STEM OPT Nuclear Engineer Jobs
Nuclear Engineer roles qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to 36 months of F-1 work authorization to build your career in reactor design, fuel cycle analysis, or radiation safety. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your degree must align with a STEM-designated CIP code in nuclear engineering or a closely related field.
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Get Access To All JobsAre you interested in being part of an innovative team that supports Westinghouse’s mission to provide clean energy solutions? At Westinghouse, we recognize that our employees are our most valuable asset and we seek to identify, attract and recruit the most qualified talent while recognizing and encouraging the value of diversity in the global workplace.
About The Role
As a Nuclear Engineer 2 you will provide miscellaneous plant support to the operations of the Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS) in fulfillment of the Core Design & Safety Analysis function outsourcing arrangement between the Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Company and Westinghouse Electric Company. These responsibilities require knowledge of WCGS's in-house safety analyses, acquiring and maintaining the necessary qualifications in WCGS procedures, and knowledge of the Westinghouse safety analyses to be used to help operate the WCGS. A secondary focus will involve the provision of transient analyses, as assigned, to support other Westinghouse customers. You will report to the Manager, Integrated Site Engineering. Safety Analysis, Risk Applications, and Licensing and be located at Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS) in Burlington, Kansas.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform safety analysis engineering efforts at Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS).
- You will perform complex engineering design and analyses in the commercial nuclear industry and providing technical input and written documents supporting the design, development, performance, and delivery of technical products and services.
- Initially, primary focus will support the successful transition of the WCNOC Core design and safety analysis methodology to Westinghouse methodology.
- Directly responsible for daily overall WCNOC customer satisfaction in the area of fuel reload design and support.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Nuclear engineering required.
- Minimum 3+ years of applicable experience.
- Perform assigned analyses related to the delivery of fuel reloads including fuel core and thermal hydraulic design, Chapter 15 LOCA, non-LOCA and containment transient analysis.
- Unescorted Access needed: Unescorted access at Wolf Creek Generating Station will be required.
- Provide periodic updates and recommendations regarding the nature and status of work/projects to all appropriate internal and external personnel. Develop and deliver presentations to communicate statuses, problem resolutions, recommendations, or promote business-related products.
- Develop procedures, processes, and methods for implementing technical requirements.
Beneficial Skills
- Expertise in the use of standard Thermal-Hydraulic computer codes used to support WCGS operations, including RETRAN02, VIPRE01, and Westinghouse-specific equivalents.
- Familiarity with NRC Requirements for safety analysis applications.
- Detailed knowledge of the WCGS customer organization and daily work practices in the area of fuel reload design, safety analysis, core performance/reactor engineering, and system engineering.
- Detailed knowledge of both existing WCGS and Westinghouse safety analysis methodologies and the interface of the safety analysis methodology with the WCGS core performance, PRA, Design Engineering, and Operations groups.
We are committed to transparency and equity in all of our people practices. The base salary range for this position, which is dependent upon experience, qualifications and skills, is estimated to be $69,200 to $86,500 per year.
Why Westinghouse?
Benefits
Our benefits package is tailored to meet the diverse needs of our employees, while also promoting wellness and career growth. The following are representative of what we offer:
- Comprehensive Medical benefits which could include medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contributions options.
- Wellness Programs designed to support employees in maintaining their health and well-being including Employee Assistance Program providing support for our employees and their household members.
- 401(k) with Company Match Contributions to support employees' retirement.
- Paid Vacations and Company Holidays.
- Opportunities for Flexible Work Arrangements to promote work-life balance.
- Educational Reimbursement and Comprehensive Career Programs to help employees grow in their careers.
- Global Recognition and Service Programs to celebrate employee accomplishments and service.
- Employee Referral Program.
