Nuclear engineer

The nuclear engineering sector is growing meaning career prospects are good, with competitive pay and a demand for engineers

As a nuclear engineer, you'll design, build, run or decommission nuclear power stations.

Depending on your role you could design new systems, maintain existing systems or look for ways to improve the efficiency, stability and sustainability of nuclear power plants. You'll typically work in multi-disciplinary teams to come up with technical solutions.

Decommissioning (shutting down) facilities is also an important aspect of the role, as is planning and carrying out safety procedures for the transport, storage and disposal of the radioactive material used in nuclear plants.

Types of nuclear engineer

You can choose to specialise in just one part of the engineering field. For example, some reactors are cooled using water systems, so you could embark on a career as a specialist hydraulic engineer. Chemical, electrical and mechanical engineers can all find a place in the nuclear industry.

Other specialties include:

• health and safety specialist
• instrumentation and control engineer
• process engineer
• project manager
• quality engineer
• reactor operator.

Responsibilities

As a nuclear engineer, you'll need to:

• understand the science behind how nuclear facilities work
• analyse energy transmission, conversion and storage systems
• solve design or operational problems with reactor cores and shielding, hydraulic and electrical systems, and complex instrumentation such as monitoring equipment
• manage staff and budgets for complex design, construction, maintenance, expansion, safety and decommissioning projects
• always keep the safety of people and the environment in mind, cooperate with local emergency services, and work with national and international industry regulatory bodies
• be aware of and address security concerns regarding the use, transport, storage and disposal of radioactive materials
• interpret data and respond to emerging issues to ensure equipment is always working properly
• write reports, project plans and other documents that provide information about new facilities, existing processes, problems and solutions, and safety exercises for regulators, energy firms and co-workers in facility construction and management
• discuss engineering issues with people from other fields, such as construction professionals, power grid managers and government officials
• plan and assist with the safe decommissioning of facilities that have reached the end of their lifespan, including temporary and long-term disposal of high-hazard radioactive material
• use mathematical and computer models, and run pilot projects to try out new ideas.

Salary

• Starting salaries for nuclear engineers are in the region of £22,000 to £30,000. You can expect graduate training schemes to pay around this too.
• With experience, working at a mid-level, you can expect to earn £35,000 to £50,000.
• At a senior level your salary can be in excessive of £65,000.

Salaries vary depending on the employer and the exact nature of the role.

Within nuclear plant construction or nuclear energy facilities you can expect a good range of employee benefits, including ongoing training opportunities, a pension plan and health insurance.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Your hours will depend on which part of the industry you work in. If you're involved in design, research and development or project management you'll typically have standard hours of around 9am to 5pm. You may also sometimes need to attend conferences or travel abroad to meet with partners or visit sites.

Working in a processing or power station is different as these facilities run on a 24-hour schedule. It's likely you'll need to work shifts, which could be on a seven-day rota, including weekends, evenings and nights.

Short-term contracts and part-time work are not typical, but large companies are starting to realise the value of job-sharing and flexible hours. It may be possible to negotiate your working hours.

What to expect

• You could be based in an office or laboratory or at a power station. Or you could be involved in supervising and checking work on construction sites when facilities are being built or closed down.
• Nuclear science and technology can be an exciting area to work in as there are constant developments and there is a growing demand for engineers.
• Some people have negative opinions about the nuclear industry. You should expect to have to explain or defend what you do at times.
• Major companies in the field are very proactive about increasing equality and diversity within the industry. Initiatives are in place and details can be found at Nuclear Institute: Equality and Diversity.
• Currently, nuclear energy is a crucial part of the world's energy system, which means you will have a good level of job security.
• You may need to be prepared to relocate to one of the locations of the current nuclear power stations in the UK.
• There are opportunities to work abroad as many major companies operate internationally.
• You'll need to dress appropriately for your role, which could range from office casual to formal (for meetings with major partners) to safety gear when on-site.

Qualifications

Most nuclear engineers have a degree in an engineering or science subject. Courses which could improve your chances of gaining entry in to the nuclear engineering industry include:

• chemical engineering
• chemistry
• civil engineering
• electrical engineering
• hydraulic engineering
• mechanical engineering
• nuclear engineering
• physics.

Some universities offer programmes that specialise in nuclear engineering or combine it with another related discipline. For a list of relevant courses, see Nuclear Institute: Universities.

You can apply for jobs directly or join a graduate trainee scheme. The trainee scheme route can fast-track you into better roles and give you a chance to try different aspects of the field. One such option, is the Nuclear Graduates scheme. This takes two years to complete and is run by employers in the nuclear sector.

