Sr. Structural Engineer (Agency Employees Only) Job

Vacancy No. NMSS/DFM-2026-0001 Department Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Salary $126,384.00 to $164,301.00 Grade 15 to 15
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 3/20/2026 Close Date 4/6/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Atlanta, GANaperville, ILRockville, MDKing of Prussia, PA
Chattanooga, TNArlington, TX


Summary

This position is located in the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS), Division of Fuel Management (DFM), Materials and Structural Branch (MSB).


The supervisor is Lisa Regner.

This position IS subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements.

This position IS subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.

This job is open to

Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Duties

The successful candidate will perform the full range of duties:

Reviews and evaluates the structural integrity of proposed designs for fuel cycle facilities to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements. This includes assessing design features intended to prevent or mitigate the consequences of external events, including natural phenomena. Recommends approval or disapproval of proposed designs based on the evaluation of design information and engineering analyses.

Determines the adequacy and completeness of information contained in license applications and ascertains if the data is in conformity with the regulations of the Commission. If necessary, communicates orally and in writing with the applicant to obtain additional information or clarification necessary to complete the review of the application.

Collaborates with other technical disciplines as a team to evaluate the designs and communicates issues to management as appropriate.

Prepares written safety evaluations for licensing of fuel cycle facilities and other radioactive licensed material. Recommends issuance or denial of licenses and necessary technical conditions and limitations to be incorporated in licenses.

Participates in the development of guides, standards, criteria, and methods of analysis related to fuel facilities and storage and transportation of spent fuel and other radioactive material.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • This is a Drug Testing position.
  • Must be able to meet/maintain security & suitability requirements.

You must meet the qualifications for this position by no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

All information in your resume must be true and accurate.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as: experience which demonstrates robust knowledge of principles, theories, and practices in the field of civil/structural engineering to be able to review and evaluate the structural integrity of proposed designs for fuel cycle facilities and transportation and storage systems to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.



The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Demonstrated knowledge of and experience applying the principles, theories, and practices in the field of structural engineering related to the licensing, inspection and other regulatory programs and policies for the commercial use of radioactive materials.

(Examples may include specific training, education and work experience that demonstrate your knowledge of overall engineering principles related to technical assessments of civil/structural/mechanical behavior and civil/structural/mechanical issues. Examples related to the integrity of components and structures used in enrichment and fabrication facilities are ideal, but the areas of reactor plants, nuclear fuel storage installations and cask systems, transportation packages are also considered.)


2. Demonstrated knowledge of, and application of, industry codes and regulatory standards applicable to structural, mechanical, and civil engineering for the commercial use of radioactive materials. Experience and familiarity with structural design, reinforced concrete, steel design, soil/structure interaction analysis, earthquake engineering, and structural and seismic analysis.  Experience and familiarity with ASME, AISC and ACI Codes and demonstrated familiarity with the use of computer codes for structural analysis. Describe specific experience, education, and training that demonstrate knowledge of, and application in the above areas.



3. Demonstrated experience in leading, managing, or participating in complex, highly technical research projects or tasks with others leading to timely issue resolution.

(Examples may include relevant technical research projects or tasks that you conducted with a focus on identification of problem areas, emerging issues and processes used to achieve resolution, and your specific role in the project or task)

4. Demonstrated skills in communicating information, ideas and advice in a clear, concise, and logical manner, both orally and in writing.

(EXAMPLE: Describe specific experience, training, and accomplishments that demonstrate ability to: lead complex scientific and technical discussions and to explain complicated technical and policy issues to colleagues and management, licensee personnel, representatives of Federal, State, and local agencies, industry, oversight groups, and the general public; make presentations to various audiences on particular projects of interest; and develop in writing clear, concise, balanced, and well-founded technical and policy positions and recommendations based on complex and diverse opinions and facts.)



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 concise, results-focused language for job experience details in your resume. Applicants may also use the supplemental vacancy question to provide additional information pertaining to the specialized experience and ideal candidate criteria.

PLEASE BE CLEAR AND CONCISE. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Education

Individual Occupational Requirements


Basic Requirements:


A. 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


B. 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:


1. Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, 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.


2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 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.


3. 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.


4. 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.)


Note: An applicant who meets the basic requirements as specified in A or B above, except as noted under B.1., may qualify for positions in any branch of engineering unless selective factors indicate otherwise.

Additional information

The duty location of this position is Rockville, MD.  This position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with Agency policy.

