Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians

Career Description: Operate equipment used for the release, control, and utilization of nuclear energy to assist scientists in laboratory and production activities.

Industry: Life, Physical, and Social Science

Other Job Titles for Nuclear Equipment Operation Technicians:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Follow policies and procedures for radiation workers to ensure personnel safety.
• Modify, devise, and maintain equipment used in operations.
• Set control panel switches, according to standard procedures, to route electric power from sources and direct particle beams through injector units.
• Submit computations to supervisors for review.
• Calculate equipment operating factors, such as radiation times, dosages, temperatures, gamma intensities, and pressures, using standard formulas and conversion tables.
• Perform testing, maintenance, repair, and upgrading of accelerator systems.
• Warn maintenance workers of radiation hazards and direct workers to vacate hazardous areas.
• Monitor instruments, gauges, and recording devices in control rooms during operation of equipment, under direction of nuclear experimenters.
• Write summaries of activities and record experimental data, such as accelerator performance, systems status, particle beam specification and beam conditions obtained.
• Conduct chemical analyses of substances such as acids, alcohols, and enzymes.
• Research use of bacteria and microorganisms to develop vitamins, antibiotics, amino acids, grain alcohol, sugars, and polymers.
• Isolate and maintain cultures of bacteria or other microorganisms in prescribed or developed media, controlling moisture, aeration, temperature, and nutrition.
• Monitor and perform tests on water, food, and the environment to detect harmful microorganisms or to obtain information about sources of pollution, contamination, or infection.
• Develop new products and procedures for sterilization, food and pharmaceutical supply preservation, or microbial contamination detection.
• Teach in colleges and universities.
• Participate in mediation and dispute resolution.
• Conduct research and communicate information to promote the conservation and preservation of water resources.
• Design civil works associated with hydrographic activities and supervise their construction, installation, and maintenance.
• Review applications for site plans and permits and recommend approval, denial, modification, or further investigative action.
• Evaluate research data in terms of its impact on issues such as soil and water conservation, flood control planning, and water supply forecasting.
• Monitor the work of well contractors, exploratory borers, and engineers and enforce rules regarding their activities.
• Administer programs designed to ensure the proper sealing of abandoned wells.
• Compile and evaluate hydrologic information to prepare navigational charts and maps and to predict atmospheric conditions.
• Investigate properties, origins, and activities of glaciers, ice, snow, and permafrost.
• Develop techniques for measuring and identifying trees.
• Build geographic information systems (GIS) to record, analyze, and cartographically represent the distribution of languages, cultural and natural resources, land use, and settlement patterns of specific populations.
• Observe and measure bodily variations and physical attributes of different human groups.

Emerging Tasks

• Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings to the scientific audience and general public.
• Write and publish articles in scientific journals.
• Supervise and monitor production processes in order to ensure that equipment is used efficiently, specifications are changed when needed, and projects are completed within appropriate time frames and budgets.
• Use chemicals and other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
• Supervise the work of others including interns, clinicians in training, and other counselors.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• communicate technical information
• improve test devices or techniques in manufacturing, industrial or engineering setting
• inspect facilities or equipment for regulatory compliance
• modify electrical or electronic equipment or products
• monitor equipment or machine operation to detect problems
• operate industrial or nondestructive testing equipment
• operate metal or plastic fabricating equipment/machinery
• operate nuclear power equipment
• operate precision test equipment
• prepare technical reports or related documentation
• read blueprints
• read schematics
• read technical drawings
• record test results, test procedures, or inspection data
• test equipment as part of engineering projects or processes
• understand engineering data or reports
• understand service or repair manuals
• understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
• use chemical testing or analysis procedures
• use electrical or electronic test devices or equipment
• use knowledge of materials testing procedures
• use knowledge of metric system
• use laboratory equipment
• use precision measuring tools or equipment
• develop scientific or mathematical hypotheses, theories, or laws
• develop tables depicting data
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• direct and coordinate scientific research or investigative studies
• direct implementation of new procedures, policies, or programs
• examine biological or other material specimens under microscope
• explain complex mathematical information
• explain genetic data
• follow infectious materials procedures
• follow microbiology procedures
• follow safe waste disposal procedures
• forecast or predict phenomena based upon research data
• identify nutritional value of foods
• isolate and identify micro-organisms
• maintain records, reports, or files
• make decisions
• make presentations
• perform statistical analysis
• plan scientific research or investigative studies
• prepare biological specimens for examination
• prepare recommendations based upon research
• prepare reports
• prepare sample for laboratory testing, analysis, or microscopy
• prepare technical reports or related documentation
• prepare vaccines, biologicals, or serums
• recognize plant diseases
• recognize tree or forest plant species
• recommend further study or action based on research data
• record test results, test procedures, or inspection data
• research human or animal disease
• resolve agricultural production problems
• resolve engineering or science problems
• study development of plants, animals, or microscopic organisms
• understand pharmaceutical formulas
• understand properties or composition of drugs
• use biological research techniques
• use biological testing instruments
• use chemical testing or analysis procedures
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use hazardous materials information
• use health or sanitation standards
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use laboratory equipment
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
• use microscope
• use nutrition research techniques
• use plant disease control techniques
• use pollution control techniques
• use project management techniques
• use quantitative research methods
• use relational database software
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use statistics in food research
• use teaching techniques
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• write business project or bid proposals
• write research or project grant proposals
• write scholarly or technical research papers
• use knowledge of medical terminology
• use knowledge of relevant laws
• use knowledge of vivisection
• use laboratory equipment
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
• use medical diagnostic techniques
• use medical lab techniques
• use microscope
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use project management techniques
• use quantitative research methods
• use relational database software
• use research methodology procedures in health care
• use sanitation practices in health care settings
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• write research or project grant proposals
• write scholarly or technical research papers
• write technical health or medical documents
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• work as a team member
• work with management or employees to improve organizational system
• write business project or bid proposals
• write employee orientation or training materials
• write research or project grant proposals
• write scholarly or technical research papers

Overall Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.

Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Examples
These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.

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• Projected growth (2006-2016): 6.73%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 437
• Employment (2006): 6,502

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