You could also choose to do a degree apprenticeship, where you will work while studying for the relevant qualifications. These typically take around three years to complete and relevant ones include:

• Nuclear Scientist and Nuclear Engineer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship
• Nuclear Reactor Desk Engineer Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship

Search for apprenticeships.

It's also possible to enter with a foundation degree or HNC/HND in a subject relevant to engineering. You could apply directly for some junior roles or enter a trainee scheme. Additional qualifications will be needed to become an engineer.

There are a few universities that offer MPhil or MEng postgraduate courses in nuclear engineering. These are not necessary but could give you an edge when competing for jobs. Look at employers you're interested in and see what their requirements are. You could also choose to complete postgraduate work abroad.

Learn more about nuclear engineering courses.

Nuclear engineering is a specialist field, so the level of competition is moderate. If you have a strong record at university and at least some related work experience as a student, prospects are reasonably good. However, as in all specialist fields, a downturn or surge in demand can change the picture quickly.

Skills

You will need to have:

• good analytical skills for understanding complex operational and monitoring systems
• problem-solving skills for dealing with construction issues or repairs
• strong aptitude in maths and IT
• a willingness to keep up with fast-moving developments in science and technology
• the ability to communicate with colleagues and outside specialists about work issues
• communication skills to speak with the public about the nuclear industry or safety issues.

Work experience

It's important to get relevant work experience and you can start while still a student by attending open days at nuclear facilities to see what the work's like and to talk to employees.

Another way to get experience would be to join a nuclear power company as part of an industrial placement for your degree. Other than formal placements, part-time work is not usually available while you study. However, you may be able to gain work experience or part-time work with the non-nuclear side of a large energy or construction firm that is involved in the industry, which will give you an advantage later on.

Joining the Nuclear Institute as an Affiliate member while you are studying can help you to gain industry contacts, which can be helpful for future employment opportunities. It also gives you access to its Young Generation Network which provides early-career support including webinars, seminars, mentoring and a subscription to the member journal. All of this can help you to stay up to date with developments in the industry.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

In the UK, nuclear power plants are run by private companies, but are subject to strict control by the Office for Nuclear Regulation for safety reasons. Most roles are with major energy or construction companies, although there is some public-sector potential on the regulatory side.

In some other countries, the industry is entirely or partially state-owned and you may need to apply through a Civil Service-style system.

Security clearance may be required for permanent staff and contractors in some jobs.

Look for job vacancies at:

• The Engineer Jobs
• Just Engineers
• NSAN Career Centre
• Nuclear Sector Jobs

Also check the job vacancy pages of the companies that run reactors in the UK.

Some specialist recruitment agencies handle vacancies. For opportunities see:

• Matchtech
• NES Fircroft

Professional development

All companies in the nuclear sector will expect you to keep up with new developments through CPD. This can be through formal on-the-job training, attending industry conferences, or taking courses off-site. Popular CPD courses include seminars on new reactor designs and security issues.

It is a good idea to become a member of the Nuclear Institute as this gives you access to seminars and conferences as well as its professional journal. You can also join relevant groups that can help to development your knowledge. This includes regional branches that run events and activities, the Young Generation Network which supports early career nuclear professionals and Special Interest Groups that cover specific areas such as radioactive waste management and small modular reactors.

The Nuclear Institute also helps individuals gain professional registration. This could be at incorporated (IEng) or chartered (CEng) engineer levels. These are internationally-recognised qualifications that are awarded by the Engineering Council. Achieving them improves your career prospects and earning potential as it shows you’re working at a certain level of skill and knowledge.

You'll need to be a member of a professional body, such as the Nuclear Institute, and you must be able to meet a certain set of criteria. For more information see Engineering Council - Professional Registration.

If you enter the field as an apprentice or with an HNC/HND or undergraduate degree, you may consider going back to university part-time as your career develops.

Career prospects

Starting as a graduate trainee is the most typical way into nuclear engineering, and employers have a structured progression path. You're likely to have slow but steady career progress rather than rapid advancement because there's a lot to learn.

There's scope to move up by jumping to a higher-level post with a new employer.

You could also make a career shift to related fields, working with radiological materials in medicine or manufacturing, nuclear imaging technologies, space exploration, or non-nuclear engineering.

There is a danger of becoming too specialised to move to a related field, so you should always keep an eye on factors that can protect you in case of an industry downturn. These include gaining incorporated (IEng) or chartered (CEng) engineer status and maintaining a broad network in the engineering field as a whole.