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Nuclear Engineer I

The Nuclear Company

Salary undisclosed

Columbia, SC or Lexington, KY or Washington, DCFull-timeOn-siteIntermediate

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Description

The Nuclear Company is the fastest-growing AI-enabled startup in nuclear energy, bringing together experienced nuclear professionals, technologists, engineers, and builders to deliver the next generation of nuclear power. Through our design-once, build-many approach, we are creating a repeatable model for deploying nuclear fleets—combining the industry’s highest standards for safety, quality, and regulatory rigor with the speed and innovation required to meet the world’s growing energy needs.

We are building the future of nuclear work. Every employee is expected to use AI, technology, and our Nuclear Operating System (NOS) to strengthen engineering and operational decision-making, improve quality, eliminate inefficiencies, and accelerate execution without compromising safety. Our nuclear expertise shapes the continued evolution of NOS, enabling us to capture institutional knowledge, standardize best practices, and deliver complex projects with greater consistency and certainty.

We hire people who believe nuclear energy is essential to human progress. Our team is made up of mission-driven experts who respect the rigor of the industry while challenging outdated ways of working. They bring deep technical judgment, intellectual curiosity, high agency, and the humility to learn from others. Our values—Transparency, Responsibility, Unity, Scrappy, and Tenacity—guide how we hire, collaborate, and make decisions. Together, they form TRUST, the foundation of our safety culture and our commitment to intellectual honesty, personal accountability, open communication, and operational excellence.

About the role

The Engineering I Program is The Nuclear Company’s early-career engineering program for exceptional graduating seniors who want to help build the next generation of nuclear infrastructure. 

We are hiring students graduating in Spring 2027 for full-time roles beginning in Summer 2027. 

Engineering One is designed for engineers who want more than a traditional entry-level position. Participants will work alongside experienced engineers, constructors, licensing professionals, project leaders, and Members of Nuclear Staff on real problems tied directly to the development and deployment of nuclear projects. 

The program provides broad exposure across the nuclear project lifecycle while building deep technical capability in an assigned discipline. Depending on your background and project needs, you may work across mechanical engineering, civil and structural engineering, construction and project delivery, nuclear licensing, Supply Chain and Procurement, systems engineering, or related technical functions. 

From your first day, you will be expected to learn quickly, ask good questions, work rigorously, and contribute to meaningful work. 

Responsibilities

Engineering I participants will typically begin in one of the following areas while gaining exposure to the broader nuclear project lifecycle. 

Mechanical Engineering 

You may contribute to: 

  • Mechanical systems and equipment used in nuclear and conventional power facilities 
  • Piping, pumps, valves, heat exchangers, pressure vessels, and rotating equipment 
  • System design and engineering calculations 
  • Equipment specifications and vendor technical evaluations 
  • Piping and equipment layout 
  • Thermal-hydraulic and mechanical analysis 
  • Design reviews and interdisciplinary coordination 
  • Equipment installation, testing, startup, and commissioning 
  • ASME and other applicable mechanical codes and standards 

Civil / Structural Engineering 

You may contribute to: 

  • Structural steel and reinforced concrete design 
  • Foundations, anchorage, embedded items, and structural interfaces 
  • Nuclear structures, systems, and components 
  • Seismic and dynamic design considerations 
  • Site development and geotechnical interfaces 
  • Structural calculations and design reviews 
  • Construction drawings and specifications 
  • Constructability and modularization studies 
  • ACI, AISC, ASCE, and applicable nuclear design requirements 

Construction & Project Delivery 

You may contribute to: 

  • Construction planning and sequencing 
  • Constructability reviews 
  • Work packaging and field engineering 
  • Site logistics and installation planning 
  • Modularization and prefabrication strategies 
  • Contractor and supplier coordination 
  • Engineering-to-construction interfaces 
  • RFIs, field changes, and technical issue resolution
  • Quality, schedule, cost, and project controls 
  • Testing, turnover, commissioning, and project closeout 

Nuclear Licensing & Regulatory 

You may contribute to: 

