General Engineer/Scientist (NRAN)

Summary

This position is located in Division of Technical Training. The supervisor is Justin Vazquez. This position not subject to Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting requirements. This position not subject to security ownership restriction reporting requirements.

Duties

Actual duties will vary depending on placement in the engineering or scientific training and development track. The NRAN program is comprised of two phases. The initial training phase focuses on regulatory, technical, and organizational fundamentals, followed by the apprenticeship phase in the regions and headquarters program offices. Each apprenticeship is designed towards gaining a variety of skills, competencies, and position experience. At the end of the program, cohort members are reassigned into positions in the program offices and regions that have been identified to meet the skill needs of the agency. Phase I is a foundational knowledge phase. The programming is executed to the members together as one cohort. This phase focuses on agency and program orientation, cohort development, and training on regulatory fundamentals, technical fundamentals, organization knowledge, and NRC values and culture. The length may vary, but it is generally 10-15 weeks in duration. During Phase I, the cohort may have opportunities to travel to the regions, site visits, and training at the NRC's Technical Training Center in Chattanooga, TN, as arranged through the program. Phase II is the apprenticeship phase. In this phase, NRAN members engage in three (3) 4-5-month apprenticeships where they gain hands-on experience in regulatory decision-making positions. It is generally expected that one of the apprenticeships be based in a regional office, with support for travel provided by the agency. The expected activities and accomplishments for each apprenticeship are discussed in advance among the NRAN member, apprenticeship supervisor from the receiving office or region, and NRAN Branch Chief. Expectations are then documented in a signed apprenticeship agreement. Changes in the agreement must be mutually agreed upon by the three signing parties. This phase may include designated technical trainings. The NRAN members will provide a close-out memorandum to the apprenticeship supervisor(s) and NRAN Branch Chief accounting for activities completed or basis for non-completion. NRC employees have responsibilities that include: protecting public health and safety, protecting the environment, protecting and safeguarding nuclear materials and plants in the interest of national security, and assuring conformity with antitrust laws. Agency employees perform these functions through standards-setting and rulemaking; technical reviews and studies; conducting public hearings; issuance of authorizations, permits, and licenses; inspection, investigation, and enforcement; evaluation of operating experience; and confirmatory research.

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. Conditions of Employment: U.S. Citizenship REQUIRED This is a Drug Testing position Must be able to meet and maintain security & suitability requirements. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. This announcement is intended for students majoring in engineering or physical science who are recent graduates to create the NRAN cohort which will commence in July 2027. A degree in Engineering, Physical Science, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or Data Science must be obtained between July 2026 and June 2027. Applicant must meet the GPA requirement in order to be considered. A veteran who, due to military service, was precluded from applying within the 2-year eligibility period will have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon his/her release or (honorable) discharge from active duty, up to a maximum of 6 years from the date the individual completed the academic requirements. It is your responsibility to furnish documentation that verifies you meet the basic education and professional knowledge requirements. In the absence of such documentation, you will be rated not qualified. Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. All information in your resume must be true and accurate.

Qualifications and evaluation

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. Your application will be evaluated based on the information provided in your resume and responses to any vacancy questions to determine your level of knowledge, skills, experience, and abilities related to the job requirements. You must respond to all required application questions. If you are among the top candidates for this position, your application will be referred to the hiring manager for possible interview and selection based upon the number of available vacancies to be filled in each office. Ideal candidates for this position will be those who not only meet the established education requirements, but who also demonstrate a well-rounded set of academic, professional, and leadership experience. Well-rounded experience may include accomplishments such as receiving academic awards or scholarships from a professional or technical organizations; serving as an active member in a professional or technical societies; serving in a leadership role in an extracurricular student organization; serving in a technical or professional role, such as an internship, co-op, or research assistantship; and/or other examples. Your resume is the key means we have for evaluating your skills, knowledge, experience, and abilities as they relate to this position. Therefore, we encourage you to submit a resume that directly relates to this position.

