Learning Choices

Job Profile

Nuclear Engineer

Nuclear engineers develop and apply nuclear energy to produce electrical power. Some produce radioactive materials for medical purposes. They usually specialise in one area, for example power station operations, waste management or environment and safety.

The Work
Conditions
Getting In
What Does It Take?
Training
Getting On
Pay
More Information

The Work

You could be:

working on the design and construction of nuclear power stations
controlling the operation of the reactor in nuclear power stations
operating and maintaining the equipment supplying nuclear power to industry
monitoring the environmental impact of nuclear reactors
being responsible for the safe disposal of nuclear waste
working on the decommissioning and dismantling of old nuclear power stations
producing the radioactive materials used in other fields such as agriculture, industry, medicine and the defence industries
conducting research, preparing technical reports and giving presentations
ensuring the safety of employees, members of the public and the environment.

Conditions

Nuclear engineers work in a clean environment in laboratories, offices, control rooms and the generating areas within power stations.
Some work areas may be hot and cramped.
You may have to work shifts, including weekends and nights, to cover 24 hours, 7 days a week, particularly if you work in a power station.
Safety standards are high, but there can be a risk of accidents and over exposure to radiation.
You must wear protective clothing when working with radioactive materials.

Getting In

You would normally take a Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) or degree in a subject such as nuclear engineering, nuclear decommissioning operations, chemical, electrical or mechanical engineering. Other subjects such as physics, maths or energy technology may also be acceptable.
For entry to an HNC or HND course you normally need 1-2 Highers plus some subjects at Standard grade or National 4 or 5. Degree courses require 4-5 Highers including Maths and Physics or Technological Studies.
You may be able to qualify by other training routes.
You need normal colour vision for entry into some careers in this branch of engineering.
There are openings with nuclear energy companies, in university and government research departments, with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Royal Navy, as well as in the medical profession.
To work for some organisations, such as the MoD, you will have to undergo strict background and security checks.

Jobs in nuclear engineering are relatively small in number. They are advertised in the national press, on the internet and through specialist agencies. Short term contracts are quite common and some nuclear engineers work on a freelance basis.

What Does It Take?

You need to have:

an interest in solving scientific and technical problems
excellent maths and IT skills
problem solving skills
a logical and methodical approach
good planning and management skills
good written and spoken communication skills
a strong awareness of safety in the workplace, as well as public and environmental safety.

You need to be able to:

stay calm under pressure
work as part of team and lead and motivate others
manage projects and budgets
keep up to date with changes in technology.

Training

Training is usually on the job through a company graduate training programme.
After gaining your HNC, HND or degree and some further training with an employer, you can go on to register with the Engineering Council as a professional engineer — either Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng).
For IEng you need to have either a recognised Bachelors degree, a recognised HNC or HND plus further study to Bachelors degree level or an approved Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) Level 4.
For CEng you need to have a recognised Bachelors degree with Honours plus a recognised Masters degree (or equivalent), or a recognised integrated Master of Engineering (MEng) degree.
If you do not have any of the above qualifications, you may still be able to achieve IEng or CEng by other approved routes. You can check these alternative routes with the Engineering Council or with the appropriate professional engineering institution.
You might take a postgraduate qualification in decommissioning and nuclear technology. Details are on the Nuclear Industry Association website (see below).

Getting On

Nuclear engineers who first qualify as IEng can progress to CEng after further training and experience. This can open up a wider range of opportunities.
After training and experience you can apply for membership of the Nuclear Institute.
You might move into teaching and academic research in colleges and universities.
You might work freelance on short term contracts.
There may be opportunities to work abroad.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

where you work
the size of the company or organisation you work for
the demand for the job.

The starting salary for nuclear engineers at graduate entry is usually around £25,000 to £28,000 a year. With experience this can rise to £30,000 to £50,000 a year. More senior engineers can earn from £65,000 a year.