Westinghouse Electric Company Is The Global Nuclear Energy Industry's First Choice For Safe, Clean, And Efficient Energy Solutions. We Enable Our Delivery Of This Vision By Living Our Value System:
- Safety and Quality
- Integrity and Trust
- Customer Focus and Innovation
- Speed and Passion to Win
- Teamwork and Accountability
While our Global Headquarters are located in Cranberry Township, PA, we have over 11,000 employees working at locations in 19 different countries. Westinghouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.
Get connected with Westinghouse on social media:
Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube
Are you interested in being part of an innovative team that supports Westinghouse’s mission to provide clean energy solutions? At Westinghouse, we recognize that our employees are our most valuable asset and we seek to identify, attract and recruit the most qualified talent while recognizing and encouraging the value of diversity in the global workplace.
About The Role
As a Nuclear Engineer 2 you will provide miscellaneous plant support to the operations of the Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS) in fulfillment of the Core Design & Safety Analysis function outsourcing arrangement between the Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Company and Westinghouse Electric Company. These responsibilities require knowledge of WCGS's in-house safety analyses, acquiring and maintaining the necessary qualifications in WCGS procedures, and knowledge of the Westinghouse safety analyses to be used to help operate the WCGS. A secondary focus will involve the provision of transient analyses, as assigned, to support other Westinghouse customers. You will report to the Manager, Integrated Site Engineering. Safety Analysis, Risk Applications, and Licensing and be located at Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS) in Burlington, Kansas.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform safety analysis engineering efforts at Wolf Creek Generating Station (WCGS).
- You will perform complex engineering design and analyses in the commercial nuclear industry and providing technical input and written documents supporting the design, development, performance, and delivery of technical products and services.
- Initially, primary focus will support the successful transition of the WCNOC Core design and safety analysis methodology to Westinghouse methodology.
- Directly responsible for daily overall WCNOC customer satisfaction in the area of fuel reload design and support.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Nuclear engineering required.
- Minimum 3+ years of applicable experience.
- Perform assigned analyses related to the delivery of fuel reloads including fuel core and thermal hydraulic design, Chapter 15 LOCA, non-LOCA and containment transient analysis.
- Unescorted Access needed: Unescorted access at Wolf Creek Generating Station will be required.
- Provide periodic updates and recommendations regarding the nature and status of work/projects to all appropriate internal and external personnel. Develop and deliver presentations to communicate statuses, problem resolutions, recommendations, or promote business-related products.
- Develop procedures, processes, and methods for implementing technical requirements.
Beneficial Skills
- Expertise in the use of standard Thermal-Hydraulic computer codes used to support WCGS operations, including RETRAN02, VIPRE01, and Westinghouse-specific equivalents.
- Familiarity with NRC Requirements for safety analysis applications.
- Detailed knowledge of the WCGS customer organization and daily work practices in the area of fuel reload design, safety analysis, core performance/reactor engineering, and system engineering.
- Detailed knowledge of both existing WCGS and Westinghouse safety analysis methodologies and the interface of the safety analysis methodology with the WCGS core performance, PRA, Design Engineering, and Operations groups.
We are committed to transparency and equity in all of our people practices. The base salary range for this position, which is dependent upon experience, qualifications and skills, is estimated to be $69,200 to $86,500 per year.
Why Westinghouse?
Benefits
Our benefits package is tailored to meet the diverse needs of our employees, while also promoting wellness and career growth. The following are representative of what we offer:
- Comprehensive Medical benefits which could include medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contributions options.
- Wellness Programs designed to support employees in maintaining their health and well-being including Employee Assistance Program providing support for our employees and their household members.
- 401(k) with Company Match Contributions to support employees' retirement.
- Paid Vacations and Company Holidays.
- Opportunities for Flexible Work Arrangements to promote work-life balance.
- Educational Reimbursement and Comprehensive Career Programs to help employees grow in their careers.
- Global Recognition and Service Programs to celebrate employee accomplishments and service.
- Employee Referral Program.