Education

The position has an education requirement. GG-07 Bachelor's degree in an Engineering or Physical Science, Computer Science, Data Science, or Cybersecurity discipline, with at least a 3.0 overall GPA. GG-09 Master's degree in an Engineering or Physical Science, Computer Science, Data Science, or Cybersecurity discipline, with at least a 3.0 overall GPA. GG-11 Doctoral degree in an Engineering or Physical Science, Computer Science, Data Science, or Cybersecurity discipline, with at least a 3.0 overall GPA. You must include an unofficial or official copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application by the closing date of the vacancy announcement. Transcript must include the school name, student name, degree and date awarded (or anticipated graduation date), course titles, number of credits, grades, cumulative grade point average, courses currently in progress (if applicable). Education must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. If you have multiple qualifying degrees (e.g., BS, MS, PhD) please submit transcripts for each degree. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.ed.gov/accreditation. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Transcripts must be uploaded with your application to verify education. All documentation must be in English or include an English translation. **Applicants who do not submit acceptable transcripts by the closing date will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further. In addition, "Official" transcripts will be requested before the effective date of initial appointment. If official transcripts showing student name, school name, degree and date awarded, course titles, number of credits, grades, and final cumulative grade point average are not provided OR if official transcripts do not meet program eligibility requirements it may result in rescission of offer and/or removal from the position.

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.

How to apply

Please read the entire announcement and all instructions before you begin an application. To be considered for this position, you must complete the online application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 09/30/2026. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. For a preview of the application questions, please see https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13047029. To begin your application, select the "Apply" button located on the right side of this screen. Follow the subsequent prompts to log in or register, submit all required documents, answer the questions, and complete the application process. You may either select your required documents within your USAJOBS profile to upload with your application or directly upload them during the application process. The following types of document types can be uploaded: .gif, jpg., .jpeg, .png, .rtf, .pdf, .doc, and .docx. Important Considerations: Paper Applications: Paper applications will not be accepted unless you can demonstrate hardship circumstances through the agency contact listed below. Application Extensions: Requests for application extensions will not be granted. Hardship Assistance: If you experience hardship applying online, please contact the Human Resources Specialist listed below for assistance. You must reach out during business hours before the announcement closing date and speak with someone who can provide support for your online submission. The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the coordinator at (301) 415-5888 or TDD 240-482-3217. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Your complete application must include your resume, responses to all required vacancy questions, and any required documents that prove your eligibility to apply.

Required documents

The following documents are required for your application package to be complete. If you fail to provide any required documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further. Resume that includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, title, series, grade (if applicable); and 4) other qualifications. Please limit your resume to 2 pages. See below for Additional Resume Information. Transcripts: You must submit an official or unofficial copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application, as the position has a positive education requirement. Failure to submit transcripts will result in loss of consideration. Diplomas do not provide the information needed for determining qualifications and will not be accepted in lieu of transcripts. In addition to the above, you must submit the documents below if you claim the following eligibilities: Current Federal Employees/Reinstatement Eligibles: You must submit a copy of your most recent non-award SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action) to verify competitive/excepted status or reinstatement eligibility. Applicants who only submit an award SF-50 will not receive further consideration. Veteran Preference Eligibles: You must submit DD-214 showing type of discharge/character of service (e.g. DD-214 Member 4 Copy); SF-15 Form; and related documentation such as a VA letter showing disability percentage. If currently on active duty, you must submit a certification of expected discharge or release from active-duty service under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted. Veteran's preference must be verified prior to appointment. You can find additional information about Veterans' Preference at http://www.fedshirevets.gov/. Individuals with Disabilities: If you are applying under the Schedule A Hiring Authority, you must submit supporting documentation (i.e., Schedule A Letter). You may refer to the following link for additional information. USAJOBS Help Center - Individuals with disabilities. Military Spouse: All military spouses must submit documentation verifying marriage to the service member (e.g., marriage certificate); AND Current military orders (e.g., statement of service) to support active-duty service for more than 180 consecutive days; OR If you are a spouse of a 100% disabled service member, documentation must include service member's DD-214 and 100% service disability (e.g., VA Letter); OR If you are an un-remarried widow or widower of a service member killed while on active duty, documentation must include verification of service member's death while on active duty (e.g., DD-1300). Peace Corps: You must submit a copy of your description of service or other proof of non-competitive eligibility. All application materials, including transcripts, must be in English. Additional Resume Information: 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: Job title Name of employer Beginning and ending dates of employment (month/year) format Hours worked per week. We will assume full-time unless otherwise stated. We will pro-rate part-time employment in crediting experience. 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). Series and grade or equivalent (if a federal position). 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 may 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.

Additional information

This position may be eligible for situational telework in accordance with agency policy. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within the agency. Selectees 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. The NRC is a zero-tolerance agency with respect to illegal drug use. Individuals selected for these positions will be subject to pre-appointment drug testing. 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 waiver 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.