Nuclear Engineer

Also known as
Nuclear power operators

Become a “hero of science"

Nuclear technology has tonnes of cool and unusual uses, like in medical scanners or submarines. Clean energy is booming too, so there are loads of exciting jobs in this field.

At a glance

What can you expect from this role?
Average salary per year
£28000
Starter
Experienced
£28000
£58000
Typical hours
39 to 41 a week
You could work evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts
Flexible working hours?
Need a lab coat?
Sometimes!

What to expect

Day-to-day tasks

As a nuclear engineer, you might:

  • design and build new nuclear plants and equipment
  • monitor radiation levels
  • plan and carry out maintenance work
  • help to decommission old power stations
  • research ways to dispose of nuclear waste
  • design medical equipment that uses nuclear technology
  • work on nuclear propulsions systems for ships and submarines

Possible green job

This job could help the environment.

For a nuclear engineer to be a green job, you could:

  • build power plants to help reduce greenhouse gasses
  • design energy efficient medical scanners and imaging equipment
  • work on research into nuclear fusion that has the potential to produce large amounts of cleaner energy

Working environment

You could work at a power station, in a laboratory, in an office or in a control room.

You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.

More Information

Career tips

You may need to relocate for work, as Britain's nuclear power stations are spread around the country. This includes ones in operation, those being decommissioned and proposed new sites.

You can find employers in each part of the country on the Nuclear Industry Association jobs map.

Further information

You can get details about working in the the nuclear industry through:

Explore the different ways to get into this role

People in these types of job started their career paths after studying courses like the ones below.

University

You can do a degree in a subject like: nuclear engineering chemical engineering mechanical engineering maths physics with nuclear technology…
Learn more

Apprenticeship

You may be able to apply for a place on an apprenticeship, such as: Nuclear Scientist and Nuclear Engineer Level…
Learn more

Other Routes

You can start on a 2-year graduate training scheme called Nuclear Graduates, which is run by nuclear industry employers. On the scheme,…
Learn more

Discover the skills you need for this role

People in these types of job possess skills like the ones below.

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of engineering science and technology
  • maths knowledge
  • knowledge of physics
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • thinking and reasoning skills
  • design skills and knowledge
  • analytical thinking skills
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications

Career progression

Career progression opportunities include

With skills and experience, you could become:

  • an operations engineer, managing a technical team during the building and running of a power plant
  • a nuclear inspector, regulating the storage and disposal of radioactive waste
  • a nuclear safety engineer, responsible for making sure all on-site safety requirements are met
  • a clinical engineer, researching ways to improve nuclear medicine used in the treatment of disease

You could also work as a freelance engineering consultant.

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