The responsibilities of a nuclear design engineer are varied. The nuclear engineer should be creative as well as analytical and they must also be keen on developing as well as monitoring the development of radiation and nuclear energy in nuclear reactors and power plants. In fact, the professionals are trained to make use of the knowledge as well as responsibilities in research work, as it is something that can lead to breakthroughs in the field of medicine as well as engineering techniques. The role of a nuclear engineer is to work in design engineering and they need to design as well as develop new devices that are required for the generation of power, such as nuclear reactors.
The academic requirements of a nuclear engineer are a high school education with science subjects, with a bachelor's degree in engineering. Colleges licensed under the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology or ABET are preferred by employers. The subjects of choice in nuclear engineering include:
- Mechanics
- Thermodynamics
- Computer programming
- Math
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Reactor physics
- Quantum mechanics
- Fission reactions
- Thermal energy
- Radiation
- Agriculture
- Medicine
- Science
- Industry
The training of the nuclear engineering professionals takes in the usage of the following aspects that are related to:
- Design
- Construction
- Research
- Development
A nuclear design engineer can gain relevant experience in the field by looking for openings in universities and colleges. Employment in nuclear power plants and factories making arms, ammunitions, and weapons is also a good way to get started.
The career prospects of a nuclear design engineer are good. According to the estimates of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, nuclear engineering and design jobs are expected to grow at a rate that is better than the average, with good possibilities of advancement. In fact, with the scenario rapidly changing, with the required amount of experience, you can quickly move on to become supervisors of the nuclear engineer groups. Management, administration, and university level teaching are the other growth prospects involved.
The salaries of the nuclear engineering experts vary depending on the size, location, and experience of the organization. According to the statistics of the year 2004, the average annual salaries of a nuclear design engineer were about $85,000. For the beginners, the starting salary was around $52,000 for the graduates and $59,000 for the post graduates. The other benefits include paid holidays, health insurance, and pension plans.
Nuclear design engineer careers are challenging with extra and additional shifts required for the job. They also need to follow various kinds of safety measures for keeping the work sites and stations safe from radiation poisoning. Nuclear engineering is something that also takes into account protection from heavy barriers and nuclear reactors. Other than solving problems, the nuclear engineer should know how to manage teams and ensure their safety.
