Shipyard STE

[taterhead]

Any Shipyard (NAVSEA) Nuclear STE's here?

I have fielded a few PM's from people asking about the job.  All I know is what I have seen working alongside them at the shipyard and onboard ships.

Any info you can share on your position, pay, and benefits is appreciated.

[HydroDave63]

I worked with a guy recently who was an STE at a yard out west. I believe the working level for the job is GS-11 or 12. The salary and bennies info is now found at the same place where one applies, www.fedjobs.gov

[taterhead]

Thanks, Dave-

Well, to be more specific, the Navy hires using this site:

https://chart.donhr.navy.mil/

The pay band for "Nuclear Engineer" is listed from 27k-120k.

I do believe they start as GS-12's.  Step 1 starts around 55k/yr.

I am not sure if an engineering degree is necessary or if prior Naval Nuclear experience (PPWS/EWS) will suffice.

[Charles U Farley]

I am not sure if an engineering degree is necessary or if prior Naval Nuclear experience (PPWS/EWS) will suffice.

No, a degree is not required, so long as you have the experience.  I've been told that previously qualified EOOW's/EDO's are have a foot in the door.  Not to sure about the EWS's.

A friend and I are weighing our options.  He keeps going back to looking for a STE job at Norfolk Naval. 55k sounds about right, from asking around at work.  I remember being a little dissapointed with that.  But, then again, that is only starting salary.

[visserjr]

I looked into the STE Jobs in the Norfolk area, and found the pay to be higher at Newport News SY. Far as I know it is a more who you know not actually what on getting in the door there. From what I understand they are looking for at least EWS qual. They use Kelly resource for hiring. If you search the jobs on kelly's site it'll have the STE type job.

[taterhead]

Here is the Kelly Scientific Resources link for Northrop Grumman Newport News-

http://tinyurl.com/yx23vb

[micachu]

Northrop Grumman lost a LOT of STE's in 2002-2003 because of the way they treated them during the Enterprise project.  From what I recall it wasn't any better when we went back there in 2004.  I would definitely recommend NNSY for an STE position.  The 55K a year is just the base salary, there's a couple of add-in's similar to BAH/BAS you can tack on to that.  My ex-wife was bringing home 1850 each paycheck as a GS-12 step 1 without any overtime.

[baronbrady]

I've spoken to STE's from both Northrop Grumman Newport News and Norfolk Naval Shipyard.  NGNN has a pretty bad reputation locally, based on how they treat their people.  Speaking to a Shift Test Supervisor at NNSY, he said he left NGNN for NNSY and essentially doubled his paycheck.  I pulled aside a recently hired STEC (STE Candidate), and she said that when she was going through hiring, they required a degree or that you at least have been a Chief in the nuke field.  Speaking to the few STE's at NGNN I know, they said they're hiring any former nukes, regardless of rank.  You wouldn't be a STEC, but you would be the rough equivalent (they have two kinds of 'stec':  MT and ET).  The information above about pay seems right. 
Speaking to a recently-qualified STE about pay and training, he mentioned a lower pay at the beginning, but that it is GS-12 once you qualify.  Qualifying takes anywhere from a year and a half to two years, and is not really based on how quickly you try to get done with it.  You have to wait for various class-ups, etc.
Hope this helps!