OPERATIONS ENGINEER

Apply OPERATIONS ENGINEER Nuclear Regulatory Commission Apply Print Share * * * * Save * Summary * This job is open to * Duties * Requirements * How you will be evaluated * Required documents * How to apply Summary These positions are located in the Divisions of Operating Reactor Safety in the following offices: Region I - King of Prussia, PA Region II - Atlanta, GA Region III - Naperville, IL Region IV - Arlington, TX This position is not subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements.

This position is not subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.

Learn more about this agency Summary These positions are located in the Divisions of Operating Reactor Safety in the following offices: Region I - King of Prussia, PA Region II - Atlanta, GA Region III - Naperville, IL Region IV - Arlington, TX This position is not subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements.

This position is not subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.

Learn more about this agency Overview Help Accepting applications Open & closing dates 04/09/2026 to 04/30/2026 Salary $112,556 - $154,682 per year Actual salary will be based on duty location.

Pay scale & grade GG 13 Locations Atlanta, GA 1 vacancy Naperville, IL 4 vacancies King of Prussia, PA 1 vacancy Arlington, TX 1 vacancy Remote job No Telework eligible Yes-as determined by the agency policy.

Travel Required 50% or less - Generally, up to 40% travel is required.

Relocation expenses reimbursed Yes-Travel expenses associated with job offer may be paid to the extent allowed by Federal Travel Regulations.

Appointment type Permanent Work schedule Full-time Service Excepted Promotion potential 13 Job family (Series) * 0840 Nuclear Engineering Supervisory status No Security clearance L Access Authorization Drug test Yes Position sensitivity and risk Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk Trust determination process * Credentialing Financial disclosure No Bargaining unit status No Announcement number DEST--LS Control number 864560100 This job is open to Help The public U.S.

Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Federal employees - Competitive service Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S.

Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.

Federal employees - Excepted service Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

Veterans Veterans of the U.S.

Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference Military spouses Military spouses of active duty service members or whose spouse is 100 percent disabled or died on active duty.

Individuals with disabilities Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.

Peace Corps & AmeriCorps Vista Individuals who have served at least 2 years with the Peace Corps or 1 year with AmeriCorps VISTA.

Special authorities Individuals eligible under a special authority not listed in another hiring path.

Clarification from the agency All U.S.

Citizens may apply.

Duties Help The successful candidate will perform the full range of duties as an Operations Engineer.

As a region-based inspector and examiner, you will develop, prepare and administer examinations to applicants for operator and senior operator licenses for nuclear reactors.

You will plan, conduct, report, and coordinate findings associated with inspections of light-water reactors, in accordance with the NRC Inspection Manual.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 1.

Preparing, reviewing, and administering written and operating examinations for operator license applicants.

2.

Planning and preparing for the scope of an assigned inspection to obtain sufficient information through direct observation and verification of licensee activities, including licensed operator re-qualification training.

3.

Performing routine and complex inspections of reactor facilities to observe and assure conformance to NRC rules and regulations, inspection procedures, and orders.

4.

Writing reports of inspection findings to ascertain whether the facility is being operated safely, the licensee's management control programs are effective and regulatory requirements are being satisfied.

5.

Coordinating inspection findings into overall licensee assessment.

Requirements Help 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.

Selectees may be required to serve a trial period to assess their overall fitness and qualifications for continued employment.

The trial period for new employees is two years.

New employees who are preference eligible veterans serve a one-year trial period.

All information in your resume must be true and accurate.

Conditions of Employment: * U.S.

Citizenship Required * This is a Drug Testing position * Must be able to meet and maintain security & suitability requirements.

Qualifications In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the basic education requirements as described in the Education section below, and 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: work experience applying any of a variety of relevant professional engineering disciplines (e.g., nuclear, electrical, mechanical, metallurgical, structural, chemical) in the industry of commercial or military nuclear power.

Such experience must have provided you with the full range of knowledge, skills and abilities identified for what is considered an "Ideal Candidate" for this position.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following: 1.

Knowledge of the principles, theories and practices of nuclear reactor and commercial nuclear power plant engineering.

(Examples include: Positions held as a licensed operator, certified operator, or licensed operator trainer which provided you the knowledge and understanding of the principles, theories and practices in commercial nuclear reactor engineering and design). 2.

Knowledge of power plant systems, procedures, and integrated facility operations based on reactor operation or inspection experience at operating commercial nuclear reactor facilities.

(Examples include: Specific experience and training in the operation and/or testing of nuclear power plants.

Experience and training related to integrated facility operations during normal and accident conditions.

Identification of current licensed operator qualification, instructor certification or current status of such a qualification). 3.

