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Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Operate or control nuclear reactors. Move control rods, start and stop equipment, monitor and adjust controls, and record data in logs. Implement emergency procedures when needed. May respond to abnormalities, determine cause, and recommend corrective action.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Power Plant Operators, Distributors, and Dispatchers

Production Occupations

Plant and System Operators

Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety.

Adjust controls to position rod and to regulate flux level, reactor period, coolant temperature, or rate of power flow, following standard procedures.

Develop or implement actions such as lockouts, tagouts, or clearances to allow equipment to be safely repaired.

Respond to system or unit abnormalities, diagnosing the cause, and recommending or taking corrective action.

Monitor all systems for normal running conditions, performing activities such as checking gauges to assess output or the effects of generator loading on other equipment.

Monitor or operate boilers, turbines, wells, or auxiliary power plant equipment.

Record operating data, such as the results of surveillance tests.

Implement operational procedures, such as those controlling start-up or shut-down activities.

Note malfunctions of equipment, instruments, or controls and report these conditions to supervisors.

Participate in nuclear fuel element handling activities, such as preparation, transfer, loading, or unloading.

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Overview

Career

What Nuclear Power Reactor Operators Do

Other Job Titles Nuclear Power Reactor Operators May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Overview

Career

What Nuclear Power Reactor Operators Do

Other Job Titles Nuclear Power Reactor Operators May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers

Related Leaders