Entry Level STEM OPT Jobs

INTRODUCTION

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company, dedicated to serving millions of electricity and natural gas customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. We make energy work better for our customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar - delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy.

Xcel Energy is a place where you’ll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact - both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you’ll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best.

Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsible for performing a variety of nuclear fuels engineering tasks in the areas of reload core design, reload licensing analyses, and in-core fuel management in support of BWR plant operation. A background in Nuclear Engineering with exceptional problem solving, communication, and teamwork skills is preferred for this position. Individuals in this position may also provide technical guidance and direction to consultants or other Xcel employees in support of in-plant activities and producing high quality, timely and cost-effective engineering solutions to technical problems.

This position will be considered for the corporate office located in Minneapolis, MN.

Primary Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Perform reload core / bundle design, reload licensing, in-core fuel management, and analyses supporting fuel reliability and performance of nuclear fuel.
• Perform and coordinate engineering assignments in support of the cycle reload project. These activities include reload fuel and core design, in-house and vendor reload licensing analyses, license amendment preparation, Core Monitoring System input preparation, and Startup Physics analyses. Work alone or as part of a project team. Schedule work to meet completion dates and technical requirements.
• Recommend changes in procedures, analysis methods, design, or equipment. Work activities may include on-site support of fuel inspections, fuel and control blade manufacturing oversight, or other special studies as appropriate.
• Apply sound engineering principles to provide technically correct, timely and cost-effective recommendations.
• Review and approve design work completed by contractors and/or other engineers and be a key interface with other groups, both internal and external to Xcel Energy.
• Work effectively in a team environment, as a team leader, mentor, and as a team member.
• Understand and practice company safety and industrial hygiene policies during the conduct of such activities as core verification, irradiated fuel inspection, and manufacturing oversight.
• Clearly communicate technical and complex nuclear fuel related topics orally and in writing to all levels of management. This includes collaborating with management to define issues and needs as well as developing and recommending improvement and corrective actions.
• Participate in Xcel Energy Emergency Response Organization, refueling outages (including irradiated fuel inspections and fuel maintenance), and vendor oversight activities, as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Engineer I

Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering or a related technical field from an ABET accredited college or university. 0-2 years of experience. Ability to obtain and maintain qualifications for unescorted access to Xcel Energy's nuclear power plants is an essential requirement of the position. May be required to assume emergency response duties and live within 60 or 90 minutes from the nuclear generation station. Required to maintain nuclear "fitness for duty" during off hours if on call or designated emergency response duty. Incumbents must demonstrate satisfactory performance and progress in learning the skills and competencies to be an engineer in the nuclear utility business.

Engineer II

Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering or a related technical field from an ABET accredited college or university. 2 years' experience. Ability to obtain and maintain qualifications for unescorted access to Xcel Energy's nuclear power plants is an essential requirement of the position. May be required to assume emergency response duties and live within 60 or 90 minutes from the nuclear generation station. May be required to maintain fitness for duty during off hours if on call or designated emergency response duty. Incumbents must demonstrate satisfactory performance and progress in learning the skills and competencies to be an engineer at a career level in the nuclear utility business.

Engineer

Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering or a related technical field from an ABET accredited college or university. 6 years of engineering experience with satisfactory performance in nuclear generating plant operations and or maintenance processes is required; equivalent electrical power plant experience industrial, naval or Outreach Engineering Management (OEM) is acceptable in lieu of nuclear generation experience. Ability to obtain and maintain qualifications for unescorted access to Xcel Energy's nuclear power plants is an essential requirement of the position. May be required to assume emergency response duties and live within 60 or 90 minutes from the nuclear generation station. Required to maintain nuclear "fitness for duty" during off hours if on call or designated emergency response duty. Preferred Professional Engineer (PE) license. Advance degree (in engineering or other related technical field).

Sr. Engineer

Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering or a related technical field from an ABET accredited college or university. 8 or more years engineering experience with satisfactory performance and demonstrated expertise in problem solving in nuclear generating plants accompanied by demonstrated expertise in at least one engineering discipline area is required; (note: equivalent years of engineering experience in electrical power plant experience industrial, naval or Outreach Engineering Management (OEM) may be considered in lieu of up to one half of nuclear generation experience). Ability to obtain and maintain qualifications for unescorted access to Company's nuclear power plants is an essential requirement of the position. May be required to assume emergency response duties and live within 60 or 90 minutes from the nuclear generation station. Required to maintain nuclear "fitness for duty" during off hours if on call or designated emergency response duty. Preferred: Professional Engineer (PE) license. Advanced degree (in engineering or other related technical field).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• At least three years of experience and improving performance in an entry level position.
• BWR core design experience preferred.
• PC skills are required in the performance of daily work activities. Proficiency with linux, scripting, and programming is desired. Previous experience using CASMO-SIMULATE.
• A working knowledge of regulatory requirements and industry standards, as they pertain to the area of nuclear fuel engineering, is also desirable.
• M.S. degree in Nuclear Engineering is preferred.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, exhibit sound judgment, strong leadership, and assertiveness to resolve issues. Flexibility with changing priorities and changing ways of doing business.
• Demonstrated initiative, problem analysis, and problem-solving skills.
• Engineer in Training Certificate or Professional Engineer License.

Our culture is grounded in shared values and employee commitments that guide how we work, support one another, and grow together.

OUR VALUES

Connected, Committed, Trustworthy, Safe

OUR EMPLOYEE COMMITMENTS

• Work that makes a difference
• A team you can count on
• Opportunities to grow
• Rewards that help you thrive

Xcel Energy provides job applicants reasonable accommodations for disabilities throughout the application process. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form.

Non-Bargaining

The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $77,500.00 to $189,567.00 per year

This position is eligible for the following benefits: Annual Incentive Program, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave.

Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Deadline to Apply: 11/12/26

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All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com and https://jobs.xcelenergy.com accessible to any and all users. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form. For any other application related questions, including application follow-ups or technical issues, please use our Recruiting Assistance, Electra, for assistance. Electra can be found in the lower right-hand corner of our Xcel Energy Careers site.