Duke Energy Nuclear Power Plant Operator (non-aviation)

Berkut

Well-Known Member
https://de.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=117640

Nuclear Operator - Learner (For ALL sites: Oconee, Catawba, McGuire) - 105654

Description
:

***This position is estimated to begin between March 2010 and July 2010***


These Nuclear Operator positions will be located at each of our three Nuclear Power Plants.
In the next section you will be asked to choose your prefered location.

We have three nuclear plants:
Oconee - Located in Seneca, SC (Upstate SC)
Catawba - Located in York, SC (about 30 minutes south of Downtown Charlotte)
McGuire - Located in Huntersville, NC (about 30 minutes north of Downtown Charlotte)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




Duties of a Nuclear Equipment Operator (NEO) consist of:

* Performing surveillances throughout the plant as well as operating valves and equipment in the plant.
* Serve as an active member of station Fire Brigade.
* Reporting on system and component status using computerized round process in order to keep supervision informed.
* Starting and stopping plant equipment as directed by Operating procedures.
* Performing tests and checks on operability of system components (e.g., leakage)
* Isolating and restoring equipment.

This is a hands-on, physically and mentally demanding position that requires working in a hot environment, constant studying to update skills, and shift work. While serving as the NEO, the individual is expected to work toward advancement to a licensed position by progressing academically and in job knowledge.



This entails successfully completing a generic fundamentals program as well as a plant specific license class leading to a NRC administered license exam.



*****There is a progression of approximately seven years going from NEO to Reactor Operator license (RO) and then Senior Reactor Operator license (SRO). On-going training expectations are required to maintain proficiency in this job hierarchy.





Work Conditions



- Shift Work.
- Frequent Overtime.
- Weekend Work.
- Testing Required.
- Plant environment w/extreme temperature ranges and high humidity.
- Outdoor surveillance required year-round on both day and night shift.
- Exposure to dust, fumes, and high noise levels.
- Ability to wear protective clothing including hard hat, safety glasses and gloves due to heavy industrial environment (rotating equipment with high temperature and high pressure fluids up to 650f and 235 psig).
- Includes climbing, stooping, pulling and pushing.





**Depending upon the desired qualifications of the successful candidate, the hiring manager may elect to fill this position at a higher level within the job hierarchy.



** Duke Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer**

Qualifications
:

***Please make note of the Qualifications below, you will need to reference them throughout the application process.***



Basic Qualifications

- High school diploma or equivalent

- Demonstrated strong aptitude for math and science.
- Demonstrated experience working with mechanical and electrical equipment.



Desired Qualifications

- Two year technical degree OR Four year Engineering Degree OR Four year Math or Science Degree OR post high school course work in math and science.
- Demonstrated experience utilizing a work management program such as Passport.
- Previous firefighter experience including successfully meeting and maintaining respiratory qualifications.
- Previous Navy Nuclear experience.
- Previously Completed and Passed Beginner Operator Training and Integrated Systems class.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with all levels of employees and management.
- Demonstrated ability to be self-motivated, with a desire for advancement.
- Demonstrated experience developing interpersonal skills and professional

- Demonstrated experience working effectively in an independent capacity while supporting team strategies and objectives.





Specific Job Requirements



- Ability to pass Power Plant Operator Selection test (POSS).
- Ability to obtain security clearance.
- Ability to obtain respirator clearance.



Job
: Generation
Primary Location
: North Carolina-Huntersville-DE Carolinas-McGuire Nuc Stn (242)
Other Locations
: South Carolina-York-DE Carolinas-Catawba Nuc Stn (243), South Carolina-Seneca-DE Carolinas-Oconee Nuc Stn (241)
Schedule
: Full-time

Job Posting
: Aug 5, 2009
Unposting Date
: Dec 30, 2009

Shift
: Rotating
Represented/Union Position
: No
 
Very likely varies widely with overtime year to year. My guess is that the bottom (trainee) is about $50k-$60k (usually takes ~ one year or so to become a fully qualified NEO), NEO probably $85k-$110k (this is the best position of them all), RO $120k-$140k (stuck in a control room, this is what Homer Simpson's job is). SRO is normally a salaried position and they usually (but not always) make a little more than an RO (Supervisor/Management position and also stuck in control room except when they have to go to a meeting).
 
