Jobs for Engineers

[sefrick]

Hey guys,

It's been months since I've posted here and much has changed. I decided to go to school, University of Buffalo, and persue a BSME vice working as an aux operator. I'm also considering submitting my SMART transcript to Thomas Edison State College for the Nuclear Engineering Technologies degree.

What kind of positions exist at power plants for mechanical engineers with a nuclear background? And what kind of security clearence is required.

[Rad Sponge]

Speaking from no actual "been there-done that" experience, I am going to shoot from the hip with my trusty Colt and say...

1. AO/NLO
2. SRO instant training
3. Non-operations Engineering Support Egg Heads/ Repair Engineers/ Quality Engineers

I figure a former Navy Nuke (not sure of your experience) w/ an ABET accredited BSME would have no problems finding work at any nuke plant.

But I have a question, if you wish to return back to nuclear power, why not just pursue a nuclear engineering degree?

[sefrick]

I feel like a Nuclear Engineering degree is too specific. I have a strong interest in POWER in general, whether it be Nuclear or otherwise.

I definaltely don't want to go through the work of getting my BSME just to return to a plant as as AO/NLO, I qualify for that now. 10 years Navy, 6 of that actual sea time on subs, M-division. The 6 years was split up over 3 boats, 1 decom and 1 DMP (24 month overhaul) so I never qualified EWS.

[shayne]

AO/NLO may be a foot in the door for that Engineering job later.

[M1Ark]

I feel like a Nuclear Engineering degree is too specific. I have a strong interest in POWER in general, whether it be Nuclear or otherwise.

I definaltely don't want to go through the work of getting my BSME just to return to a plant as as AO/NLO, I qualify for that now. 10 years Navy, 6 of that actual sea time on subs, M-division. The 6 years was split up over 3 boats, 1 decom and 1 DMP (24 month overhaul) so I never qualified EWS.

You're right on with the Nuclear Engineer degree.  You're much more marketable with an ME both in and out of commercial nuclear power.

You're a little off base on your NLO vs. Engineer assesment.  Engineers are treated like dirt, payed like dirt with little upward mobility.  You do qualify for an NLO position now but you'll be more valuable to OPS with you're ME.  NLO's make more money than engineers at two plants I've worked at.  Operations is where engineers want to bid into due to more money and more respect given to you as an individual and more respect given for your time (Day off).

My current plant is currently hiring engineers OR ex-navy nuke for an NLO position.  We are also hiring ex-navy with a degree for SRO positions. SRO's are paid double what a new staff engineer makes.

Your navy experience will be wasted in the engineering dept.  They won't appreciate it and won't value it as much experience at all. In reality, your navy experience is very valuable to any commercial nuke plant in the industry. How and why is hard to describe to the lay person.

My .02 cents

[bmr176]

I recently accepted a job as an engineer.  I did 6 yrs as a EM on subs and will graduate this May with a B.S. in NucE.  The group I will be working with has a mix of ME and NucE.  I would agree that having your ME will make you more flexible, but I wouldn't say that engineering doesn't appreciate the Navy experience.  I felt I was highly recruited and in demand because I was a prior Navy guy with my degree.  It does appear the money is much better out of the gates for NLO's because of overtime and Engineers being salaried, but I did not get the impression their is lack of potential for advancement?  Good luck on your decision.   

[sefrick]

Guys,

Thanks for all the infoo. I'm not certain what I would like to do at this point, but I have plenty of time to decide. I do plan to intern for Entergy if the possibility arises next summer.

I think I would like Ops, but I would have to accept the position with the confidence that it would be a temporary position, will upward mobility (bidding for SRO) in the near future. Like I said, just with my Navy experience I already qualify for AO/NLO.

SRO training is something that would interest me as well.

But like I said, thanks guys