Director of Nuclear Plant Engineering

Skills at this level

Reactor Operation and Control

— Controls operations of nuclear reactor equipment and systems — positioning control rods and regulating flux level, reactor period, coolant temperature, and rate of power flow following standard procedures.

Operations Monitoring

— Watches gauges, dials, neutron and radiation detectors, and thermometers to confirm reactor systems are within normal running conditions and to assess output and generator-loading effects across the unit.

Abnormality Diagnosis and Corrective Action

— Responds to system or unit abnormalities by diagnosing the cause and recommending or directing corrective action, including implementing emergency procedures when radiation leaks or off-normal conditions are detected.

Lockout/Tagout and Clearance Authorization

— Develops and authorizes lockouts, tagouts, or clearances to isolate and de-energize equipment so it can be safely repaired without compromising unit operational status.

Nuclear Fuel Handling Oversight

— Directs and controls nuclear fuel-element handling activities — preparation, transfer, loading, and unloading — while maintaining radiological controls.

Radiological and Environmental Safety Compliance

— Ensures reactor operations are conducted in accordance with policies and procedures that protect workers from radiation and safeguard environmental safety, and enforces these standards across operator crews.

Operating Procedure Governance

— Reviews, edits, and approves standard operating procedures for reactor operation, and directs inspections or operations performed outside the control room as required.

Shift Command and Operator Supervision

— Supervises reactor operators and technicians in routine plant operations — equipment testing, reactivity adjustment, start-up/shutdown, and emergency response — as authorized under an SRO license.

NRC Licensing and Qualification Management

— Maintains and advances NRC operator licensing and continuing-qualification requirements, and ensures operator crews sustain the training currency required to command reactor equipment.

Critical Thinking

— Weighs the pros and cons of alternative responses to operational problems to select the safest reactivity, isolation, or emergency action under time pressure.