I'm sorry but I can't hold back this thought. So Homer makes $120k/year? Interesting if you are sitting on the fence about flying take that job and buy a Cirrus and fly all over the country at your leisure. Hmmm tempting.
 
I am going to apply for this job, although my previous work experience is probably not what they are looking for. Flight instructing and flying freight is what my work history consists of. No harm in applying though.
 
What are the hazards associated with this job? Why do you need a respirator clearance? Sounds a bit scary, especially around nukes.
 
I am going to apply for this job, although my previous work experience is probably not what they are looking for. Flight instructing and flying freight is what my work history consists of. No harm in applying though.
You have nothing to lose by applying. Actually, aircraft pilots and operators have LOTS in common. These two industries are very similar in alot of ways.


The biggest initial obstacles are being able to pass the POSS test and maintaining "fitness for duty".

What are the hazards associated with this job? Why do you need a respirator clearance? Sounds a bit scary, especially around nukes.
Don't let the respirator scare you. It's just a requirement that you are physically able and trained to respond in a respirator in the rare event of an emergency that requires an SCBA. You will most likely (hopefully) never have to wear it except for your mask fit and for training.

While you are a trainee and NEO, it's mostly just normal industrial hazards (hot pipes, rotating equipment, heights, suspended loads, etc.). Radiation exposure is usually very low, depending on what you have been tasked to do, and most days it is zero. You will get a bigger dose if you spend a few hours on the beach than you will get all day at work. Aircraft pilots and FAs are exposed to a lot of radiation too. I would hazard a guess that they get a bigger dose than a lot of nuclear operators, but I'm not sure if it is considered occupational exposure and flight crews are briefed and given TLDs to track their dose, or if it's just being kept quiet. It would be interesting to me to see if their dose has ever been tracked.

If you decide to become an RO and/or SRO, you will need to watch out for dangerously sharp paper edges so you don't get a cut.

Don't be afraid of nuclear power, it's not scary. Ignorance and the media have created widespread hysteria and terrified the general public for decades into believing it is some kind of dangerous evil that isn't safe and can't be trusted. People fear what they don't understand.

It's a good job with safe work conditions and better than average pay and benefits. There are also plans to build several new nuclear plants in the USA within the next few years and I am expecting the nuclear power industry to grow over the next decade.
 
Pretty much sucks that I probably have a good chance at this job. 12 years in the Royal Navy on Nuc Subs as an engineer.:(
Guess I should throw them an app - doesn't look like a sweet flyin gig coming anytime soon........

Still - on $85 - 110k per year I could probably afford to fly for fun!

Bp244
 
Sounds like Homer Simpson's job haha

Very likely varies widely with overtime year to year. My guess is that the bottom (trainee) is about $50k-$60k (usually takes ~ one year or so to become a fully qualified NEO), NEO probably $85k-$110k (this is the best position of them all), RO $120k-$140k (stuck in a control room, this is what Homer Simpson's job is). SRO is normally a salaried position and they usually (but not always) make a little more than an RO (Supervisor/Management position and also stuck in control room except when they have to go to a meeting).

;)
 
Berkut, do you work for Duke? I was a navy nuke MM in a former life (89-95) and have been thinking about trying to get back into the nuc field.
 
No, I don't work For Duke. I just happened across the job posting. It looks there is a lot of demand out there for operators right now.
 
Good luck. Might be a good idea to start practicing for the EEI test. Information on those tests is here: http://www.duke-energy.com/careers/career-testing.asp

You will probably have to take both the POSS and MASS tests.

I appreciate the advice. I will start practicing for those tests. Duke sent me an e-mail saying that they received my application and that it is under consideration. I'll see what happens.
 
Berkut, do you work for Duke? I was a navy nuke MM in a former life (89-95) and have been thinking about trying to get back into the nuc field.
Hi Supercub,
I don't work for Duke Power either, but I visited McGuire Power Station for a benchmarking trip a few years back. I was an operator for ten years in Nuclear power, but with a different utility. I still work at the same nuke plant, but I took a different position last year.

I worked with lots of MMs, EMs, ETs, and ELTs. Although I was never in the Navy, all my "shiftmates" that were said the civilian nuclear power industry is a mostly identical copy of the Navy's nuke program, except we have more administrative "controls" (aka BS) and we don't SCRAM on a regular basis. Oh yeah, and we get to go home after every shift (except in the winter sometimes if we get snowed in).
 
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