How to become a nuclear engineer | Salary, skills, requirements

As a nuclear engineer, you'll design, build, run or decommission nuclear power stations.

Depending on your role, you could design new systems, maintain existing systems or look for ways to improve the efficiency, stability and sustainability of nuclear power plants. You'll typically work in multi-disciplinary teams to come up with technical solutions.

Decommissioning (shutting down) facilities is also an important aspect of the role, as is planning and carrying out safety procedures for the transport, storage and disposal of radioactive materials used in nuclear plants.

Types of nuclear engineer

You can choose to specialise in just one part of the engineering field. For example, some reactors are cooled using water systems, so you could embark on a career as a specialist hydraulic engineer. Chemical, electrical and mechanical engineers can all find a place in the nuclear industry.

Other specialties include:

health and safety specialist
instrumentation and control engineer
process engineer
project manager
quality engineer
reactor operator.

Responsibilities

As a nuclear engineer, you'll need to:

understand the science behind how nuclear facilities work
analyse energy transmission, conversion and storage systems
solve design or operational problems with reactor cores and shielding, hydraulic and electrical systems, and complex instrumentation such as monitoring equipment
manage staff and budgets for complex design, construction, maintenance, expansion, safety and decommissioning projects
always keep the safety of people and the environment in mind, cooperate with local emergency services, and work with national and international industry regulatory bodies
be aware of and address security concerns regarding the use, transport, storage and disposal of radioactive materials
interpret data and respond to emerging issues to ensure equipment is always working properly
write reports, project plans and other documents that provide information about new facilities, existing processes, problems and solutions, and safety exercises for regulators, energy firms and co-workers in facility construction and management
discuss engineering issues with people from other fields, such as construction professionals, power grid managers and government officials
plan and assist with the safe decommissioning of facilities that have reached the end of their lifespan, including temporary and long-term disposal of high-hazard radioactive material
use mathematical and computer models, and run pilot projects to try out new ideas.

Salary

Starting salaries for nuclear engineers are in the region of £22,000 to £30,000. You can expect graduate training schemes to pay around this too.
With experience, working at a mid-level, you can expect to earn £35,000 to £50,000.
At a senior level your salary may be up to £65,000 or more.

Salaries vary depending on the employer and the exact nature of the role.

Within nuclear plant construction or nuclear energy facilities you can expect a good range of employee benefits, including ongoing training opportunities, a pension plan and health insurance.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Your hours will depend on which part of the industry you work in. If you're involved in design, research and development or project management you'll typically have standard hours of around 9am to 5pm. You may also sometimes need to attend conferences or travel abroad to meet with partners or visit sites.

Working in a processing or power station is different as these facilities run on a 24-hour schedule. It's likely you'll need to work shifts, which could be on a seven-day rota, including weekends, evenings and nights.

Short-term contracts and part-time work are not typical, but large companies are starting to realise the value of job-sharing and flexible hours. It may be possible to negotiate your working hours.

What to expect

You could be based in an office or laboratory or at a power station. Or you could be involved in supervising and checking work on construction sites when facilities are being built or closed down.
Some people have negative opinions about the nuclear industry. You should expect to have to explain or defend what you do at times.
Major companies in the field are very proactive about increasing equality and diversity within the industry. Initiatives are in place and details can be found at the Nuclear Institute.
Currently, nuclear energy is a crucial part of the world's energy system, so there is a growing demand for engineers and a good level of job security with this career.
You may need to be prepared to relocate to one of the locations of the current nuclear power stations in the UK. There are also opportunities to work abroad as many major companies operate internationally.

Qualifications

Most nuclear engineers have a degree in an engineering or science subject, and the following courses are particularly relevant for entry into the nuclear engineering industry:

chemical engineering
chemistry
civil engineering
electrical engineering
hydraulic engineering
mechanical engineering
nuclear engineering
physics.

Some universities offer programmes that specialise in nuclear engineering or combine it with another related discipline.

You can apply for jobs directly or join a graduate trainee scheme. The trainee scheme route can fast-track you into better roles and give you a chance to try different aspects of the field. One such option, is the Nuclear Graduates scheme. This takes two years to complete and is run by employers in the nuclear sector.

You could also choose to do a degree apprenticeship, where you will work while studying for the relevant qualifications.

Search for apprenticeships.

It's also possible to enter with a foundation degree or HNC/HND in a subject relevant to engineering. You could apply directly for some junior roles or enter a trainee scheme, but you’ll usually need further qualifications and experience to progress to fully qualified engineer status.

There are a few universities that offer MPhil or MEng postgraduate courses in nuclear engineering. These are not necessary but could give you an edge when competing for jobs. Look at employers you're interested in and see what their requirements are. You could also choose to complete postgraduate work abroad.

Learn more about nuclear engineering courses.

Nuclear engineering is a specialist field, so the level of competition is moderate. If you have a strong record at university and at least some related work experience as a student, prospects are reasonably good.

Skills

You'll need to have:

good analytical skills for understanding complex operational and monitoring systems
problem-solving skills for dealing with construction issues or repairs
strong aptitude in maths and IT
a willingness to keep up with fast-moving developments in science and technology
the ability to communicate with colleagues and outside specialists about work issues
communication skills to speak with the public about the nuclear industry or safety issues.

Work experience

It's important to get relevant work experience and you can start while still a student by attending open days at nuclear facilities to see what the work's like and to talk to employees.

Another way to get experience would be to join a nuclear power company as part of an industrial placement for your degree. Other than formal placements, part-time work is not usually available while you study. However, you may be able to gain work experience or part-time work with the non-nuclear side of a large energy or construction firm that is involved in the industry, which will give you an advantage later on.

Joining the Nuclear Institute as an Affiliate member while you are studying can help you to gain industry contacts, which can be helpful for future employment opportunities. It also gives you access to its Young Generation Network which provides early-career support including webinars, seminars, mentoring and a subscription to the member journal. All of this can help you to stay up to date with developments in the industry.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

In the UK, nuclear power plants are run by private companies, but are subject to strict control by the Office for Nuclear Regulation for safety reasons. Most roles are with major energy or construction companies, although there is some public-sector potential on the regulatory side.

Security clearance may be required for permanent staff and contractors in some jobs.

Look for job vacancies at:

Companies that run reactors in the UK, such as EDF and Centrica, list job vacancies on their websites.

Some specialist recruitment agencies handle vacancies. For opportunities see:

Professional development

All companies in the nuclear sector will expect you to keep up with new developments through CPD. You can do this through formal on-the-job training, attending industry conferences or completing external courses.

It’s a good idea to become a member of the Nuclear Institute as this helps you grow your network and gives you access to seminars, conferences and its professional journal.

The Nuclear Institute also helps individuals gain incorporated (IEng) or chartered (CEng) professional registration, acting as a licensed body for the Engineering Council, Science Council and Society for the Environment.

If you entered the career with an HNC or HND, you might choose to return to university part-time as your career develops, to support your progression into more senior engineering roles.

Career prospects

Starting as a graduate trainee is the most typical way into nuclear engineering, and employers have a structured progression path. You're likely to have slow but steady career progress rather than rapid advancement because there's a lot to learn.

There's scope to move up by jumping to a higher-level post with a new employer.

You could also make a career shift to related fields, working with radiological materials in medicine or manufacturing, nuclear imaging technologies, space exploration, or non-nuclear engineering.