Summary
This position is part of the Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors, Department of Energy. National Nuclear Security Administration Demonstration Project: This position is covered by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Demonstration Project. The NN-04 pay band is equivalent to the GS-14/15 grade levels. For more information on the NNSA Demonstration Project and Pay Band/Salary Tables, review http://www.energy.gov/nnsa/nnsas-demo-pay-system-compared-general-schedule.
Duties
PLEASE NOTE: This is an Open Continuous Announcement which allows acceptance of applications through the closing date of 12/15/2026. Check the "How to Apply" section for more details. As a Nuclear Engineer, NN-0840-04, you will: Lead and provide expert engineering support across the lifecycle of naval nuclear propulsion plants, including research, development, design, acquisition, specification, construction, inspection, installation, certification, testing, overhaul, refueling, operations, maintenance, supply support, and ultimate disposition. Advise program offices and site managers on interpretation and application of technical requirements and policies; evaluate proposed modifications and alternative approaches; recommend and track corrective actions; and provide oversight and coordination with Navy, DoD, DOE, design laboratories, shipyards, and other partner organizations. Prepare internal policy guidance, technical standards, and related documentation that may drive changes in policy, technical direction, and program execution for naval nuclear propulsion activities. Participate in meetings, panels, and conferences with federal and state agencies, national laboratories, contractors, and other stakeholders; present briefings and speeches; communicate office positions; and articulate issues, impacts, and solutions on complex technical and policy matters. Review, analyze, and assess technical research and development reports, engineering plans, and program proposals related to areas such as submarines, surface ships, reactor plants, instrumentation and control, materials, nuclear components, and reactor safety; provide recommendations to inform program decisions. Serve on ad-hoc and cross-functional teams with other government and private-sector engineers to conduct broad policy and technical studies, support advanced concepts (e.g., advanced submarines, new ship designs, advanced and nuclear technologies), and address emergent issues in naval nuclear propulsion.
Education
Basic Requirements: Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.-OR Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all inclusive). For Professional, Scientific and Engineering Positions: If qualifying on the basis of an alternate method, i.e., professional license, you must submit official documentation to support your claim with your application package. If selected for the position you will be required to submit official transcripts prior to onboarding. Education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Foreign Education: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the qualification requirements. You must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private U.S. organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information. If this vacancy specifies particular educational requirements, please provide documentation to verify your educational claims. This can include unofficial transcripts or any report that lists the institution, courses titles, credit earned, and final grades. For additional information, please see How to fill out your education.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g. resume, supporting documents), and your responses on the application questionnaire for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics): The competencies for the Nuclear Engineer are: Nuclear Engineering Oral Communication Technical Competence Written Communication Structured Resume Review: After it has been determined that you meet the minimum qualifications, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will review the first two pages of your resume to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required competencies. Additional documentation (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) may not be considered. Once the announcement closes, we will conduct a review of your application package to verify your eligibility and qualifications. If you are found qualified, your application will move forward to additional phases of the review process. All qualified applicants, including Non-Competitive, Merit Promotion and Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) applicants, will be referred to the hiring office for consideration. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) Eligibles: View information about ICTAP/CTAP eligibility on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. In order to be considered under these programs, your application must score within the pre-established "well qualified" category. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this job announcement. Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, the veteran must 1) be a preference eligible; or 2) be a veteran separated after 3 or more years of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. In addition, you must submit the supporting documents listed under the required documents section of this announcement. (Note: Veteran's preference does not apply under Merit Promotion procedures.) If your resume is incomplete or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible' or 'not qualified'. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the cut-off dates listed in the "How to Apply" section of this announcement OR by the closing date (12/15/2026) . To preview the Assessment Questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13030223.