Background

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proud to be ranked as a BEST Place to Work in the Federal Government. We've earned our top ratings by creating a work environment rich in opportunity, diversity, leadership training, teamwork, and work life balance. Help guide our nation into the next generation of nuclear safety! Begin a challenging career with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission where you can be part of a select group of professionals who protect people and the environment with the peaceful use of nuclear materials in medicine, industry and research.

Duties

Positions are located in Positions are located in the Division of Operating Reactor Safety as follows and are being filled via Direct Hire Authority.

Region I - King of Prussia, PA,
Region II - Atlanta, GA,
Region III - Naperville, IL, and
Region IV - Arlington, TX

Multiple selections for each Region may be made from this announcement.

Please read this Public Notice for use of Direct Hire Authority in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration. You are applying to a resume database. Your resume and any documents submitted will be retained and may be used at any time during the open period of this Public Notice. U.S. Citizenship is REQUIRED.
The successful candidate will perform the full range of Project Engineer (Resident Inspector Development Program (RIDP)) duties.

Such duties include, but are not limited to:
Participating in formal classroom training and other developmental activities to gain full certification as an NRC Inspector.
Participating in the assessment of licensee performance at nuclear facilities; the selectee/s will perform direct inspections of licensee activities during operation phases.
Planning, preparing, and performing in-depth inspections at assigned plant(s) during start-up, operation and decommissioning to ensure compliance with design specifications, and conditions of the operating license.
Ensuring inspection program completion in accordance with schedules specified in the Inspection Manual or other official documents.
Preparing and presenting inspection reports describing findings and conclusions regarding the licensees safety performance and conformance with NRC requirements, provisions of operating licenses, and applicable industry codes and standards.
Assisting the Branch Chief or Senior Project Engineer in the handling of allegations and tracking the status of allegations.

Selectees will be assigned to work in the Region I Office in King of Prussia, PA, the Region II Office in Atlanta, GA, the Region III Office in Naperville, IL or the Region IV Office in Arlington, TX based upon geographic preference indicated in their application. The selectees must become qualified through the NRC Inspection Manual Chapter (IMC) 1245 process within two years. Upon completion of training, developmental assignments, and Inspection Manual Chapter 1245 qualification process, selectees will be expected to seek reassignment from their regional office to a Resident Inspector position at one of the Resident Inspector Offices in their assigned Region.

Additional Employment-related Information:

Trial Period: Selectees are required to serve a trial period to assess their overall fitness and qualifications for continued employment. The trial period for new employees is two years. New employees who are preference eligible veterans serve a one-year trial period.

Salary and Benefits:

This position starts at a salary of $106,437.

Employees receive the full package of federal employment benefits that include health and insurance plans, a generous annual and sick leave program, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, a retirement plan akin to a traditional 401(k) offering.

Qualifications

In addition to meeting the basic education requirements for professional engineering positions, as described above in the Education section, to qualify for this position at the advertised grade levels, you must meet the following:
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as experience that demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the principles, theories, and practices in the field of engineering. You must also have recent experience associated with applying any of a variety of relevant professional engineering disciplines (e.g., nuclear, electrical, mechanical, metallurgical, structural, chemical). Recent experience in the industry of commercial, government or military nuclear power is preferred. You must also be familiar with nuclear industry standards, rules and regulations and be able to apply them.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

(1) Knowledge of the design features and operating characteristics of nuclear facilities by describing professional experience with reactor facilities, commercial, government, or military. This experience may have been as a power plant operator, in a staff position in operations, or associated with plant operations.
(2) Demonstrated ability to evaluate activities and events, develop inspection findings, and evaluate adequacy of corrective actions.
(3) Demonstrated ability to develop and implement successful approaches to problem solving and conflict resolution.
(4) Demonstrated ability to communicate well, both orally and in writing.
A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate should be addressed in your resume. The NRC encourages applicants to provide extensive job experience details in your resume. Applicants may also use the supplemental vacancy question to provide additional information pertaining to specialized experience and ideal candidate criteria.

Education

To qualify for these positions, you must meet BOTH basic education/professional knowledge requirements that apply to Federal engineering positions at all grade levels AND the specialized experience requirements outlined above no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position. Regardless of the grade level of the vacancy, candidates for Federal Government professional engineering positions must meet certain basic professional knowledge requirements.

Generally, these knowledge requirements are met by having a bachelor's or higher degree in a relevant professional engineering discipline (e.g., nuclear, electrical, mechanical, metallurgical, structural, chemical) from a school of engineering with at least one professional engineering curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). If you do not possess such a professional engineering degree, you may still satisfy the professional knowledge requirements if you have current Professional Engineer (P.E.) registration in one of the relevant disciplines from any U.S. State or Territory; or if you successfully passed an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) written examination administered by a State Board of Engineering Examiners; or if you have either a related professional degree or at least 60 semester hours of specified engineering-related college courses combined with at least a year of professional engineering work experience performed under professional engineer supervision and guidance.

NOTE: Engineering technology degrees are not generally qualifying unless supplemented by other evidence of the individual's professional knowledge (e.g., current P.E. licensure or EIT examination results, as discussed above).

You must include an unofficial copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application.
Geographic mobility is a condition of employment for selection under this announcement and selectee must sign a Mobility Agreement. The Mobility Agreement will be furnished to selectee at the point of job offer and must be signed at the time the offer is accepted.
NOTE THAT THE TOUR LENGTH FOR A RESIDENT INSPECTOR AT A SINGLE SITE IS LIMITED TO TEN (10) YEARS BY COMMISSION POLICY.
Selectees are required to serve a trial period to assess their overall fitness and qualifications for continued employment. The trial period for new employees is two years. New employees who are preference eligible veterans serve a one-year trial period.

How to Apply

Visit www.nrc.gov Review the NRC Opportunities page and click on �view a list of current NRC vacancies, please visit USAJobs EXIT.� Find the Project Engineer (RIDP) Job Announcement Number DE-12941883-26-KL and apply online by July 23, 2026. If you are viewing this opportunity after July 23rd, please visit NRC�s website and discover additional opportunities for which you might be interested.