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Entry Level Nuclear Engineering Jobs in Washington

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 ...

All JobsNuclear Engineering JobsEntry Level Nuclear Engineering JobsEntry Level Nuclear Engineering Jobs in Washington

Entry Level Nuclear Engineering information

See Washington salary details

$29.4K

$119.6K

$169.9K

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

As of Jul 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level nuclear engineering 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 are some common challenges faced by entry-level nuclear engineers during their first year on the job?

Entry-level nuclear engineers often encounter a steep learning curve as they adapt to strict safety protocols, regulatory requirements, and specialized technical systems unique to the nuclear industry. Collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary teams—including operators, safety specialists, and senior engineers—can also be challenging at first. Additionally, new engineers must quickly become comfortable interpreting complex technical documentation and participating in detailed risk assessments, which are essential to plant operations and safety. Supportive mentorship and comprehensive onboarding programs are typically provided to help new hires overcome these initial hurdles.

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 solid background in nuclear engineering principles, mathematics, and physics, typically supported by a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering or a related field. Familiarity with industry-specific software such as MATLAB, AutoCAD, and nuclear simulation tools, as well as safety and regulatory certifications, is often required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective teamwork and communication skills set successful candidates apart. These skills and qualifications are vital to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant operation of nuclear systems in a highly regulated and technically complex environment.

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

AspectEntry Level Nuclear EngineeringNuclear Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in nuclear engineering or related fieldAssociate's degree or technical certification in nuclear technology
Work EnvironmentDesign, research, and development in labs or officesOperational support in nuclear power plants or facilities
Employer & Industry UsageUtilities, government agencies, research institutionsNuclear power plants, maintenance, and safety operations

Entry Level Nuclear Engineers typically hold a bachelor's degree and focus on design, analysis, and research tasks, while Nuclear Technicians usually have an associate's degree and support plant operations and safety. Both roles are essential in the nuclear industry but differ in education requirements and daily responsibilities.

What do entry level nuclear engineers do?

Entry level nuclear engineers assist in the research, design, development, and operation of nuclear equipment and systems, often under the supervision of more experienced engineers. Their responsibilities may include conducting tests, collecting and analyzing data, preparing technical reports, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. They often work in nuclear power plants, research labs, or government agencies, gaining hands-on experience while learning industry protocols. Entry level positions typically require a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering or a related field.
What are the most commonly searched types of Nuclear Engineering jobs in Washington? The most popular types of Nuclear Engineering jobs in Washington are:
What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Nuclear Engineering jobs in Washington? For Entry Level Nuclear Engineering jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Nuclear Engineering jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Nuclear Engineering jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Entry Level Nuclear Engineering jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Entry Level Nuclear Engineering job openings:
Entry Level Nuclear Engineering jobs near you

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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