Engineer I - V CNS (Reactor/Fuels)

Nebraska Public Power District • Brownville, NE

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Cooper Nuclear Station is seeking a Reactor or Fuels Engineer to support its Nuclear plant operations.

The Reactor Engineer provides technical expertise and on‑call support to the control room to ensure safe and efficient reactor operations. This role is responsible for preparing and reviewing fuel and control blade shuffle plans, reactivity plans, and procedures related to core operation and nuclear fuel management. The position manages Special Nuclear Material tracking and inventory, supports refueling outage activities, monitors and trends reactor performance, and conducts LPRM calibration using the Traversing In‑core Probe system. Additional responsibilities include supporting new fuel receipt and inspection, as well as contributing to dry fuel storage campaigns through canister loading plan development and long‑range fuel storage planning.

The Fuels Engineer supports the full lifecycle of nuclear fuel by leading core design, analysis, operational support, and vendor oversight activities. The engineer provides direct operational support through rod pattern development, critical position estimates, and core monitoring updates, while also overseeing vendor engineering products and fuel manufacturing to ensure quality and compliance with plant licensing bases. This role offers broad experience in the buy, build, burn, and bury phases of nuclear fuel, preparing the engineer to become a full‑service BWR Fuels Engineer.

This position may be assigned to a position within the Emergency Response Organization (ERO) that requires response to the station when an emergency is declared. Assignment to one of these positions and a condition of continued employment will be the ability to arrive at the station to perform ERO responsibilities within 45 minutes of notification of an emergency.

Note:  Level I to Level V Engineer is considered a progression and is approved by the appropriate manager.  Engineering positions are managed under the NPPD Nuclear Engineering Career Path document.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Nuclear Engineering (ABET Accredited).

Responsibilities

• Provide technical assistance and on-call support to the control room regarding reactor operations
• Prepare and review fuel and control blade shuffles to support refueling outage activities.
• Control the transfer of Special Nuclear Material (SNM) by maintaining the SNM tracking database, developing SNM transfer forms and performing annual SNM inventory.
• Prepare and review reactivity plans for power maneuvers.
• Monitor and trend reactor performance to maintain and improve system availability, reliability, and operational performance.
• Support LPRM Calibration through operation of the Traversing In-core Probe system.
• Support new fuel receipt and inspection activities.
• Prepare and review procedures associated with reactor core operation and nuclear fuel management.
• Support dry fuel storage campaigns by preparing and reviewing canister loading plans and providing technical assistance on long range fuel storage plans.
• Design BWR fuel bundles and core loading patterns.
• Perform core design analyses using Studsvik CASMO/SIMULATE methods.
• Perform core design analyses using GNF methods, including IBUNDL/PANACEA.
• Assist with the full core reload design process.
• Manage project activities for preliminary and final bundle and core designs.
• Oversee vendor licensing analyses and coordinate engineering change approvals.
• Provide operational support, including rod pattern development and critical position estimates.
• Maintain and update core monitoring system inputs.
• Provide technical oversight of vendor engineering products to ensure compliance.
• Oversee fuel manufacturing activities and conduct quality oversight at vendor facilities.
• Support long‑range fuel planning across the buy, build, burn, and bury phases.
• Accountable for other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Nebraska Public Power District offers a competitive starting salary and an excellent benefits package including medical and dental insurance, 401K retirement plan, paid holidays, paid vacation, paid medical, training opportunities and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level