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1227 Career Guide

Navy

1227: Naval Reactors Engineer

Career transition guide for Navy Naval Reactors Engineer (1227)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 1227 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Nuclear Engineer

$115K
High matchStable demand

Power Plant Manager

$130K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Project Management Professional (PMP) certificationFamiliarity with civilian power plant regulations

Nuclear Safety Inspector

$95K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Specific regulatory knowledge (e.g., NRC regulations)

Engineering Consultant

$120K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Business development skillsClient management experience

University Professor (Nuclear Engineering)

$100K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Ph.D. in Nuclear EngineeringTeaching experience

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 1227 training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

Naval Reactors Engineers develop and maintain complex system models of nuclear reactors to predict performance, ensure safety, and optimize operational parameters.

Your ability to understand and model complex systems makes you valuable in any field where predicting and managing interconnected processes is essential.

Procedural Compliance

You adhere to strict operational and safety protocols, meticulously documenting and verifying compliance with regulatory requirements for nuclear reactors.

Your commitment to following procedures and maintaining impeccable records ensures quality control and minimizes risks in highly regulated environments.

Rapid Prioritization

Naval Reactors Engineers must rapidly assess and prioritize issues arising in nuclear reactor operations, ensuring immediate response to critical events that could impact safety or performance.

You are adept at quickly identifying the most pressing issues and allocating resources effectively, ensuring that critical tasks are addressed promptly and efficiently.

After-Action Analysis

You conduct thorough after-action reviews of reactor operations, incidents, and maintenance activities to identify areas for improvement and prevent future issues.

Your analytical approach to reviewing past events and extracting valuable lessons helps organizations learn from their experiences and continuously improve their processes.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Management Consultant

SOC 13-1111

You've been trained to model complex systems, manage projects, and ensure strict regulatory compliance in a high-stakes environment. You can apply this to a wide range of industries to improve efficiency and manage risk.

Healthcare Administrator

SOC 11-9111

Your attention to detail, rapid prioritization skills, and commitment to procedural compliance make you well-suited for managing complex healthcare systems, where safety and efficiency are paramount.

Financial Risk Analyst

SOC 13-2051

You've developed a strong understanding of complex system behavior and risk management. You can leverage these skills to analyze financial models, assess risks, and implement strategies to protect against potential losses.

Training & Education Equivalencies

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

2,000 training hours52 weeksUp to 30 semester hours recommended in engineering and related fields

Topics Covered

  • Reactor physics
  • Reactor engineering
  • Thermodynamics
  • Fluid mechanics
  • Heat transfer
  • Nuclear safety
  • Materials science
  • Reactor design and operation

Certification Pathways

Partial Coverage

Certified Nuclear Plant Operator70% covered

Specific reactor type differences, vendor-specific control systems, and emergency procedures.

Professional Engineer (PE) - Nuclear60% covered

Passing the PE exam, which requires studying engineering fundamentals and specific nuclear engineering principles not directly covered in the Naval Reactors Engineer training. Also, state-specific licensing requirements.

Recommended Next Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP)Certified Energy Manager (CEM)Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE)

Technical Systems Translation

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

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program Information Management System (NNPIIMS)Document Management Systems (DMS) for highly regulated industries (e.g., pharmaceuticals, energy)
Reactor Plant Monitoring System (RPMS)SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems for nuclear power plants
Engineering Change Control System (ECCS) for reactor modificationsChange Management Systems (CMS) for engineering design and manufacturing
Technical Manuals and Procedures Libraries (e.g., NSTM Chapter 500)Centralized knowledge base systems for regulated industries (e.g., Confluence, SharePoint)
Radiological Control (RADCON) equipment (e.g., survey meters, personnel dosimeters)Radiation monitoring equipment and software used in nuclear facilities and research labs
Nuclear Instrumentation and Control Systems (e.g., neutron monitoring)Process control systems for critical industrial processes (e.g., Honeywell, Siemens)

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