Senior Reactor Operations Engineer

Summary

The position is located in the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR), Division of Advanced Reactors and Non-power Production and Utilization Facilities (DANU), Advanced Reactor Policy Branch (UARP). The supervisor is Michael Wentzel.

This position is subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure and security ownership restriction reporting requirements.

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Overview

• Accepting applications
• Open & closing dates

07/07/2025 to 07/17/2025

This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more

• Salary

$167,603 - $195,200 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GG 15

• Help

Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Rockville, MD 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional travel based on work demands of approximately 10% or less of duty time.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

Yes-Travel expenses associated with interview and/or relocation 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

15

• Job family (Series)

• 0801 General Engineering

• 1301 General Physical Science

• 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

Yes

• Bargaining unit status

No

• Announcement number

NRR/DANU-2025-0011

• Control number

840296400

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This job is open to

• 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.

• Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees whose job, agency or department was eliminated and are eligible for priority over other applicants.

• Land and base management

Current or former employees of a base management agency.

• 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 relocating under PCS orders or whose spouse is 100% disabled or died while on active duty.

• National Guard and reserves

Current members, those who want to join or transitioning military members.

• Individuals with disabilities

Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.

• Family of overseas employees

Family members of a federal employee or uniformed service member who is or was, working overseas.

• Native Americans

Native Americans or Alaskan Natives with a tribal affiliation.

• 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 NRC Employees are encouraged to apply. Based on the staffing needs of the agency/area of consideration, additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement.

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Duties

As a Senior Reactor Operations Engineer or Scientist, you will serve as a leading technical authority and senior-level professional staff member in charge of the most complex assignments associated with ensuring the NRC's oversight of commercial power reactors, including those under construction or decommissioning, is effective, accurate, and credible through inspection, policy development, coordination, implementation, assessment, and enhancement. You will review and develop oversight processes, policy, and guidance. Additionally, you will evaluate the implementation of the advanced reactor oversight and advanced reactor construction oversight at NRC headquarters and regional offices and take action in response to feedback on the impact of NRC activities. Responsibilities you will be assigned include but are not limited to:

1. Provide primary program management and technical direction for the advanced reactor oversight and advanced reactor construction reactor oversight processes with an emphasis on improving the safety and risk focus of inspections and assessment activities.

2. Develop inspection related program guidance for NRC inspections of commercial nuclear power facilities, including operating facilities and those under construction or decommissioning.

3. Determine inspection scope and attributes to evaluate licensee safety performance by focusing on licensee programs and hardware that make significant contributions to safe operation.

4. Ensure that inspection procedures provide a basis for determining the quality of licensee performance in the areas covered in the inspection.

5. Prepare responses to public and Congressional inquiries regarding assigned areas of responsibility and NRC activities. Represents NRC in public forums.

6. Provide technical expertise for regional inspections, providing instant decisions and direction, when needed.

7. Initiate programs to develop new (or changed) concepts for operating commercial power reactor inspections and implements corresponding trial programs by determining the details needed to adequately test the concept. Prepare the documentation needed to include the new concept or approach in the routine established program of reactor inspection.

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Requirements

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.

Key Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• This is a Drug Testing position.
• Subject to security ownership restrictions and reporting requirements.

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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.

The specialized experience includes experience that demonstrates thorough knowledge of the regulations, criteria, standards, guides, and policies pertaining to the NRC's regulatory posture and enforcement over the nuclear industry; experience in the review and/or inspection of the physical functional requirements of reactor sites, structures, systems, components, staffing and procedures during the siting, design, construction, operation, and/or decommissioning phases of reactor life.

The ideal candidate will also be able to demonstrate the following:

1. In-depth knowledge of nuclear power plant design, construction, operations, and systems, with an emphasis on new light water and advanced non-light water design, construction, and deployment concepts.

2. An extensive knowledge and experience with construction oversight programs, including development or implementation of risk-informed, performance-based processes that could be applied to new light water and advanced non-light water reactors.

3. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing. Demonstrate ability to establish effective working relationships with various audiences.

A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate should be addressed in your resume.

Education

Qualification for 0801 Series:

Basic Requirements:

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

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.)

More detailed information about these alternatives are described in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards Operating Manual which may be accessed at the following website:

Qualification for 1301 series:

Basic Requirements:

Degree: physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics.

OR

Combination of education and experience -- education equivalent to one of the majors shown in A above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

• 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.

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.

Your application (resume and responses to the vacancy questions) for this vacancy must be received online via the USAJOBS application system BEFORE midnight Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online resume, including responding to the vacancy questions, you will not be considered for this position. Paper applications will not be accepted unless hardship circumstances can be demonstrated and requests for extensions will not be granted. If applying online poses a hardship to any applicant, 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 BEFORE the closing date to speak to someone who can provide assistance for online submission. You must answer the job specific vacancy questions. You will be rated based on your responses to the vacancy questions and 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 as they relate to each of the vacancy questions to determine your level of knowledge, skill or ability for this position. Abbreviated responses to the vacancy questions, such as "significant experience" or "see resume" 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.

SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTATION: As an NRC employee you must submit your most recent rating of record (or a statement that one is not available). All supplemental material must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement and should include your name and the vacancy announcement number. See required documents below.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

• 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.

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.

• Required Documents

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

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 "significant experience" or "see resume" 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.

As a NRC employee you are required to submit your most recent Rating of Record (Performance Appraisal) or a statement saying that one is not available.

All supplemental documents can now be collected electronically and should be submitted before the closing date of this vacancy announcement. You have three 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

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• 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 "significant experience" or "see resume" 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.

Agency contact information

Lapeachtriss Turner

Phone ... Fax ... Email ...

Address NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Office of Human Resources

Attn: Please Complete

Washington, District of Columbia 20555

United States

Next steps

You may check the status of your application at any time after the announcement closes by logging onto USAJOBs and selecting "Application Status."

• Fair and Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request

Help

Required Documents

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 "significant experience" or "see resume" 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.

As a NRC employee you are required to submit your most recent Rating of Record (Performance Appraisal) or a statement saying that one is not available.

All supplemental documents can now be collected electronically and should be submitted before the closing date of this vacancy announcement. You have three 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

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Help

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 "significant experience" or "see resume" 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.

Read more

Agency contact information

Lapeachtriss Turner

Phone ... Fax ... Email ...

Address NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

US Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Office of Human Resources

Attn: Please Complete

Washington, District of Columbia 20555

United States

Next steps

You may check the status of your application at any time after the announcement closes by logging onto USAJOBs and selecting "Application Status."

Read more

Fair & Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

• Criminal history inquiries
• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
• Financial suitability
• New employee probationary period
• Privacy Act
• Reasonable accommodation policy
• Selective Service
• Signature and false statements
• Social security number request

Print

Share

• Email
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Help

Overview

• Accepting applications
• Open & closing dates

07/07/2025 to 07/17/2025

This job will close when we have received 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more

• Salary

$167,603 - $195,200 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GG 15

• Location

1 vacancy in the following location:

• Rockville, MD 1 vacancy

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Occasional travel - Occasional travel based on work demands of approximately 10% or less of duty time.

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

Yes-Travel expenses associated with interview and/or relocation 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

15

• Job family (Series)

• 0801 General Engineering

• 1301 General Physical Science

• 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

Yes

• Bargaining unit status

No

• Announcement number

NRR/DANU-2025-0011

• Control number

840296400

This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/840296400. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.