Nuclear Reactor Engineer Principal

NextEra Energy; Iowa (LA); On-site; USD 126,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation provided

Job summary

NextEra Energy is seeking a Nuclear Reactor Engineer Principal to join the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Palo, Iowa. This role leads reactor engineering efforts for restart and ongoing operations across NextEra Energy’s nuclear fleet, including guidance during reactivity evolutions and core assessments.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering (ABET-accredited preferred) and 7+ years of experience. Competitive base pay, relocation support, and benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited engineering degree is required.
• 7+ years of experience in nuclear engineering or related field.

Responsibilities

• Performs engineering tasks independently with minimal precedence.
• Provides technical consultation to management.
• Applies nuclear industry standards to solve problems.
• Leads project teams with problem solving and conflict resolution.
• Acts as technical liaison within and outside the unit.

Skills

Engineering

Leadership

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree

Job description

Nuclear Reactor Engineer Principal

Date: Sep 4, 2026

Location(s): Palo, IA, US, 52324

Company: NextEra Energy

Requisition ID: 97296

NextEra Energy Marketing is one of the nation’s leading electricity and natural gas marketers, and a key player in the energy markets in the United States and Canada. As a part of NextEra Energy Resources, we specialize in innovative energy strategies that maximize market value for our customers and stakeholders. Our team is skilled in market analysis, trading, risk management and delivering tailored customer solutions across North America. If you are a strategic thinker eager to make a significant impact in the fast-paced energy industry, join our team today.

Position Specific Description

At NextEra Energy, we have a passion for taking your career to the next level. Our talented employees are our biggest asset to continued success. If you are interested in joining an operations team for an industry leading nuclear fleet, look no further. With seven nuclear reactors at four plant sites around the country, NextEra Energy's nuclear fleet is one of the largest in the nation. Currently, we are seeking a Reactor Engineer to join our Operations team at the Duane Arnold Energy Center, located in Palo, Iowa.

Duane Arnold represents one of the most unique and exciting opportunities in the nuclear industry today. As part of NextEra Energy's historic restart of this BWR facility, you will join a growing team of dedicated professionals working to restore and return this plant to safe, reliable power generation. This is a rare ground-floor opportunity to shape the culture, processes, and technical foundation of a restarting nuclear plant.

In addition to the job responsibilities outlined below, specific Reactor Engineering duties include:

• Ensure compliance with Technical Specification surveillance requirements through the timely execution of reactor core monitoring and analysis activities, including Local Power Range Monitor (LPRM) and Average Power Range Monitor (APRM) calibrations, thermal limits monitoring, and continuous evaluation of core operating parameters such as MFLPD, MCPR, and LHGR to verify operation within established limits.

• Develop, review, and implement reactivity management strategies to support safe and efficient plant operation, including power maneuvers, control rod pattern adjustments, coastdown operations, and overall core performance evaluations. Provide technical guidance and real-time support to Operations during reactivity evolutions and reactor core assessments.

• Respond effectively to emergent plant conditions by performing technical evaluations, identifying corrective actions, and collaborating closely with Operations and other station organizations to ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the reactor core.

• Support refueling outages and plant startup or restart activities by assuming special assignments and performing duties outside the normal scope of responsibilities as needed to achieve outage and operational milestones.

• Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering strongly preferred; equivalent technical education and relevant reactor engineering experience may be considered.

Job Overview

This job is responsible for developing technical recommendations to support complex nuclear projects and operations. Employees in this role perform advanced engineering activity and analysis that lead to the development of innovative concepts. Individuals participate in the development of new solutions involves the study of engineering principles, selection of areas for investigation, working through opportunities within scope, and communicating research findings. The successful candidate is responsible for interpreting, organizing, executing and coordinating assignments.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Works independently to perform engineering tasks with little or no precedence

• Provides technical consultation to management

• Applies nuclear industry standards and regulations to solve new problems and address situations

• Manages project teams toward solutions using leadership prowess, problem solving, and conflict resolution techniques

• Represents supervisor interests and serves in a backup capacity when necessary

• Serves as technical liaison within and outside business unit

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's - Engineeringfrom an ABET-accredited program

• Experience: 7+ years

• Nuclear Experience: 0+ years

Preferred Qualifications

• None

Special Requirements

Nuclear Specific Requirements:

• None

The estimated base pay for this position is $126,400.00 to $189,600.00 per year. Starting pay will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, experience, qualifications, job-related and industry knowledge and skills and education/training.

NextEra Energy offers a wide range of benefits to support our employees and their eligible family members.

Employee Group: Exempt

Employee Type: Full Time

Job Category: Engineering

Organization:

Relocation Provided: Yes, if applicable

NextEra Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetics, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law.

NextEra Energy provides reasonable accommodation in its application and selection process for qualified individuals, including accommodations related to compliance with conditional job offer requirements, consistent with federal, state, and local laws. Supporting medical or religious documentation will be required where applicable and permitted by applicable law. To request a reasonable accommodation, please send an e-mail to, providing your name, telephone number and the best time for us to reach you.

NextEra Energy will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

NextEra Energy does not accept any unsolicited resumes or referrals from any third-party recruiting firms or agencies . Please see ourfor more information.