Description
Assist nuclear engineers and chemists in the conversion, fabrication, and inspection of nuclear fuel materials. Operate and maintain fuel processing equipment, perform quality and accountability checks, and monitor radiological and criticality safety in production areas.
- • Follow nuclear fuel processing SOPs and safety policies to protect workers, the public, and the environment.
- • Operate, monitor, and adjust equipment for uranium conversion, powder handling, pellet pressing, sintering, and grinding.
- • Set up, operate, and maintain gloveboxes, hoods, and other containment systems to control contamination.
- • Perform in-process and final inspections of powders, pellets, rods, and assemblies against specifications.
- • Conduct dimensional, density, moisture, and surface quality tests using gauges, balances, and microscopes.
- • Monitor radiation, contamination, and airborne activity with detectors; record and report results.
- • Apply criticality safety controls, including spacing, mass limits, and approved containers.
- • Collect and analyze process, effluent, and environmental samples to verify radiological and chemical compliance.
- • Calibrate, check, and maintain process instruments, scales, and radiation monitors.
- • Maintain nuclear material accountability records; perform inventories and reconcile discrepancies.
- • Prepare batches, blend powders, and control feed rates per approved batch records.
- • Load, seal, and verify fuel pellets in cladding tubes; assist with rod and bundle assembly.
- • Perform nondestructive examinations (e.g., eddy current, ultrasonic, gamma scan) on rods and assemblies.
- • Identify equipment issues; coordinate maintenance and apply lockout/tagout or safety tags as required.
- • Decontaminate tools, equipment, and work areas using approved methods and PPE.
- • Respond to alarms or abnormal conditions; initiate safe shutdowns and notifications.
- • Brief and escort maintenance and support staff on radiological and criticality hazards before work.
- • Generate and maintain logs, batch records, and quality documentation; communicate status to supervisors and engineers.
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
