United States Navy Nuclear Engineering Officer
Responsibilities depend on your specialization.
Surface Warfare Officer (Nuclear)
Aircraft carriers are at the core of our national defense strategy because of their ability to project Naval superiority to any location in the world. Nuclear Surface Warfare Officers ensure that Sailors in their department maintain and operate the ship’s complex reactor and power generation systems safely and efficiently.
Surface Warfare Officers form the backbone of fleet leadership. Prior to a tour aboard an aircraft carrier, you will sail in the conventional fleet of cruisers and destroyers conducting missions vital to national security, visiting foreign ports around the globe and leading talented Sailors and officers while completing initial qualifications. Your responsibilities could include:
- Directing personnel operations aboard Navy vessels, including aircraft carriers
- Managing shipboard vertical launch systems
- Using high-tech weaponry and advanced technology in battle and ship defense
- Providing support to Navy expeditionary forces, Theater Missile Defense operations, anti-submarine warfare, surface-to-air warfare and support and supply missions
Nuclear Submarine Officer
Submarine Officers are involved in all aspects of submarine operations from supervising the reactor plant to running the ship both in port and at sea. You could be in charge of any of the following:
- Operating a nuclear reactor, power generation and propulsion systems
- Maintaining onboard weapons systems
- Managing all life support systems
- Driving the ship and charting its position
- Operating sonar, radar, fire control, communications and specialized mission equipment
Naval Reactors Engineer
Naval Reactors Engineers have oversight of the Navy's entire fleet of nuclear powered ships as well as shore-based prototypes and nuclear propulsion support facilities for America’s Navy. The wide array of technical areas involved in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion program include:
- Reactor and fluid systems design
- Reactor physics
- Materials development
- Component design such as steam generators, pumps and valves
- Instrumentation and control of reactor, steam and electric plants
- Testing and quality control
- Shielding
- Chemistry and radiological controls
As a Navy Engineering Officer stationed at Naval Reactors Headquarters in Washington, DC, you will provide technical oversight while managing projects ranging from reactor design to fleet operations to de-fueling and decommissioning warships.
Nuclear Power School Instructor
Nuclear Power School Instructors teach officers and enlisted personnel the theories and fundamentals behind the design and operation of Navy nuclear reactors and power plants. These teachers are essential in preparing servicemembers for their work in the fast-paced and competitive nuclear power field.
Naval Nuclear Power School is a 24-week course of instruction in science, technology and power plant operations designed to provide theoretical background knowledge of nuclear power. Areas of instruction include:
- Physics, Chemistry, Algebra and Calculus
- Heat Transfer and Fluid Dynamics
- Reactor Theory
- Mechanical and Electrical Systems Design
- Radiological Controls and Health Physics
Nuclear Power Training Unit Instructor
Nuclear Power Training Unit Instructors provide hands-on training and direct oversight to nuclear-trained officers and enlisted personnel while operating a nuclear reactor. They are essential in ensuring the safe operation of shore-based nuclear power plants and in preparing the officers and enlisted personnel for their future in the nuclear power field.
Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit is a 26-week course of instruction spent applying the knowledge of nuclear power plant operations in order to attain certification as a nuclear operator. Areas of instruction include:
- Reactor start-up, steady-state operations and shutdown
- Chemistry analysis and control
- Maintenance review and approval
- Casualty response
- Reactor safeguard systems
For current undergraduate students who meet the prerequisite background – especially those pursuing preferred majors such as mathematics, engineering, physics or chemistry – there’s all of the above to look forward to – plus the chance to get paid while finishing school through the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate (NUPOC) program.
Surface Warfare Officer (Nuclear)
If accepted into the NUPOC program as an aspiring Surface Warfare Officer (Nuclear), you can:
- Receive a salary in excess of $4,000 per month for up to 30 months prior to your college graduation
- Receive an immediate one-time sign-on bonus of $15,000 plus an additional $2,000 bonus upon completion of nuclear propulsion training
- Enjoy military health-care benefits while you are a student in the program
Interested candidates should contact a local recruiter to discuss the opportunity to participate in a fleet visit to see if this career is right for you. The fleet visit is an all-expenses paid 3-day trip to San Diego, CA to visit an active surface ship and meet with currently serving Surface Warfare Officers. These trips are conducted every month and there is no obligation to join the program in order to attend.
Nuclear Submarine Officer
If accepted into the NUPOC program as an aspiring Submarine Officer, you can:
- Receive a salary in excess of $4,000 per month for up to 30 months prior to your college graduation
- Receive an immediate one-time sign-on bonus of $15,000 plus an additional $2,000 bonus upon completion of nuclear propulsion training
- Enjoy military health-care benefits while you are a student in the program
Interested candidates should contact a local recruiter to discuss the opportunity to participate in a fleet visit to see if this career is right for you. The fleet visit is an all-expenses paid 3-day trip to San Diego, CA to visit an active submarine and meet with currently serving Submarine Officers. These trips are conducted every month and there is no obligation to join the program in order to attend.
Naval Reactor Engineer
If accepted into the NUPOC program as an aspiring Naval Reactors Engineer, you can:
- Receive a salary in excess of $4,000 per month for up to 18 months prior to your college graduation
- Receive an immediate one-time sign-on bonus of $15,000
- Enjoy military health-care benefits while you are a student in the program
Interested candidates should contact a local recruiter to discuss the opportunity to participate in a Naval Reactors visit to see if this career is right for you. The visit is an all-expenses paid 3-day trip to the Navy Yard in Washington, DC to visit with currently serving Naval Reactor Engineers. These trips are conducted twice a year and there is no obligation to join the program in order to attend.
Nuclear Power School Instructor
If accepted into the NUPOC program as an aspiring Naval Nuclear Power School Instructor, you can:
- Receive a salary in excess of $4,000 per month for up to 30 months prior to your college graduation
- Enjoy military health-care benefits while you are a student in the program
Interested candidates should contact a local recruiter to discuss the opportunity to participate in a Nuclear Power Instructor visit to see if this career is right for you. The visit is an all-expenses paid 3-day trip to Nuclear Power School and Prototype in Charleston, SC to visit with currently serving staff and instructors. These trips are conducted three times a year and there is no obligation to join the program in order to attend.
Nuclear Power Training Unit Instructor
If accepted into the NUPOC program as an aspiring Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit Instructor, you can:
- Receive a salary in excess of $4,000 per month for up to 30 months prior to your college graduation
- Enjoy military health-care benefits while you are a student in the program
Interested candidates should contact a local recruiter to discuss the opportunity to participate in a Nuclear Power Instructor visit to see if this career is right for you. The visit is an all-expenses paid 3-day trip to Nuclear Power School and Prototype in Charleston, SC to visit with currently serving personnel and instructors. These trips are conducted three times a year and there is no obligation to join the program in order to attend.
Postgraduate Education Opportunities
Regardless of career path, once you’re out of school you’ll have a position waiting as a respected professional and officer affiliated with the most accomplished nuclear program on earth. Beyond undergraduate and formal Navy training and education, you can pursue additional graduate education by:
- Pursuing opportunities at institutions such as Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) or Navy War College (NWC)
- Completing Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) at one of the various service colleges
There are also opportunities to pursue international and federal certifications, as well as state nuclear licensures.