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Day in the Life
Beginning engineering
graduates usually work under the supervision of experienced engineers
and, in large companies, also may receive formal classroom or
seminar-type training. As new engineers gain knowledge and experience,
they are assigned more difficult projects with greater independence to
develop designs, solve problems, and make decisions. Engineers may
advance to become technical specialists or to supervise a staff or team
of engineers and technicians. Some may eventually become engineering
managers or enter other managerial or sales jobs.
Nuclear engineers typically work in offices. However, their work setting varies with the industry in which they are employed. For example, those employed in power generation and supply work in power plants. Many work for the federal government and for consulting firms. Nuclear engineers work with others, including mechanical engineers and electrical engineers, and they must be able to incorporate systems designed by these engineers into their own designs.
 Teams
and Coworkers
Almost all jobs in engineering require some sort of interaction with
coworkers. Whether they are working in a team situation, or just asking
for advice, most engineers have to have the ability to communicate and
work with other people. Engineers should be creative, inquisitive,
analytical, and detail-oriented. They should be able to work as part of
a team and to communicate well, both orally and in writing.
Communication abilities are important because engineers often interact
with specialists in a wide range of fields outside engineering. Writing
and presentation skills are also vital so engineers can share their
research and experiences with colleagues through topical meetings,
professional associations, and various publications.
Tasks
Nuclear engineers research, design and develop the processes,
instruments, and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and
radiation. They develop, monitor, and operate nuclear plants used to
generate power. They may work on the nuclear fuel cycle -- the
production, handling, and use of nuclear fuel and the safe disposal of
waste produced by the generation of nuclear energy -- or on the
production of fusion energy. Some specialize in the development of
nuclear power sources for spacecraft; others find industrial and medical
uses for radioactive materials, such as equipment to diagnose and treat
medical problems.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the
American Nuclear Society, and the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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