Reactor Engineer (Examiner Qualified)

Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 144,000 - 187,000; Full time

Job summary

Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Rockville, Maryland, seeks a Reactor Engineer (Examiner Qualified) to perform the full range of operator licensing duties, maintain examiner qualifications, and assist in regional examination administration.

The role supports policy reviews, safety evaluations for licensing actions, and guidance to regional offices on licensing regulations; strong technical and project management skills and excellent written and oral communication are required.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree from ABET-accredited program.
• Professional registration as EI/EIT or PE preferred.
• FE exam or equivalent licensure required or beneficial.
• Strong grounding in physical sciences and engineering mathematics.

Responsibilities

• Maintain qualification as NRC operator licensing examiner and assist in operator examinations.
• Contribute to policy reviews and programmatic oversight of operator licensing.
• Develop safety evaluations for licensing actions related to operator licensing.
• Review standards and guides related to operator licensing and training.
• Provide guidance to regional offices on licensing regulations and process enhancements.

Skills

Operator licensing

Policy input

Technical writing

Project management

Education

ABET-accredited engineering program

Professional licensure (EI/EIT/PE)

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

• Hiring Agency: Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Department: Other Agencies and Independent Organizations
• Location: Rockville, Maryland
• Hiring Path: Fed Internal Search
• Number of Openings: 1
• Security Clearance: L Access Authorization

This position is located in the Division of Advanced Reactor Programs. The supervisor is Tony Brown. This position is subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements. This position is subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will perform the full range of Reactor Engineer (Examiner Qualified) duties. Such duties include but are not limited to: Maintain qualification as an NRC operator licensing examiner, including assisting the regional offices in the administration of operator examinations and requalification inspections as necessary.

Provide input to and participate in the policy and decision processes associated with oversight and programmatic administration of operator licensing, including the conduct of programmatic reviews, examination audits, reviews of applicant informal appeals, and preparation of staff responses related to the formal hearing process.

Develop or assist in developing safety evaluations for licensing actions (e.g., amendments and exemptions) involving operator actions or related to NRC operator licensing requirements. Respond to questions from the public or internal and external stakeholders regarding the operator licensing program. Provide support and guidance to the regional offices in the implementation of operator licensing-related regulations.

Participate in the review and preparation of standards and guides related to operator licensing and training programs at reactor facilities. Evaluate proposals from NRC staff and external stakeholders related to operator licensing-related regulations. Participate in the continuing development of enhancement to the examination process. Candidates must have a strong technical and project management background with excellent written and oral communications skills.

Requirements & Education

Education Requirements for 0801/0830/0840/0850 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.

Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration.

For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.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.) Qualification for 1301 series: Basic Requirements: A.

Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics. OR B. Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

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..

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Transcripts must be uploaded with your application to verify education. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

As an NRC employee you will enjoy excellent Federal Benefits, including: comprehensive health and life insurance plans; Flexible Spending Account Program for health and dependent care; Dental and Vision Insurance; retirement savings and investment plan similar to 401(k) (Thrift Savings Plan); annual (vacation) and paid sick leave; family friendly leave policies; 11 paid holidays per year; transit benefits.

This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Other Agencies and Independent Organizations.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $143913 – $187093/yr.

Is this position remote or telework eligible?

This position is eligible for telework.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a L Access Authorization security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-19.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Internal Search' hiring path.