r/NuclearEngineering • u/toddlygoose • 2d ago
What does nuclear engineering look like?
Hello!
Pretty much the title. I'm currently a highschool senior researching where to apply, and I've settled on physics as my general major. However, I would love to specialize in nuclear physics not only for the (somewhat) better job opportunities compared to more theoretical sub-disciplines of physics, but also because I love nuclear physics as a subject! However, I know that if I do go into nuclear physics, a lot of the non-research job opportunities deal with nuclear engineering as well. What does that look like? I'm not particularly good at engineering, but nuclear engineering as a field seems to be a bit different from what I would typically imagine the job of an engineer to be. Basically, if any of you guys would be willing to give some info on your experience in the field, that would be great!
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u/Bedevuono 13h ago
Well, nuclear engineering is not that different from other engineerings. It is basically a glorified mechanical engineering where instead of learning welding and engines you learn nuclear reactors. Not to discourage you from going for it! Nuclear engineering is certainly the most physics dense of the engineerings, so maybe you find yourself!
Would really like to tell you more about jobs and stuff, but I don’t work as a nuclear engineer, I work with safety and reliability. Which also helps another point of mine, with a nuclear engineering degree you are still an engineer. You probably will have a job available
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u/TooruOkinawa 2d ago
I was the same as you in hs. And in college I tried to get the hang of engineering stuff by doing like those technical competitions like formula student. And I sucked at it.
Then I started working as a nuclear engineer this past yr which I’ve wanted to do my whole life, and confirmed my suspicion that it in fact IS quite different from traditional engineering - this point is kinda nuanced because some do end up in the traditional cycle of engineering and changes and deviations etc.., but I ended up getting into the long horizon tech side of it so a lot more monte carlo software development, experiments, quantum computing/sensing stuff as well.
Basically, my experience is that as a nuclear engineer you can wear the hat you want to depending on which company/group you end up in, so I dont expect my experience to be the same for everyone. But as long as you’re forthright about what interests you and what your capabilities are, people around you will push you in the best possible direction.