Apprenticeship training course

Nuclear reactor desk engineer (level 6)

Operate, monitor and control the nuclear reactor and associated equipment in normal operational mode, as well as abnormal conditions.

• Qualification level: 6 ; Equivalent to degree.
• Typical duration: 30 months
• Apprenticeship category: Engineering and manufacturing
• Maximum funding: £27,000 ; Maximum amount government will fund ; for apprenticeship training.
• Also known as:
  • Assistant Engineer Operations
  • Main Control Desk Operator
  • Reactor Desk Engineer
  • Reactor Operator
  • Reactor Panel Operator
• Skills:
  Skills an apprentice will learn

  • Following operational and maintenance procedures; maintaining compliance with technical specifications.
  • Making recommendations utilising technical knowledge. For example: modifications to system and component design throughout the reactor lifecycle.
  • Monitoring and evaluating plant conditions under different modes of operation, for example shut down, start up, abnormal, fault, emergency and critical steady state operations.
  • Communicating verbally - face to face and via radio. For example: using error prevention techniques such as 3 way communications and use of phonetic alphabet.
  • Evaluating pre-defined calculations for reactor physics and thermal hydraulics. Taking action to maintain compliance with technical procedures.
  • Directing people and operations, exercising authority.
  • Using error prevention techniques, such as STAR and peer checking, procedural use and adherence, briefing, flagging.
  • Validating plant system information by using multiple sources, such as data processing systems, hard wired indications and feed-back from plant operatives.
  • Analysing information, such as plant information and trends in data.
  • Operating the panel controls to transition between manual, start-up and/or automatic modes of operation.
  • Responding to abnormal events and/or alarms.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of corrective actions and their impact.
  • Using IT applications. For example: word, email, plant computing and control systems.
  • Communicating – written. For example handover logs, condition reports and email.
  • Time management. For example planning and scheduling work.

Full information on Nuclear reactor desk engineer (level 6) is available from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

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