Job Title: Operations Engineer

Background

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proud to be ranked as a BEST Place to Work in the Federal Government. We've earned our top ratings by creating a work environment rich in opportunity, diversity, leadership training, teamwork, and work life balance. Help guide our nation into the next generation of nuclear safety! Begin a challenging career with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission where you can be part of a select group of professionals who protect people and the environment with the peaceful use of nuclear materials in medicine, industry and research.

Duties

This position is located in Region II, Division of Reactor Safety, Operations Branch 2, Atlanta, GA. Position requires up to 40% travel.

The incumbent of this position serves as a region-based inspector and examiner to plan, conduct, report, and coordinate findings associated with inspections of light-water reactors, in accordance with the NRC Inspection Manual. Develops, prepares and administers examinations to applicants for operators and senior operators’ licenses for nuclear reactors. Conducts initial examinations of licensed reactor operators. Evaluates exam results and recommends operator license issuance or denial. Evaluates license denial issues of other examiners during applicant appeals and hearings. Reviews operator initial and renewal license actions, including applications, amendments and waiver requests. Compares these actions against regulations and guidance uses Part 55 docket files to support these reviews and recommends licensing actions to supervision. Identifies possible problems with established NRC operator license and exam guidance and proposes resolutions to regional and headquarters management via Reports of Interaction (ROIs); and issues final reports.

This vacancy announcement is OPEN UNTIL FILLED. Candidates could be referred to a rating panel/official as early as 16 days after the opening date. Candidates should apply early in order to receive the greatest consideration.

Applicants for this vacancy may also be considered for similar vacancies (i.e., those vacancies having comparable duties, same grade level, and same Full Performance Level) that arise within the Region II Office.

Qualifications

Education

You must meet basic education and professional knowledge requirements that apply to Federal engineering positions at all levels. Generally this knowledge is met by having a bachelor's or higher degree in a relevant professional engineering discipline (e.g., nuclear, electrical, mechanical) or any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics 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).

Experience

In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level, GG-12, in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector. Generally, to meet this level of experience, you would need 3-5 years of post-degree specialized experience. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE includes experience that demonstrates a thorough understanding of the principles, theories, and practices in the engineering field. Generally, this knowledge is met by having a bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant engineering discipline such as nuclear, electrical, or mechanical.

The ideal candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate the following:

(1) Demonstrated knowledge of the principles, theories and practices of reactor engineering.

(2) Demonstrated knowledge of NRC regulations, regulatory guides and industry codes, standards and practices as applied to training and evaluation of licensed reactor operators.

(3) Knowledge of nuclear power plant systems, procedures and integrated facility operations based on reactor operation or inspection experience at operating reactor facilities. This is to include assessments, audits, and observations of reactor operations.

(4) Ability to observe, review, appraise and report effectively on the operation of nuclear power plants.

How to Apply

Visit www.nrc.gov Review the NRC Opportunities page and click on “to view a list of current NRC vacancies, please visit USAJobs EXIT.” Find the Operations Engineer, Announcement Number R-II/DRS-2018-0004 and apply on-line by August 30, 2018. If you are viewing this opportunity after August 30th please visit NRC’s website and discover additional opportunities for which you might be interested. Applicants for this vacancy may also be considered for similar vacancies (i.e., those vacancies having comparable duties, same grade level, and same Full Performance Level) that arise within the Region II Office.