Westinghouse Electric Company Is The Global Nuclear Energy Industry's First Choice For Safe, Clean, And Efficient Energy Solutions. We Enable Our Delivery Of This Vision By Living Our Value System:
- Safety and Quality
- Integrity and Trust
- Customer Focus and Innovation
- Speed and Passion to Win
- Teamwork and Accountability
While our Global Headquarters are located in Cranberry Township, PA, we have over 11,000 employees working at locations in 19 different countries. Westinghouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.
Get connected with Westinghouse on social media:
Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube
See all 36+ STEM OPT Nuclear Engineer Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization as a Nuclear Engineer
Verify your CIP code before applying
Nuclear Engineering degrees typically fall under CIP code 14.2301, but degrees in health physics, radiological science, or materials science may also qualify. Confirm your CIP code with your DSO before your OPT start date so there's no delay activating the extension.
Check E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
Your employer must be actively enrolled in E-Verify for your STEM OPT extension to be valid. Search the E-Verify employer search tool or ask your recruiter for the company's E-Verify ID number before signing an offer letter.
Target national labs and NRC-licensed facilities
National laboratories and facilities holding NRC operating licenses have established processes for hiring international engineers on OPT. These employers routinely file LCAs through DOL and are structurally set up to support the I-983 training plan requirement.
Build your I-983 training plan around reactor-specific goals
Your I-983 must connect your nuclear engineering degree to specific job duties, like neutron flux calculations or containment system modeling. Vague training objectives get flagged by DSOs. Draft role-specific learning goals before your first day and align them with your actual project assignments.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for E-Verify employers
Search for Nuclear Engineer roles on Migrate Mate, which filters listings for employers enrolled in E-Verify and with documented OPT hiring history. This cuts the manual verification step and surfaces employers who already understand STEM OPT requirements.
File your H-1B registration before OPT expires to trigger cap-gap
If your employer files an H-1B visa petition before April 1 and USCIS receives it by October 1, cap-gap protection extends your work authorization automatically. Coordinate with your employer's legal team in January to confirm registration timing and avoid any gap in authorization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a nuclear engineering degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes, nuclear engineering degrees are covered under STEM-designated CIP codes, most commonly 14.2301. Degrees in closely related fields like health physics, radiological engineering, or nuclear materials science may also qualify depending on how your institution filed the CIP code. Confirm the exact code on your I-20 with your DSO before submitting your STEM OPT extension application to USCIS.
What does the I-983 training plan require for a Nuclear Engineer role?
The I-983 requires you and your employer to document how your job duties directly relate to your STEM degree. For nuclear engineers, this means listing specific tasks like neutronics modeling, reactor safety analysis, or radiation shielding design, along with measurable learning objectives and your supervisor's contact information. Your DSO must approve the plan before your extension begins, and your employer must re-attest every 12 months.
How do I confirm my employer is enrolled in E-Verify?
USCIS requires all STEM OPT employers to be enrolled in E-Verify. You can verify enrollment by asking your HR contact for the company's E-Verify Client ID or by searching the E-Verify employer search tool directly. If the employer isn't enrolled, your STEM OPT extension is invalid even if USCIS has already approved it, so confirm enrollment before your start date, not after.
Can I work at a nuclear power plant or national laboratory on STEM OPT?
Yes, but NRC-licensed facilities and national laboratories often require security clearances or site access authorization, which can take weeks to months for international workers. Some positions involving access to restricted data may have limitations for non-U.S. persons under NRC regulations. Clarify the clearance timeline and any access restrictions with the employer before accepting an offer so it doesn't affect your OPT start date.
Where can I find Nuclear Engineer jobs from E-Verify employers?
Migrate Mate lists Nuclear Engineer openings filtered for employers enrolled in E-Verify and with documented STEM OPT hiring history, so you're not manually cross-referencing employer enrollment status for every application. Nuclear engineer roles with active LCA filings, which signal that an employer has already gone through DOL prevailing-wage certification for similar positions, appear alongside standard postings so you can prioritize employers already familiar with the process.