Ability to apply regulations, regulatory guides and industry standards, reactor and operator licensing guidelines and procedures, and reactor operation, inspection and assessment techniques.

(Examples include: Specific experience, education, training, and accomplishments demonstrating knowledge, skills, and abilities in reactor facility and licensed operator regulations.

Examples could include specific training and/or experience as a senior reactor operator; reactor operator; or licensed operator instructor; Nuclear Safety Review auditor or inspector, etc.) 4.

Knowledge of current NRC rules, regulations, policies, reactor license requirements, and inspection procedures as applied to the normal and accident operation of a commercial nuclear power facility.

5.

Ability to present technical information both orally and in writing.

(Examples include: Education, training and/or experience that has enabled you to effectively communicate results of analysis and solutions to problems, i.e.

those related to the training, testing, evaluation and qualification of commercial nuclear power plant operators and/or the operation of a commercial nuclear power plant facility.

Making oral presentations and developing written communications to present technical information to a variety of audiences.) A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate must be addressed in your resume.

Applicants may also use the supplemental vacancy question to provide additional information pertaining to the specialized experience and ideal candidate criteria.

PLEASE BE CLEAR AND CONCISE.

WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Education Candidates for Federal Government professional engineering positions must meet certain basic professional knowledge requirements.

Generally these knowledge requirements are met by having a bachelor's or higher degree in a relevant professional engineering discipline (e.g., mechanical, metallurgical, materials, nuclear, structural, chemical, electrical) from a school of engineering with at least one professional engineering curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). However, if you do not possess such a professional engineering degree, you may still satisfy the professional knowledge requirements if you have current Professional Engineer (P.E.) registration in one of the relevant disciplines from any U.S.

State or Territory; or if you successfully passed an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) written examination administered by a State Board of Engineering Examiners; or if you have either a related professional degree or at least 60 semester hours of specified engineering-related college courses COMBINED WITH at least a year of professional engineering work experience performed under professional engineer supervision and guidance.

Note: Engineering technology degrees are not generally qualifying unless supplemented by other evidence of the individual's professional knowledge (e.g., current P.E.

license or EIT examination results, as discussed above). More detailed information about these alternatives for meeting the knowledge requirements for Federal professional engineering jobs are described in the U.S.

Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards Operating Manual which may be accessed at the following Web site: OPM Qualification Standards for 0800 Professional Engineering Positions You must include an unofficial or official copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application.

Transcript must include the School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). Education must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education.

If you have multiple degrees (e.g., BS, MS, PhD) please submit transcripts for each degree.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements.

You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S.

education program.

It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website.

If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency.

Transcripts must be uploaded with your application to verify education.

All documentation must be in English or include an English translation.

Additional information The duty location of these positions are King of Prussia, PA; Atlanta, GA; Naperville, IL or Arlington, TX.

These positions 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.

Selectees will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation.

False statements or responses on your resume or questionnaire can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.

The NRC is a zero-tolerance agency with respect to illegal drug use.

Individuals selected for these positions will be subject to pre-appointment drug testing.

A transferable security clearance from another agency or a background investigation leading to a clearance is required for all new hires.

To begin work at the NRC without a security clearance, you must be granted a temporary waiver of the required clearance, referred to as a 145(b) waiver.

To be eligible for a 145(b) waiver you will need a favorable education verification, reference, credit, and criminal history checks.

If a waiver is granted, the successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication is required for continued employment.

If you have resided outside the U.S.

for an extended period of time, the agency may not be able to (1) grant the 145(b) waiver where the required investigation cannot be completed in a timely manner, or (2) achieve timely completion of the background investigation required for a security clearance.

Expand Hide additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits Help A career with the U.S.

government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.

As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

As an NRC employee you will enjoy excellent Federal Benefits, including: comprehensive health and life insurance plans; Flexible Spending Account Program for health and dependent care; Dental and Vision Insurance; retirement savings and investment plan similar to 401(k) (Thrift Savings Plan); annual (vacation) and paid sick leave; family friendly leave policies; 11 paid holidays per year; transit benefits.

This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees.

Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

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

Your application will be evaluated based on the information provided in your resume and responses to any vacancy questions to determine your level of knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the job requirements.

You must respond to all required application questions.

If you are among the top candidates for this position, your application will be referred to the hiring manager for possible interview and selection based upon the number of available vacancies to be filled in each office.

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 resume that directly relates to this position.

Benefits Help A career with the U.S.

government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.

As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

As an NRC employee you will enjoy excellent Federal Benefits, including: comprehensive health and life insurance plans; Flexible Spending Account Program for health and dependent care; Dental and Vision Insurance;