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Entry Level Nuclear Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

BAE Systems

Eng Plan Spec I

Washington, DC · On-site

$56K - $95K/yr

BAE Systems is seeking an entry-level Engineering Planner to support our work as a prime contractor ... S. nuclear triad. With over 70% of our nation's nuclear arsenal its importance to maintaining world ...

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Entry Level Nuclear Engineer information

See Washington salary details

$29.4K

$119.6K

$169.9K

How much do entry level nuclear engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level nuclear engineer in Washington is $119,596.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $111,600.00 and $133,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Entry Level Nuclear Engineer vs Nuclear Technician?

AspectEntry Level Nuclear EngineerNuclear Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in nuclear engineering or related fieldAssociate's degree or technical certification in nuclear technology
Work EnvironmentDesign, analysis, and safety assessments in labs or officesOperate and monitor nuclear equipment in power plants or facilities
Employer & Industry UsagePower plants, research facilities, government agenciesNuclear power plants, medical facilities, research labs

Entry Level Nuclear Engineers typically hold a bachelor's degree and focus on designing and analyzing nuclear systems, while Nuclear Technicians usually have technical certifications and handle operational tasks. Both roles are essential in the nuclear industry but differ in responsibilities and educational requirements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Nuclear Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Nuclear Engineer, you need a strong background in nuclear engineering principles, mathematics, and physics, typically demonstrated by a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as MATLAB, AutoCAD, and simulation tools, as well as understanding of regulatory standards like NRC guidelines, is often expected. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork are crucial soft skills in this position. These competencies ensure accurate technical work, compliance with safety regulations, and successful collaboration on complex engineering projects.

What does an entry level nuclear engineer do?

An entry level nuclear engineer assists in the design, development, and maintenance of nuclear equipment and systems. They often work under the supervision of senior engineers to ensure the safe and efficient operation of nuclear power plants, reactors, or medical devices. Their tasks may include conducting research, performing safety analyses, preparing technical reports, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Entry level nuclear engineers also participate in training and learn about the industry's safety protocols and best practices.

What are common challenges faced by entry level nuclear engineers in their first year, and how can they overcome them?

Entry level nuclear engineers often encounter challenges such as understanding complex regulatory requirements, adapting to rigorous safety protocols, and quickly learning specialized software and technical systems unique to nuclear facilities. They may also need to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical, on-site applications. New engineers can overcome these challenges by actively seeking mentorship from experienced colleagues, participating in ongoing training programs, and regularly engaging with interdisciplinary teams to broaden their understanding of operational procedures and safety standards.

What Does an Entry-Level Nuclear Engineer Do?

An entry-level nuclear engineer works with nuclear energy and radiation. As a nuclear engineer, you devise systems and create tools for using nuclear power. You oversee responsibilities like developing equipment, writing operating guides for equipment and processes, ensuring safety during facility operations, and taking action to prevent and mitigate nuclear emergencies. You may work in a nuclear power plant or in a laboratory focusing on using radioactive materials for societal benefit, like in the medical or aerospace industries. Your responsibilities are to test nuclear processes for solvency, maintain safety standards, and eventually handle supervisory and managerial duties depending on the size and scope of your team.

More about Entry Level Nuclear Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Nuclear Engineer jobs in Washington? The most popular types of Nuclear Engineer jobs in Washington are:
What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Nuclear Engineer jobs in Washington? For Entry Level Nuclear Engineer jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Nuclear Engineer jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Nuclear Engineer jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Entry Level Nuclear Engineer jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Entry Level Nuclear Engineer job openings:
Entry Level Nuclear Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Nuclear Engineer job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $119,596 per year, or $57.5 per hour.

AI Engineer 1 - Platform Integration & AI/Data

The Nuclear Company

Washington, DC • On-site

$80K - $150K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 17 days ago

Job description

The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing AI tech-enabled startup in the nuclear and energy space, pioneering a fleet-scale approach to building the next generation of nuclear reactors. Through our design-once, build-many model, we're accelerating the deployment of safe, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy.
We operate with an AI-first mindset. Every employee is expected to leverage AI, technology, and the Nuclear Operating System (NOS) as integral components of their role to improve the quality, speed, and impact of their work. We expect every team member to continuously identify opportunities to automate workflows, enhance decision-making, improve processes, and contribute to the ongoing evolution of NOS as a strategic operating capability that enables The Nuclear Company to scale with excellence.
We hire people who are driven by purpose, thrive in ambiguity, and are energized by building what has never been built before. Our team combines intellectual curiosity with high agency, embraces candid feedback and continuous learning, and holds themselves and others to exceptional standards. Our values-Transparency, Responsibility, Unity, Scrappiness, and Tenacity-guide how we hire, collaborate, and make decisions every day. They are not words on a wall; they are the standard by which we operate. TRUST is the foundation of our safety culture, fostering intellectual honesty, accountability, and open communication, while our values challenge every team member to execute with urgency, humility, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to our mission.
About the role
The Nuclear Company is hiring an AI Engineer 1 to help build and run the backend, data, and integration layers that NOS depends on. You will report to the Director of Platform Integrations and work in the Platform Integration & AI/Data squad. NOS is the software platform behind one of the largest nuclear buildouts in the United States, and the platform layer is what keeps it fast, reliable, and connected to the systems around it. This is a hands-on, entry-level role. You will work alongside the Platform Engineer and other senior engineers on CI/CD, backend services, and the data and application integrations that tie NOS to internal systems and external sources, taking well-scoped features end to end under senior code review. You will ramp on Palantir Foundry and the team's AI and data tooling, write production code, open pull requests, and grow into a specialization over time.
Responsibilities
First 90 Days:
  • Help build and maintain the application and data integrations that connect NOS to internal systems, partner APIs, and external data sources, working from well-scoped tickets under senior review.
  • Take ownership of scoped CI/CD and release tasks that keep NOS builds repeatable, tested, and traceable.
  • Do basic backend and DevOps work: build and fix backend services, write tests, and handle routine platform monitoring and maintenance.
  • Ramp on Palantir Foundry, the data ontology, and the MCP interfaces that let AI agents work against NOS data and start contributing to them.
  • Partner with the Platform Engineer, data scientists, AI/ML engineers, and product engineers, and grow from paired work toward independent delivery.

Required Experience
  • Computer science degree or equivalent, with 0-2 years of professional experience (internships, co-ops, and project work count).
  • Strong fundamentals in at least one backend language (Python and/or TypeScript preferred; Go or Java also welcome).
  • Some hands-on exposure to basic DevOps and backend work: CI/CD, version control, REST APIs, or wiring systems together, from an internship, a job, or a personal project.
  • Has built something with AI beyond using a chat assistant: multi-step prompts, custom tools, AI in the codebase, or a small agentic project.
  • Good written and verbal communication, and willingness to learn the nuclear and regulated-industry context.

Preferred Experience
  • Exposure to a major cloud (AWS preferred), including coursework or personal projects.
  • Coursework or project work in CI/CD, infrastructure as code, or configuration management.
  • Coursework or project work in LLMs, agentic systems, or data modeling.
  • Familiarity with Palantir Foundry, Databricks, or Snowflake.
  • Internship or project work in a regulated or mega-project industry (nuclear, aerospace, defense, energy, medical).

Benefits
  • Competitive compensation packages
  • 401k with company match
  • Medical, dental, vision plans
  • Generous vacation policy, plus holidays

Estimated Starting Salary RangeThe estimated starting salary range for this role is $80,000 - $150,000 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 StatementThe 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.

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