Jobs / Architecture and engineering / 17-2161.00
Nuclear Engineers
Conduct research on nuclear engineering projects or apply principles and theory of nuclear science to problems concerned with release, control, and use of nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.
- US jobs
- 15,280
- Median wage
- $133,970 a year
- Job family
- Architecture and engineering
Can agents do the work of nuclear engineers?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Architecture and engineering: Some tasks (first measured in the last 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: HWE-Bench, 79.9% of tasks completed.
Direct evidence that disagrees: Parametric CAD Bench V3, 9% of tasks fully completed (Perfect tasks).
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.
- 10%Direct organizational operations, activities, or proceduresNot measured
- 8%Document technical designs, procedures, or activitiesNot measured
- 8%Research technology designs or applicationsNot measured
- 7%Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standardsNot measured
- 6%Present research or technical informationNot measured
- 6%Design industrial systems or equipmentNot measured
- 6%Resolve personnel or operational problemsNot measured
- 6%Plan work activitiesNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in architecture and engineering, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
- 61%Claude Opus 5.5 (max) with Claude Code 2.1.280 · 24 Sep 2026Strong
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
- 64.8%Claude Code + Opus 5.5 (max) · 6 Oct 2026Strong
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Design or develop nuclear equipment, such as reactor cores, radiation shielding, or associated instrumentation or control mechanisms.
- Monitor nuclear facility operations to identify any design, construction, or operation practices that violate safety regulations and laws or could jeopardize safe operations.
- Initiate corrective actions or order plant shutdowns in emergency situations.
- Examine accidents to obtain data for use in design of preventive measures.
- Direct operating or maintenance activities of nuclear power plants to ensure efficiency and conformity to safety standards.
- Design or oversee construction or operation of nuclear reactors, power plants, or nuclear fuels reprocessing and reclamation systems.
- Direct environmental compliance activities associated with nuclear plant operations or maintenance.
- Write operational instructions to be used in nuclear plant operation or nuclear fuel or waste handling and disposal.
- Prepare technical reports of findings or recommendations, based on synthesized analyses of test results.
- Prepare environmental impact statements, reports, or presentations for regulatory or other agencies.
- Develop or contribute to the development of plans to remediate or restore environments affected by nuclear radiation, such as waste disposal sites.
- Conduct tests of nuclear fuel behavior and cycles or performance of nuclear machinery and equipment to optimize performance of existing plants.
Other job titles for this occupation (45)
Engineer · Nuclear Design Engineer · Nuclear Engineer · Nuclear Licensing Engineer · Nuclear Process Engineer · Nuclear Reactor Engineer · Nuclear Safety Engineer · Nuclear Steam Supply System Engineer (NSSS Engineer) · Radiological Engineer · Reactor Engineer · Atomic Process Engineer · Core Measures Abstractor · Engineering Officer · Instrumentation and Controls Engineer · Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer · Nuclear Electrician · Nuclear Equipment Design Engineer · Nuclear Equipment Research Engineer · Nuclear Equipment Test Engineer · Nuclear Fuels Reclamation Engineer · Nuclear Fuels Research Engineer · Nuclear Mechanic · Nuclear Officer · Nuclear Plant Technical Advisor · Nuclear Power Plant Engineer · Nuclear Project Manager (Nuclear PM) · Nuclear Radiation Engineer · Nuclear Test Reactor Program Coordinator · Nuclear Waste Management Engineer · Radiation Engineer · Radiation Officer · Radiation Protection Engineer · Radioactive Materials Waste Management Engineer · Radiological Defense Officer · Reactor Projects Engineer · Regulatory Compliance Coordinator · Regulatory Coordinator · Safety Engineer · Steam Technical Advisor · Structural Engineer · Survivability Engineer · System Engineer · System Safety Engineer · Weapons Designer · Weapons Engineer