented/Union Position

No

Visa Sponsored Position

No. This is not a Visa Sponsored Position. This role requires the ability to work lawfully in the U.S. without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future.

Please note that in order to be considered for this position, you must possess all of the basic/required qualifications.