fields of engineering

What Does a Nuclear Engineer Do?

By David McKinney 16 June, 2023 3 mins read

An office, a power station or a construction site could be the home of a nuclear engineer. No matter where they work nuclear science and tech are moving forward. Some people have negative opinions about the nuclear sector, but these are very few. There are many positive aspects to working in this field.

Perspectives on the job

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics nuclear engineers have a good job outlook. This field is expected grow at a rate of 4 percent per annum until 2020, though not as rapidly as other industries. Due to the increasing dependence on natural gas, the nuclear industry may see a decrease in its number of engineers. Also, the field of nuclear science will see more applications in medical settings, which will make it even more important to have qualified engineers.

Nuclear engineering is an excellent career choice for those who have strong scientific interests and are skilled in mathematics and statistics. This field offers many career options. You might be able to become a manager or supervisor in nuclear engineering, or even a sales representative depending on what your specialization is. You should continue to pursue your continuing education and professional certifications. The job growth in this area is unpredictable but there are many career opportunities for nuclear engineers.

Education requirements

Many options are available to students who desire to become nuclear engineers. A four-year degree program can be completed at an accredited university. Students can also complete a senior project at work while they are employed. 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. Many students are required to complete research-intensive thesis assignments.

Nuclear engineers may become technical specialists, managers and supervisors depending on the job they are looking for. To be competitive in the field, nuclear engineers must continue to learn 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.

Environment for work

Although the work environment for nuclear engineers is varied, most involve working in teams. They are responsible for supervising technicians and other less-educated employees. They may also manage larger research projects or oversee certain aspects. They may also have to train others. This is a field where safety is of paramount importance. The radiation that a nuclear engineer is exposed to must be controlled.

While the work environment for nuclear engineers can be technical, it can also allow for creativity. Many nuclear engineers work in design engineering. This involves creating new devices for power or equipment that can be used to dispose of radioactive waste material. Some work in nuclear research and develop new equipment and systems that aid scientists in understanding matter, energy, and other topics.

Salary

Graduate trainee positions are the best way to start a career in nuclear engineering. You will usually work slowly and steadily. You can move up to a managerial or supervisory position depending on your experience. You can eventually choose to specialize in a specific area of the field. No matter what your chosen field is, nuclear engineers should be ready to continue their education and training.

You can find many employers for nuclear engineers. You can find them working for either a private firm or a government agency depending on their geographic location. They may also work in manufacturing or in the nuclear power industry.

FAQ

What is the Hardest Engineering Major

Computer science is by far the most challenging engineering major. You have to learn everything from scratch. Also, you must be able to think creatively.

You will need to understand programming languages like C++, Java, Python, JavaScript, PHP, HTML, CSS, SQL, XML, and many others.

You'll also need to know how computers work. You will need to know about hardware, software architectures and operating systems.

Computer Science is a great option if you are interested in becoming an engineer.

Which engineer earns the most?

Software engineers are the answer, as they write code for computers. They can also choose the type of project that they wish to work on. Although software engineers can work in almost any industry, they prefer to work for tech companies like Google and Microsoft.

Do I need a degree for engineering?

An engineering degree does not necessarily require a bachelor's. Employers prefer candidates with degrees. To get your degree, you can take some online classes if you don’t hold one.

What is a typical day in life of an engineer?

Engineers spend most of their time working on projects. These projects can include developing new products and improving existing ones.

They may work on research projects that aim to improve the world around us.

They may also be involved in the creation of new technologies, such as computers, phones, and cars, planes or rockets.

Engineers need to have imagination and creativity to succeed in these tasks. They should be able and willing to think outside the boxes to come up with creative solutions.

They will be expected to brainstorm ideas and create concepts. They will also need equipment such as laser cutters CNC machines, 3D printing, laser cutters, CNC, computer-aided engineering software, etc. to test their ideas.

Engineers need to communicate well to convey their ideas to others. Engineers must create reports and presentations in order to share their findings with clients and colleagues.

And finally, they will have to manage their time efficiently to get the maximum amount done in the minimum amount of time.

No matter which type of engineering you choose to do, you will need to be creative, innovative, analytical, and well-organized.

Statistics

Typically required education: Bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering Job growth outlook through 2030: 8% Aerospace engineers specialize in designing spacecraft, aircraft, satellites, and missiles. (snhu.edu)
14% of Industrial engineers design systems that combine workers, machines, and more to create a product or service to eliminate wastefulness in production processes, according to BLS efficiently. (snhu.edu)