  • Nuclear licensing strategy and regulatory analysis 
  • Licensing basis development and requirements management 
  • Preparation and review of regulatory submittals 
  • NRC regulations, regulatory guides, and industry standards 
  • Safety analysis and technical evaluations 
  • Responses to regulatory questions and requests for additional information 
  • Engineering-to-licensing interfaces 
  • Regulatory research and precedent reviews 
  • Development of technical positions supporting nuclear deployment 

Experience

  • Currently pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Construction Engineering, Engineering Management, or a closely related technical discipline. 
  • Expected graduation between December 2026 and May 2027, with availability to begin full-time employment in Summer 2027. 
  • Strong engineering fundamentals and demonstrated ability to solve technical problems. 
  • Academic, internship, research, design-team, laboratory, construction, or project experience that demonstrates technical curiosity and initiative. 
  • Ability to learn unfamiliar technical subjects quickly. 
  • Strong analytical and quantitative skills. 
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills. 
  • Ability to work effectively across engineering disciplines and with people from different technical backgrounds. 
  • High attention to detail and respect for engineering rigor. 
  • Willingness to ask questions, seek feedback, and take ownership of your development. 
  • Comfort working in an environment with rapidly evolving priorities and significant individual responsibility. 
  • Interest in nuclear energy, large-scale infrastructure, advanced engineering, or complex technical systems. 
  • A bias toward action and a desire to see engineering work become something that is actually built. 

Benefits

  • Competitive compensation packages
  • 401k with company match
  • Medical, dental, vision plans
  • Generous vacation policy, plus holidays

Estimated Starting Salary Range
The estimated starting salary for this role is $80,000 annually less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a bi-weekly basis. The actual salary offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined in the Company’s discretion, which may include experience, qualifications, tenure, skill set, availability of qualified candidates, geographic location, certifications held, and other criteria deemed pertinent to the particular role. 

EEO Statement
The Nuclear Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an environment of inclusion in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, and termination.

Export Control
Certain positions at The Nuclear Company may involve access to information and technology subject to export controls under U.S. law. Compliance with these export controls may result in The Nuclear Company limiting its consideration of certain applicants.
 
Recruiting Fraud Alert
Your safety is our priority. We want to ensure your job search stays secure. Please note that the team at The Nuclear Company only communicates through official @thenuclearcompany.com email addresses. We will never ask for payments or sensitive financial information at any stage of our recruitment process. For your peace of mind, please verify all openings and submit your applications directly through our official careers page.

The Nuclear Company does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or staffing agencies. Please do not contact The Nuclear Company employees directly about candidate placements.

Benefits

  • Competitive compensation packages
  • 401k with company match
  • Medical, dental, vision plans
  • Generous vacation policy, plus holidays

About this role

The Nuclear Company's Engineering I Program is an early-career track designed for graduating engineers who want substantive responsibility from day one rather than a traditional entry-level rotation. You'll work directly on real nuclear projects alongside experienced engineers, licensing professionals, and project leaders, gaining both broad exposure across the full project lifecycle and deep technical capability in your assigned discipline. Depending on your background and the company's immediate needs, you could specialize in mechanical engineering, civil and structural engineering, construction and project delivery, nuclear licensing, or related technical functions.

This role suits engineers with strong fundamentals and genuine problem-solving ability who are graduating between December 2026 and May 2027 with a degree in mechanical, civil, structural, nuclear, construction, or engineering management. You should have relevant technical experience—whether through internships, research, design competitions, lab work, or construction projects—and be ready to learn quickly, ask thoughtful questions, and contribute meaningfully from your first day. The company explicitly values mission-driven people who respect nuclear's rigorous standards while bringing intellectual curiosity and high agency to how work gets done.

Based in Columbia, South Carolina, this is a full-time, in-office position beginning Summer 2027. The Nuclear Company emphasizes that every employee is expected to leverage AI and their proprietary Nuclear Operating System to strengthen decision-making and accelerate execution without compromising safety—a signal that you'll work in a tech-forward environment within a traditional, highly regulated industry.

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