Back to jobs

Nuclear Engineer I

Columbia, SC or Washington, DC

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 Our team is made up of mission-driven experts who respect the rigor of the industry while challenging outdated ways of working.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.

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at The Nuclear Company? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Phone
Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf


Education

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

Select...
Select...

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about ITAR here.

Select...
Select...
Select...

U.S. Standard Demographic Questions

We invite applicants to share their demographic background. If you choose to complete this survey, your responses may be used to identify areas of improvement in our hiring process.
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in The Nuclear Company’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...