An engineer in nuclear science and technology may work from an office, at a power plant, or on a construction site. Nuclear science and technology continue to advance regardless of their location. The nuclear industry is not for everyone. Working in this field is not without its positive aspects.
Outlook for the Job
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a positive outlook for nuclear engineers. The field is expected to grow by 4 percent annually until 2020, but not as fast as other fields. Due to the increasing dependence on natural gas, the nuclear industry may see a decrease in its number of engineers. Additionally, there will be more applications of nuclear science in medicine, which will increase the demand for qualified engineers.
Nuclear engineering could be a career choice if you are passionate about science and excel at mathematics and statistics. You have many options in this field. You might be able to become a manager or supervisor in nuclear engineering, or even a sales representative depending on what your specialization is. Remember to keep up with your continuing education, professional certifications, and other activities. The job growth in this area is unpredictable but there are many career opportunities for nuclear engineers.
Education requirements
Students who wish to become nuclear engineers have many options. Students can take a four-year program at an accredited university as well as a senior designing project at their employer. Dual-degree programs in nuclear engineering can be offered by some schools. Students can earn their bachelor's or master's degrees in as little as five years. Core coursework in radiochemistry or reactor analysis is a common part of a typical curriculum for nuclear engineers. There are also advanced courses in medical physics and nuclear enterprise management. Research-intensive thesis projects are often completed by students.
Nuclear engineers can move up to various positions depending on their job requirements. They may be technical specialists, managers or supervisors. However, to be competitive in this field, nuclear engineers should continue to expand their knowledge and maintain their professional certifications. The job market is always changing. Accordingly to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Board of Labor Statistics), the number of nuclear engineers working in this field is expected to decrease by eight percent between 2030 and 2020.
Work environment
The work environment for nuclear engineering varies but it involves working with others in teams. They are responsible for supervising technicians and other less-educated employees. They may also have some managerial responsibility, including overseeing certain aspects of a larger research project. They could also be responsible in training others. This is a field where safety is of paramount importance. A nuclear engineer must be careful about the amount of radiation they are exposed to.
Nuclear engineers work in a technical environment, but they can also be creative. Many engineers work in design engineering. They create new nuclear power devices and equipment to process radioactive waste materials. Others work in nuclear research, developing new equipment or systems to help scientists gain more understanding of matter and energy.
Salary
Graduate trainee positions are typically the first step to a career as a nuclear engineer. You will normally work slowly and steady. You may move up the ladder to either a supervisory or management position, depending on your level of experience. Eventually, you can choose to specialize in one area of the field. No matter what your chosen field is, nuclear engineers should be ready to continue their education and training.
Many employers can employ nuclear engineers. They may work for a private company, a government agency or a research organisation, depending on where they are located. They may also work in manufacturing or in the nuclear power industry.
FAQ
Which engineering discipline is the most difficult?
The greatest engineering challenge is designing a system that is strong enough to withstand all types of failure, yet flexible enough for future changes.
This requires extensive testing and iteration. It requires understanding how the system should behave when everything goes sour. You need to ensure that you don't just solve one problem, but that you design a solution that addresses multiple problems simultaneously.
What degree do I need to become an engineer?"
To become an engineer, you don't need to have a bachelors degree. Many employers prefer applicants with degrees. If you don't have one, you can always take some classes online to get your degree.
Which type of engineer gets the best salary?
Software engineers are the answer, as they write code for computers. They are also able to choose the kind of project they want. Software engineers can work anywhere, but most prefer to work at technology companies like Google or Microsoft.
What are civil engineers doing?
Civil engineering refers to the design and construction structures such as roads and bridges, buildings and dams. It includes all aspects of structural engineering including foundations, geotechnics and hydraulics as well as soils, safety analysis, traffic management, environmental impact assessment, and safety analysis. Civil engineers ensure that your project is both cost-effective, and environmentally responsible. They ensure the structure is safe, durable, and long-lasting.
They also assist in planning and implementing public work programs. For instance, they might oversee the planning and construction of a road, bridge, or tunnel.
What kinds of jobs are available if I am an engineer?
Engineers can work in nearly every industry: manufacturing, transportation and energy, finance, government and education.
Engineers who specialize in particular fields can often find employment at specific companies or organizations.
An example of this is that electrical engineers can work for telecommunications firms, medical device makers, or computer chip manufacturers.
Software developers could be employed by websites or mobile apps developers.
Software programmers can work at tech companies like Google, Microsoft or Apple.
Statistics
- 2021 median salary:$95,300 Typical required education: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering Job growth outlook through 2030: 7% Mechanical engineers design, build and develop mechanical and thermal sensing devices, such as engines, tools, and machines. (snhu.edu)
- 8% Civil engineers solve infrastructure problems. (snhu.edu)
External Links
How To
How to use an engineering ruler
Engineers use the engineering ruler to measure distances. Since ancient times, engineers measure distances. The 3000 BC mark was the date that the first measuring device was created.
We still use rulers in the modern age, but their usage has changed. The most common type of ruler today is called a metric ruler. These rulers are marked off in millimeters (1 mm 0.039 inches). Metric rulers are generally rectangular in form and available in many sizes. Other rulers may include graduations, millimeters and centimeters. For example, 1 cm equals 2.54 mm.
You won't find engineers today using a traditional manual ruler. They would use the digital version which measures in millimeters. It works in the same manner as a normal digital scale, except that it has markings for different length units. Learn more about them here.