Traditionally perceived as a field of excellence, the nuclear sector has been facing a decline in attractiveness in recent years. This has frequently led to a real skills shortage. Today, France's third largest industrial sector still has a significant need for qualified personnel, particularly in the nuclear engineering and atomic engineering fields.

Nuclear engineering and atomic engineering: jobs in short supply

For the past decade, the nuclear sector has been suffering from an ever-increasing decline in qualified personnel. According to the SFEN (the French Nuclear Energy Society), the need for skills in the nuclear industry stood at 8,000 jobs in 2020. Many skilled professions in the nuclear industry are currently in short supply: boilermakers, welders, industrial electricians, technicians, etc. Engineers and experts in atomic engineering are also highly sought after by companies. A number of measures have recently been taken to generate jobs in the sector. Within the framework of the Excell plan, supported by EDF and other industrial players, the Université des Métiers du Nucléaire (University of Nuclear Professions) was created in 2021 to promote and boost training opportunities in the nuclear field. This project includes the creation of some 50 scholarships, each worth 600 euros per month, for students in initial vocational training (Bac Pro, BTS, CAP). Further, at the beginning of 2022, Emmanuel Macron announced a plan to revive the civil nuclear industry, with the construction of a new fleet of six ERP reactors, which should start in 2023. To carry out this major project, the recruitment of 30,000 professionals will be necessary. EDF, in charge of the project, has announced the recruitment of 3,300 technicians and engineers during the year. The group also plans to hire 15,500 employees throughout France in 2022, including engineers and other qualified profiles.

Nuclear engineer: definition, salary and missions

What are the duties of a nuclear engineer?

Nuclear engineers have a number of functions within the nuclear power plant or company where they work. In particular, they may be in charge of :

Ensuring the safety of nuclear power plants
Guaranteeing the radiological safety of people and ensuring risk prevention
Carrying out nuclear studies and tests
Designing, modelling or modernising a nuclear reactor
Managing the dismantling of nuclear facilities
Checking the condition of machines, equipment and various facilities
Ensuring the proper management of radioactive waste and supervising the used nuclear fuel cycle.

A nuclear engineer can work in a nuclear engineering company, an energy group (EDF, Orano, Spie, Arevan etc.), a design and engineering office or a research and control centre.

Nuclear engineering specialisations

The nuclear engineering profession includes a large number of specialisations. For example:

Radiation protection engineers
Nuclear safety engineers
Neutron engineers (reactor specialists)
Thermal-hydraulic engineers

Engineers specialised in atomic, energy, chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering

Critical engineers.

What training is required to become a nuclear engineer in atomic engineering?

To become a nuclear engineer, it is necessary, after a scientific baccalaureate, to follow a five-year degree course to obtain a general or specialised engineering diploma. Here are some examples of organisations that offer such courses:

INSTN (National Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology)
University of Clermont-Ferrand: Master’s degree in nuclear engineering
ISTP (Nuclear Engineering curriculum)
École Centrale Supélec: Engineering diploma
ITII Île-de-France: Nuclear Engineering diploma (CNAM)
University of Grenoble Alpes (Valence): Master’s degree in nuclear engineering
Claude Bernard University (Lyon): Nuclear engineering courses and Master’s degree
Polytechnic Institute of Paris: Master 1 mention Nuclear Engineering
Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble
Paristech: Master’s degree in Nuclear Energy
LP2i Bordeaux: Master’s degree in nuclear instrumentation
Toulouse INP-ENSIACET: LMD programme in Fluid Mechanics and Industrial Processes
I2EN (International Institute for Nuclear Energy): Master’s degree
University of Grenoble Alpes: ADIN course (Sanitation and Dismantling of Nuclear Facilities).

A wide range of training courses in this field are offered on campuses throughout France, for all levels of study (Nuclear Master’s degree, doctorate, IUT, etc.). Depending on the school, the admission criteria are fairly variable. The professional integration rate of nuclear engineers on the market is very high. According to Indeed, 60% find a job within one month of graduation, and 100% within six months of graduation.

How much does a nuclear engineer earn?

The average salary of a nuclear engineer is €40,700 per year, according to Glassdoor.

Nuclear and atomic engineers: profiles of interest to the sector