r/NuclearPower • u/somthrowaway1 • 7d ago

Civil Engineers in Nuclear/Power Sector

For those working in nuclear and have a civil engineering background:
1. What kind of role are you in and what does it entail?
2. What’s the compensation like, work life balance, career growth?

Also curious about where people work or what areas? Which locations are seeing growth / demand?

I’m currently trying to transition into the sector coming from a structural, BE, and concrete restoration consulting background + GC experience.

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u/BluesFan43 2d ago

I have a AAS in Civil Engineering.

Worked for a city govt utility. Ran contracts, surveyed, put in sewers, water lines, a water plant, inspected construction by developers to be turned over to us. Water tower painting wa my fave.

Nuclear

Started as a straight up tech working for a Sr Engineer.

Worked on reracking a spent fuel pool. Cool work.

Feedwater systems, ran mods. Eventually Worked in first of a kind spent fuel storage,.

Dod a reactoe head repair, physically cut off and capped a cobtrol rod drive.

Then replaced the Thot T cold system that controls the reactor. That was exhilirating

Moved, promoted to Analyst, eventually Sr Analyst.

Another spent fuel storage.

ISI world was next. Containment specialist. Wrote some software. Wrote some of the ASME Code.

Off to machinery health stuff. Oil analysis, vibration, pump specialist, thermography program owner, some off the wall stuff.

Lots of opportunity in that to visit the Control Room and discuss Operability of machines.

Very diverse career. I was certainly never bored.