Federal

Reactor Engineer (Operations) (Agency Employees Only)

Nuclear Regulatory Commission ยท Other Agencies and Independent Organizations
๐Ÿ“ Atlanta, Georgia GG-14 $107,446 - $139,684/yr
Posted: Mar 10, 2026 Deadline: Mar 31, 2026 (Closed days left)

About This Position

This position is located in the Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES), Division of Engineering (DE), Reactor Engineering Branch (REB). The supervisor is Raj Iyengar.

This position IS subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements.

This position IS subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as experience that demonstrates a knowledge of the design, construction, operation, inspection, and/or evaluation of nuclear plant components, structures, and/or facilities to understand the value and impact of the requirements of proposed standards. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following: 1.

Demonstrated knowledge of the design, construction, operation, inspection and evaluation of nuclear plant components, structures, and facilities to understand the value and impact of the requirements of proposed standards. (Example) Describe specific training, education, and work experience demonstrates your knowledge of the design, analysis, fabrication, operation, maintenance and testing of reactor systems and components sufficient to understand the value and impact of the requirements of the proposed standard. Examples may include: technical assessments of engineering aspects of reactor systems involving the design analysis, fabrication, operation, maintenance and testing of reactor systems and components (Specific areas of technical assessments will involve reactor operation, inspection and monitoring), and/or the technical issues and resolutions of application of digital twins, big data engineering, domain expertise (e.g., data cleansing, data management, analytics, visualization and engineering), statistics and machine learning.

  1. Demonstrated knowledge of NRC's regulations, principles and procedures, regulatory guides, and industry codes and standards applicable to the integrity of components and structures used in nuclear power plants and/or spent-fuel storage facilities. (Example) Describe your experience that demonstrates your knowledge of NRC's regulations, principles and procedures, regulatory guides, and industry codes and standards applicable to the integrity of components and structures used in nuclear power plants and/or spent-fuel storage facilities. Examples may include experience that shows understanding of risk-informed approaches or impact of technological advances related to the integrity of components and structures used in nuclear power plants and/or spent-fuel storage containers.
  2. Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, and control complex engineering research projects. (Example) Describe your experience that demonstrates your ability to plan, coordinate, and control complex engineering research projects. Provide examples of relevant research projects that you have led. Describe the scope of the projects, the identification of technical challenges and their resolution, and your specific role in the projects.
  3. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a broad range of audiences on technical issues, challenges, and resolutions. (Example) Describe specific experiences and accomplishments communicating effectively orally and in writing with a broad range of audiences on technical issues, challenges, and resolutions. Describe examples of significant oral communications and impactful written products. PLEASE BE CLEAR AND CONCISE. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Major Duties

As a Reactor Engineer (Operations), provides technical assessments of engineering aspects of reactor systems involving the design, analysis, fabrication, operation, maintenance and testing of reactor systems and components. Specific areas of technical assessments will involve reactor operations, inspection, and monitoring. Evaluates the technical issues and resolutions of application of digital twins, big data engineering, domain expertise (e.g., data cleansing, data management, analytics, visualization and engineering), statistics and machine learning.

Develops plans and objectives for complex analytic and experimental research programs to support technical and safety assessments of reactor operations, inspection, and monitoring. Prepares and delivers presentations for technical and programmatic review meetings. Interacts with groups having interest and responsibility in regulatory research areas.

Conditions of Employment

You must meet the qualifications for this position by no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position. All information in your resume must be true and accurate.

Education

A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: 1.

Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.

  1. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
  2. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
  3. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)

How You Will Be Evaluated

When the application process is complete, your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the job requirements.

You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume and responses to any vacancy questions to determine your level of knowledge, skill and ability related to the job requirements. If you are among the top candidates for this position, your application will be referred to the hiring manager.

Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Additional Information

The duty location of this position is Rockville, MD. This position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with Agency policy. Based on the staffing needs of the agency/area of consideration, additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement.

How to Apply

We strongly encourage you to complete your USAJOBS profile before you submit your application for this position. Please read the entire announcement.

Your application for this vacancy must be received online via the USAJOBS application system BEFORE 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online application, you will not be considered for this position. Paper applications will not be accepted unless hardship circumstances can be demonstrated. Requests for extensions WILL NOT be granted. If applying online poses a hardship for you, the Human Resources Specialist listed on the announcement will provide assistance to ensure that applications are submitted online by the closing date.

Applicants must contact the Human Resources Specialist during business hours BEFORE the closing date of the announcement and speak to someone who can provide assistance for your online submission.

You must answer any job specific vacancy questions.

You will be rated based on your responses to any vacancy questions and especially the information provided in your resume. Breadth, recency, and length of experience in the field; training, awards, and commendations; past and current performance; and community or outside professional activities will be considered to determine your level of knowledge, skill or ability for this position. Abbreviated responses to the vacancy questions, such as โ€œsignificant experienceโ€ or โ€œsee resumeโ€ do not provide enough information and should not be used.

You will not be considered for this position if you leave any of the vacancy questions unanswered. To begin the application process, select the "Apply On-line" button to the right on this screen. Then follow the prompts to login/register, submit all required supplemental documents, and complete the application process.

Required Documents

As an NRC employee, you are required to submit your most recent Rating of Record (Performance Appraisal) or a statement saying that one is not available. Additionally, you must also submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action).

NOTE: Your complete application includes your resume, your responses to any vacancy questions, and if necessary, documents which prove your eligibility to apply.

Your resume is crucial in our evaluation of your qualifications.

Resumes should clearly demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and abilities. Please limit your reฬsumeฬ to 2 pages. To ensure your resume contains all required information, we encourage you to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder.

If you choose to use your own resume, please ensure it contains all the required information, and you organize it so we can associate the following information with each experience/position: Job title Name of employer Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/year) format Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will pro-rate part-time employment in crediting experience.

Use concise, results-focused language for job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable). Series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position). If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further.

Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) or other inappropriate material on your resume or cover letter. If your resume contains prohibited information as listed above, your application will be determined ineligible, and you will not receive consideration for this position. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter, links to social media such as LinkedIn, to determine your qualifications.

Cover letters are optional. All supplemental documents can now be collected electronically and should be submitted before the closing date of this vacancy announcement. You have two choices for submitting your supplemental documents: 1.

Use the "USAJOBs" feature to download documents from your USAJOBs portfolio; or 2. use the "Upload" feature to upload documents directly from your computer. The following types of documents can be uploaded: .gif, .jpeg, .png, .rtf, .pdf, and .doc.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Reactor Engineer (Operations) (Agency Employees Only) position at Nuclear Regulatory Commission?
The salary range for this position is $107,446 - $139,684/yr. This is a GG-14 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Reactor Engineer (Operations) (Agency Employees Only) job located?
This position is located in Atlanta, Georgia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as experience that demonstrates a knowledge of the design, construction, operation, inspection, and/or ev...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Mar 31, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a L Access Authorization clearance is required.
What does GG-14 mean?
GG-14 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.