Duties

As a Reactor Systems Engineer in NRR's Division of Reactor Oversight, you will support the mission of the Operating Experience Branch to ensure that the NRC's oversight of power reactor safety and regulatory compliance is effective, accurate, and credible through a continuous process of event analysis and evaluation, policy development, coordination, implementation, assessment and enhancement.

Additional duties include but are not limited to:

• Identify, review, and evaluate operating reactor events related to the safe operation of commercial nuclear power plants.
• Perform studies and analyses using advanced data analytics skills and platforms and apply computer coding skills to resolve complex technical issues and regulatory problems.
• Review technical issues for generic concerns, write and/or manage the development of generic communications, and develop operating experience policy.
• Perform risk evaluations of nuclear power plant events and conditions and recommend appropriate agency response.
• Perform evaluations of reactor systems, licensee safety performance, reactor safety and/or reactor security related issues to support applicant or licensee implementation of NRC regulations and requirements.
• Support changes in existing or proposed nuclear facilities (incl., nuclear power plants).
• Provide assessment of licensee performance.
• Support development or changes to regulatory requirements or guidance. Technical and regulatory issues being evaluated will range from limited complexity or routine to complex or precedent setting.
• Conduct reactor thermal-hydraulics, containment behavior, accident consequence, design based accident, operating experience, licensee performance, or severe accident phenomena analyses within assigned branch's functional area.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• This is a Drug Testing position.
• U.S. Citizenship Required
• 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.

Qualifications

In addition to the educational requirements to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GG-13) in the Federal Service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

Specialized Experience is defined as experience in the oversight of power reactor safety and regulatory compliance with the ability to identify, review, and evaluate operating reactor events related to the safe operation of commercial nuclear power plants. Additional experience in data analytics is preferred with skills using advanced data science techniques, computer coding skills, and advanced Microsoft Suite platforms.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

Knowledge of the design features and operating characteristics of nuclear reactor facilities. (Describe your professional experience with reactor facilities, commercial, government, or military. The experience may have been as a power plant operator, in a staff position in operations, or associated with plant operations.)

Demonstrated ability to apply NRC rules, regulations, policies, guides and review plans, or equivalent, in the review or evaluation of reactor operations, maintenance, engineering and plant support. (Describe specific experiences and training which demonstrates your ability to apply the above areas. Provide examples that were particularly challenging.)

Ability to use data science including advanced data analytics, data visualizations and programming to assess, track, and trend various data streams. (Describe specific experiences and training which demonstrates your ability to apply the above areas. Provide an example of how you've used your skills to progress the use of data-driven decision making and data visualization).

Ability to use interpersonal skills to interact effectively with peers, management, and representatives of the licensed nuclear industry, and to develop and implement successful approaches to problem solving and conflict resolution. (Describe specific training, education, and experience that demonstrate your ability to use interpersonal skills to deal professionally with peers, management officials within and outside the NRC, and representatives of the licensed nuclear industry. Describe instances that required you to use tact, diplomacy, and negotiation skills to achieve cooperation, solve problems, and reach consensus.)

Demonstrated ability to present technical information both orally and in writing. (Describe experience in making oral presentations and preparing written documents and the various levels of individuals for which presentations were made. Discuss examples where you have utilized skills in communicating complex technical and/or administrative issues to professional societies, peers, management, general public, governmental agencies, or others. Discuss how your oral or written communications have played a role in the understanding or resolution of issues.)

A description of how you possess the specialized experience, as well as how you meet the qualifications desired, should be addressed in your resume and additional space provided for supplemental response.

Education

GG-0801 (General Engineering Series) Educational Requirements:

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 meeting additional OPM requirements.

More detailed information about these alternatives are described in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards Operating Manual which may be accessed at the following website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/general-engineering-series-0801/

Additional information

The duty location of this position is Rockville, MD. In general, employees are expected to be in the office 4 days per pay period. Telework schedules are approved, on a case-by-case basis. If selected, telework will be determined in accordance with Agency policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement, if applicable.

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

To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the NRC will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. The NRC will request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Individuals with disabilities may contact the Selective Placement Coordinator for assistance with the application or hiring process via Disability.Resource@nrc.gov. Deaf applicants may contact the Disability Program Manager by calling the NRC videophone at 240-428-3217.

Individuals who are eligible for non-competitive appointment under an OPM special appointing authority may apply for consideration under a comparable NRC non-competitive appointing authority. Veterans, please visit: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/

Selectee's will be required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment", (OF-306), prior to being appointed to determine their suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background investigation. False statements or responses on your resume or questionnaire can jeopardize your employment opportunity and subject you to disciplinary action, including removal from Federal service.

A transferable security clearance from another agency or a background investigation leading to a clearance is required for all new hires. To begin work at the NRC without a security clearance, you must be granted a temporary waiver of the required clearance, referred to as a 145(b) waiver. To be eligible for a 145(b) waiver you will need a favorable education verification, reference, credit, and criminal history checks. If a wavier is granted, the successful completion of a background investigation and favorable adjudication is required for continued employment. If you have resided outside the U.S. for an extended period of time, the agency may not be able to (1) grant the 145(b) waiver where the required investigation cannot be completed in a timely manner, or (2) achieve timely completion of the background investigation required for a security clearance.

The NRC is a zero tolerance agency with respect to illegal drug use. Individuals selected for this position will be subject to pre-appointment drug testing unless currently in a NRC position subject to random drug testing AND will be subject to random drug testing upon appointment to the NRC.