Based on the staffing needs of the agency/area of consideration, additional selections may be made from this vacancy announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

As an NRC employee you will enjoy excellent Federal Benefits, including:

  • Comprehensive health and life insurance plans
  • Flexible Spending Account Program for health and dependent care
  • Dental and Vision Insurance;
  • Retirement savings and investment plan similar to 401(k) (Thrift Savings Plan)
  • Annual (vacation) and paid sick leave
  • Family friendly leave policies
  • 11 paid holidays per year
  • Transit benefits

This link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal employees. https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/benefits and https://help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/pay

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

When the application process is complete, your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the job requirements.  You will be rated based on the information provided in your resume and responses to any vacancy questions to determine your level of knowledge, skill and ability related to the job requirements.  If you are among the top candidates for this position, your application will be referred to the hiring manager.

Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, and abilities as they relate to this position.  Therefore, we encourage you to submit a thorough resume that directly relates to this position.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

  • Include a performance appraisal as proof of federal employment.
  • Your SF-50 shows a federal position you've held, grade level and duty location. Your SF-50 can support position changes, conversions or separation for employment eligibility.

As an NRC employee, you are required to submit your most recent Rating of Record (Performance Appraisal) or a statement saying that one is not available. Additionally, you must also submit a copy of your most recent SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action).

NOTE: Your complete application includes your resume, your responses to any vacancy questions, and if necessary, documents which prove your eligibility to apply.

Your resume is crucial in our evaluation of your qualifications. Resumes should clearly demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and abilities. Please limit your résumé to 2 pages. To ensure your resume contains all required information, we encourage you to use the USAJOBS Resume Builder. If you choose to use your own resume, please ensure it contains all the required information, and you organize it so we can associate the following information with each experience/position:

  1. Job title
  2. Name of employer
  3. Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/year) format
  4. Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will pro-rate part-time employment in crediting experience.
  5. Use concise, results-focused language for job duties, accomplishments, related skills, and responsibilities to include any supervisory/managerial responsibilities and number of staff supervised (if applicable).
  6. Series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position).

 If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further. 

Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) or other inappropriate material on your resume or cover letter. If your resume contains prohibited information as listed above, your application will be determined ineligible, and you will not receive consideration for this position. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter, links to social media such as LinkedIn, to determine your qualifications. Cover letters are optional.

All supplemental documents can now be collected electronically and should be submitted before the closing date of this vacancy announcement.  You have two choices for submitting your supplemental documents:

1.  Use the "USAJOBs" feature to download documents from your USAJOBs portfolio; or
2.  use the "Upload" feature to upload documents directly from your computer.  The following types of documents can be uploaded:
.gif, .jpeg, .png, .rtf, .pdf, and .doc.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting 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.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

We strongly encourage you to complete your USAJOBS profile before you submit your application for this position. 

Please read the entire announcement. Your application for this vacancy must be received online via the USAJOBS application system BEFORE 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement. If you fail to submit a complete online application, you will not be considered for this position.

Paper applications will not be accepted unless hardship circumstances can be demonstrated. Requests for extensions WILL NOT be granted. If applying online poses a hardship for you, the Human Resources Specialist listed on the announcement will provide assistance to ensure that applications are submitted online by the closing date. Applicants must contact the Human Resources Specialist during business hours BEFORE the closing date of the announcement and speak to someone who can provide assistance for your online submission.

You must answer any job specific vacancy questions. You will be rated based on your responses to any vacancy questions and especially the information provided in your resume. Breadth, recency, and length of experience in the field; training, awards, and commendations; past and current performance; and community or outside professional activities will be considered to determine your level of knowledge, skill or ability for this position. Abbreviated responses to the vacancy questions, such as “significant experience” or “see resume” do not provide enough information and should not be used. You will not be considered for this position if you leave any of the vacancy questions unanswered.

To begin the application process, select the "Apply On-line" button to the right on this screen. Then follow the prompts to login/register, submit all required supplemental documents, and complete the application process.

Agency contact information

Kreslyon Valrie
Phone
(301) 287-0714
TDD
240-428-3217
Email
Kreslyon.Valrie@nrc.gov
Website
https://www.nrc.gov
Address
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer
Washington, District of Columbia 20555
United States

Next steps

You may check the status of your application at any time after the announcement closes by logging onto USAJOBs and selecting “Application Status.”

Additional locations

Chattanooga, TN
Arlington, TX