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.

See All Nuclear Engineer Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs43+
Top Visa TypeF-1 OPT
Work Type74% On-site
Median Salary$95K
Top LocationCranberry Township, PA
Most JobsWestinghouse Electric Company

Showing 5 of 43+ Nuclear Engineer jobs

Westinghouse Electric Company
Nuclear Engineer
We won't show you this job again
Westinghouse Electric Company
Added 2mo ago
Nuclear Engineer
Westinghouse Electric Company
Burlington, Kansas
Specialized Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Nuclear Engineering
$69,200/yr - $86,500/yr
On-Site
3+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
The University of Texas at Austin
Research Engineering/Scientist Associate I, Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory
We won't show you this job again
The University of Texas at Austin
Added 2mo ago
Research Engineering/Scientist Associate I, Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas
Specialized Engineering
Laboratory Research
Engineering (Non-Software)
Nuclear Engineering
Not listed
On-Site
Associate's

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
GE Vernova
Lead Engineer
We won't show you this job again
GE Vernova
Added 5d ago
Lead Engineer
GE Vernova
Wilmington, North Carolina
Specialized Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Nuclear Engineering
$85,600/yr - $164,000/yr
On-Site
1+ yr exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Constellation Energy
Engineer, Snubber Program
We won't show you this job again
Constellation Energy
Added 1w ago
Engineer, Snubber Program
Constellation Energy
Marseilles, Illinois
Specialized Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Civil & Structural Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Civil Engineering
Nuclear Engineering
$82,400/yr - $154,000/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's
10,000+

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)
Holtec International
Simulator Design Engineer III
We won't show you this job again
Holtec International
Added 3w ago
Simulator Design Engineer III
Holtec International
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Specialized Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Engineering (Non-Software)
Nuclear Engineering
$145,000/yr - $165,000/yr
On-Site
2+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's
501-1,000

Have you applied for this role?

Give feedback about this job
Min 10 characters (0/10)

See all 43+ Nuclear Engineer jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Nuclear Engineer roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

See all 43+ Nuclear Engineer jobs

Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Nuclear Engineer roles.

Get Access To All Jobs

Tips 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 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.

Nuclear Engineer jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.

Find Nuclear Engineer Jobs

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.

See which Nuclear Engineer employers are hiring and sponsoring visas right now.

Search Nuclear Engineer Jobs