ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Senior Nuclear Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Nalley Consulting

Nuclear Engineer - Mid and Sr

Reston, VA · On-site

$102K - $122K/yr

Nuclear Engineer (Scientific Support) LCATs: Mid and Sr Location: Reston, VA Required Clearance: TS/SCI or Q clearance. CI poly required; those with active CI polys will have preference. Required ...

Nalley Consulting

Nuclear Engineer - Mid and Sr

Reston, VA · On-site

$102K - $122K/yr

Nuclear Engineer (Scientific Support) LCATs: Mid and Sr Location: Reston, VA Required Clearance: TS/SCI or Q clearance. CI poly required; those with active CI polys will have preference. Required ...

previous page

Showing results 41-60

All JobsNuclear Engineer JobsSenior Nuclear Engineer Jobs

Senior Nuclear Engineer information

See salary details

$59.5K

$126.6K

$183.5K

How much do senior nuclear engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior nuclear engineer in the United States is $126,557.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,500.00 and $143,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Nuclear Engineer vs Nuclear Safety Engineer?

AspectSenior Nuclear EngineerNuclear Safety Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Nuclear Engineering, PE license often preferredBachelor's or Master's in Nuclear Engineering, specialized training in safety protocols
Work EnvironmentDesign, develop, and oversee nuclear systems; collaborate with engineers and project teamsAssess safety risks, develop safety procedures, ensure compliance with safety standards
Employer & Industry UsagePower plants, nuclear research, defense contractorsRegulatory agencies, nuclear power plants, consulting firms

While both roles require nuclear engineering expertise, Senior Nuclear Engineers focus on system design and project management, whereas Nuclear Safety Engineers specialize in safety assessments and compliance. Both positions are vital in ensuring safe and efficient nuclear operations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior nuclear engineer?

To thrive as a Senior Nuclear Engineer, you need an advanced degree in nuclear engineering or a related field, strong analytical skills, and several years of industry experience. Familiarity with nuclear simulation software, regulatory compliance systems, and certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE) licensure are typically required. Excellent leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills help you manage complex projects and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams. These competencies ensure the safe, efficient, and regulatory-compliant operation of nuclear facilities while advancing project objectives.

What is a senior nuclear engineer?

Senior Nuclear Engineers are experienced professionals who design, develop, operate, and oversee nuclear power plants and related systems. They are responsible for ensuring the safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance of nuclear operations, as well as troubleshooting complex technical issues. Senior Nuclear Engineers often lead teams, manage projects, and contribute to research and development in the nuclear energy field. Their expertise is critical in maintaining safe energy production and advancing nuclear technology.

What are some typical challenges senior nuclear engineers face in project management and how can they be addressed?

Senior Nuclear Engineers often encounter challenges such as coordinating multidisciplinary teams, ensuring regulatory compliance, and managing complex technical risks during large-scale projects. Effective communication and strong leadership skills are key to overcoming these obstacles, as is keeping up-to-date with evolving safety standards. Proactively engaging with stakeholders and implementing rigorous project management methodologies help ensure that projects stay on track and meet safety and quality requirements.
More about Senior Nuclear Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Senior Nuclear Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Senior Nuclear Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Nuclear Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Nuclear Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Senior Nuclear Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Senior Nuclear Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Senior Nuclear Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Nuclear Engineer jobs are:
Senior Nuclear Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Nuclear Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $126,557 per year, or $60.8 per hour.

Senior Nuclear Surety Systems Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory

Laurel, MD • On-site

$103K - $141K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 4 days ago

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory rating

9.6

Company rating: 9.6 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 73 rated research

Job description

Description
Are you interested in applying technical leadership, innovation, system engineering skills, and specialty nuclear surety expertise toward the difficult critical challenges of ensuring the safety and security of this nation's most critical defense systems?
Are you eager to apply strategy and innovative engineering approaches to transform how the DoD evaluates and analyzes modern nuclear surety design?
Would you like to help strategic weapon system programs ensure compliance with the DoD's nuclear certification process that is crucial to ensuring the safety, security, and effectiveness of nuclear weapons and their systems, which are integral to national security?
If so, we are looking for someone like you to serve as the Senior Nuclear Surety Systems Engineer within the System Realization and Resilience Group (KBR) of the Force Projection Sector. Our team is responsible for enabling the realization of strategic systems, ensuring resilience and specialty disciplines are integrated throughout system development, and supporting credible verification of strategic weapon systems. We lead efforts in systems engineering, system security engineering, test and integration, digital engineering, nuclear command and control, and reliability engineering.
As the Senior Nuclear Surety Systems Engineer, you will...
  • Serve as the Lab's focal point and thought leader for nuclear surety engineering with emphasis on leveraging and implementing systems engineering principles to enhance strategic systems nuclear surety design and modifications.
  • Develop and implement systems engineering processes to ensure compliance with nuclear surety standards.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to review, analyze, and validate systems to ensure they meet nuclear surety requirements.
  • Review nuclear surety requirements and apply system engineering best practices for requirements traceability.
  • Provide technical guidance on nuclear weapon system (NWS) safety to DoD sponsors.
  • Perform independent evaluation and safety assessments to influence design improvement consistent with government requirements.
  • Review and inform strategic weapon system certification processes and activities to ensure objective quality evidence and artifacts required for safety, security, and control are understood and accessible to sponsors.
  • Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies to ensure the safety and security of nuclear systems.
  • Prepare and present technical products, reports, and deliverables to sponsors and stakeholders.

Qualifications
You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you have...
  • A Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, computer science, or a related technical discipline.
  • At least 3 years of relevant experience analyzing, evaluating, or ensuring the safety and nuclear surety of strategic weapon systems and/or related facilities (analagous non-nuclear weapon system experience considered).
  • Knowledge of nuclear surety principles, standards, and regulations.
  • Working knowledge of weapon system safety design principles, security (physical and cyber/digital), and use control (electronic and mechanical features that prevent unauthorized use and allow authorized use)
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, written and oral communications skills, and organizational skills, with a record of accomplishment in a team environment.
  • Are willing and able to travel occasionally to support meetings with the government, design agents and other contractors at their locations, including travel to operational sites.
  • Hold an active Secret security clearance and can ultimately obtain Top Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you have...
  • A Master's degree or higher in a relevant engineering or technical discipline.
  • Experience with DoD nuclear surety, certification, and safety requirements across the full systems engineering lifecycle for Nuclear Weapon Systems (NWS).
  • Familiarity with Navy and/or Air Force nuclear certification processes and artifacts, including support to NWSSG activities such as Operational Safety Reviews (OSRs) and safety studies.
  • Prior support to strategic deterrence programs and associated weapon maintenance, storage facilities, or Strategic Systems Programs.
  • Proficiency with systems engineering tools and safety/security analysis methods, along with a strong understanding of NWS safety, security, use control, and applicable cybersecurity principles.

About Us
Why Work at APL?
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.
At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accessibility@jhuapl.edu.
The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Minimum Rate
$100,000 Annually
Maximum Rate
$245,000 Annually

What Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory employees say

Pay

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply