Careers in Nuclear Power
According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, there will be a rising demand for nuclear power in the next 20 to 30 years due to a need for diverse energy sources, rising electricity needs, and a growing support for nuclear power as a cheaper alternative to oil.
Based on your skills and interests, there are a variety of careers in nuclear power that you could choose from. Specific job titles may vary from employer, but read more to find out some of the areas in which you could work.
Job Categories
Operations and Maintenance
Working in Operations and Maintenance means that you are responsible for ensuring that different areas within the plant are working correctly. You would analyze plant performance and make sure the plant is working at optimal capacity. Some job titles include:
- Reactor Operators (licensed and unlicensed)
- Operations Engineers
- Reactor Engineers
- Systems Engineers
- Chemistry Technicians
- Maintenance Technicians
- Instrumentation and Control Engineers
- Process/Project Managers
Health and Environmental
In these types of jobs, you are responsible for the safety and well-being of the employees of the power generating plant as well as the general public. You help protect against radiation and fire, and keep the plant running safe. Some job titles include:
- Health Physicists
- Chemists
- Fire Protection Engineers
- Radiation Protection Technicians