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Materials Engineer

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Rockville, MDFull-time$144–187K/yrPosted 4 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$144–187K/yr
Location
Rockville, MD
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Professional Engineer Registration Or EIT Examination Or Related Degree/Courses With ExperienceSecurity clearance

Job overview

The Materials Engineer reviews complex materials engineering issues to assess licensee compliance with NRC regulations and evaluate proposed license changes. The role supports operating experience reviews, inspection and enforcement activities, and development of regulations and guidance. It also provides technical advice and communicates with stakeholders, including through reviews of applications, exemptions, and industry reports and preparation of safety evaluation reports.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Nuclear Materials EngineeringNuclear Facility EvaluationTechnical Project CollaborationTechnical CommunicationTechnical Presentation

Qualifications

One Year Specialized ExperienceBachelor's or Higher in Relevant Engineering or Equivalent PathProfessional Engineer Registration or EIT Examination or Related Degree/Courses With ExperienceU.S. Citizenship

Benefits

Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Match
Paid Time Off

Full job description

Summary

This position is located in the Office of Advanced Reactors, Division of Advanced Reactor Engineering, Advanced Reactor Engineering Branch 1, 3 or 4. The supervisor is Alissa P. Neuhausen, Alec J. Neller or Travis L. Tate. This position is subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements. This position is subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.

Duties

The successful candidate will review complex materials engineering-related issues to evaluate applicant or licensee implementation of NRC regulations and requirements and to evaluate changes to existing licenses. Utilizes technical expertise in the area of materials engineering to perform operating experience reviews, support inspection and enforcement activities, and develop regulations and regulatory guidance. Provides specialized technical assistance and advice to NRC management and staff and communicates complex materials engineering-related issues with internal and external stakeholders. Such duties include but are not limited to: Reviews applicant or licensee submittals relative to regulatory requirements and guidance applying risk-informed decision making and performance-based principles where applicable. Reviews and prepares safety evaluation reports regarding design certification applications (Parts 52 and 53), combined license applications (Parts 52 and 53), construction permit applications (Parts 50 and 53), and operating license applications (Parts 50 and 53). Reviews and prepares safety evaluation reports regarding exemptions from the regulations. Reviews and prepares safety evaluation reports on complex industry topical reports to support generic licensing actions. Requirements

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. 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. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. 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. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as: Experience that demonstrates a knowledge of the design, construction, operation, inspection, and/or evaluation of nuclear plant materials, components, structures, and/or facilities. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following: Demonstrated knowledge of the design, construction, operation, maintenance, inspection, and evaluation of nuclear facilities. Demonstrated experience in leading, managing, or participating with others in complex, highly technical research projects or tasks leading to timely issue resolution. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with internal and external organizations on technical projects on a variety of subjects related to materials or metallurgical engineering. Demonstrated ability to communicate and present technical information clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing. 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. How You Will Be Evaluated

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

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. Other Information

This position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within the agency. 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.

How this job compares

Set against the 495 open Nuclear Engineer jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 27, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$144–187K/yr
  • US median$106–154K/yr404 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $166K, is 30% above the US median midpoint ($128K) — in the top quarter of Nuclear Engineer salary ranges across the US.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 20 open Nuclear Engineer jobs in Maryland and 495 across the US. 9% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Maryland
Experience
This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience — less than three in four Nuclear Engineer postings that state a minimum ask for (median 6 years, across 431 postings).
Education
361 of the 495 open Nuclear Engineer jobs (73%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 27, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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