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1223 Career Guide

Navy

1223: Naval Reactors Engineer

Career transition guide for Navy Naval Reactors Engineer (1223)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1223 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Nuclear Engineer

$115K
High matchStable demand

Project Manager

$95K
Good matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

PMP CertificationAgile methodologies

Management Consultant

$130K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

MBA or relevant master's degreeBusiness acumen

Compliance Manager

$85K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Regulatory knowledgeAuditing experience

Energy Policy Advisor

$100K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Policy analysisGovernment relations

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1223 training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

Naval Reactors Engineers develop and maintain intricate models of nuclear reactor systems to predict performance, assess safety, and optimize operational parameters.

This skill translates to the ability to understand and create complex models in various civilian industries, enabling you to forecast outcomes, identify potential issues, and improve overall system efficiency.

Procedural Compliance

Adhering to strict safety protocols and regulatory requirements is paramount in nuclear operations. Naval Reactors Engineers meticulously follow established procedures to ensure safe and reliable reactor performance.

Your unwavering commitment to following procedures and maintaining compliance is highly valuable in regulated industries where safety and accuracy are critical. This ensures operations are conducted to the highest standards.

Resource Optimization

Managing and allocating resources efficiently is essential for maintaining reactor readiness and minimizing operational costs. Naval Reactors Engineers are skilled at optimizing resource utilization while ensuring safety and performance.

This ability to optimize resource allocation is directly transferable to civilian roles where efficient resource management is critical for maximizing profitability and minimizing waste.

Situational Awareness

Naval Reactors Engineers must maintain a high degree of situational awareness to anticipate potential problems, detect anomalies, and respond effectively to changing conditions in reactor operations.

Your developed ability to see the bigger picture, anticipate risks, and maintain composure under pressure is invaluable in dynamic civilian work environments where quick decision-making is essential.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Financial Risk Analyst

SOC 13-2051

You've been trained to assess complex systems and predict outcomes, a skillset highly sought after in finance. Your experience modeling reactor behavior directly translates to modeling financial risk, and your commitment to compliance will serve you well in this highly regulated industry.

Healthcare Administrator

SOC 11-9111

You're adept at managing complex systems, ensuring regulatory compliance, and optimizing resource allocation – all essential skills for effective healthcare administration. You've proven your ability to maintain safety and efficiency in a high-stakes environment, making you well-equipped to lead in healthcare.

Supply Chain Manager

SOC 11-3071

You understand the importance of efficient resource management, procedural compliance, and situational awareness. As a supply chain manager, you will optimize the flow of goods and services, ensuring that resources are available when and where they are needed, much like maintaining reactor readiness. Your analytical abilities will be invaluable in identifying bottlenecks and improving efficiency.

Training & Education Equivalencies

Naval Nuclear Power Training Program, Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA

2,400 training hours60 weeksUp to 60 semester hours recommended in Nuclear Engineering and related fields.

Topics Covered

  • Nuclear Reactor Engineering
  • Reactor Physics
  • Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
  • Nuclear Materials Science
  • Reactor Safety and Licensing
  • Radiological Controls
  • Nuclear Power Plant Operations

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Nuclear Engineer (CNE) - American Nuclear Society70% covered

Specifics of ANS standards, potentially needing to demonstrate practical experience outside the Naval Reactors program for full certification.

Project Management Professional (PMP)60% covered

Formal project management training according to PMI standards, documentation of project hours following PMI guidelines, and passing the PMP exam.

Recommended Next Certifications

Certified Nuclear Engineer (CNE)Project Management Professional (PMP)Professional Engineer (PE) license - Nuclear EngineeringCertified Quality Engineer (CQE) - ASQ

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Nuclear Reactor Simulation Software (various)Nuclear power plant simulation and modeling software (e.g., RELAP5, TRACE)
Reactor Coolant System Monitoring SystemsIndustrial process control systems (e.g., SCADA systems for chemical plants)
Radiation Detection and Measurement Equipment (e.g., AN/PDR-77)Radiation survey meters and personal dosimeters for nuclear facilities and medical imaging
Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information System (NNPIS)Centralized database management systems for tracking equipment maintenance and regulatory compliance in nuclear facilities
Emergency Core Cooling Systems (ECCS)Safety systems for nuclear reactors in civilian power plants
SCADA systems for Naval Nuclear facilitiesSCADA systems for civilian nuclear facilities

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