Regular/Temporary

Regular

Job Title

NUCLEAR REACTOR OPERATOR

Job ID

72167

Location

Central Campus

Open Date

10/01/2025

Job Type

Limited Term (>12 months)

Close Date

10/14/2025

Employee Group

Unifor Unit 1, Staff

Favorite Job

Department

Nuclear Reactor

Salary Grade/Band

Grade 8

Salary Range

$28.90 - $43.51 (hourly)

Contract Duration

24.3 Months

Hours per Week

40

Posting Details

Schedule

Standard daily hours per work week will consist of 12 hours with a weekly schedule of either 36 or 48 hours (3 or 4 shifts per week on a rotating basis).

Shifts will start at either 6:30am or 6:30pm and end at either 6:30pm or 6:30am, Monday to Friday. Night shifts beginning on Fridays at 6:30pm will end on Saturday at 6:30am.

Education Level

3 year community college diploma in engineering technology or related field.

Career Level

Requires 3 years of relevant experience.

JD

JD0232

Job Description

Unit/Project Description:

McMaster Nuclear Operations and Facilities strives to embody values of integrity, quality, inclusiveness and teamwork. We aspire towards inclusive excellence, acknowledging that diversity is essential to creativity and innovation, as well as integral to our operations.

We will assess merit through an inclusive lens that values equity and diversity. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply for this position. McMaster University operates the McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR) as part of its educational and research programs. Commercial work is carried out to support these programs

Job Summary:

Responsible for the safe operation, including start-up, shut down, maintenance, emergency response, safety, and security of the McMaster Nuclear Reactor. These activities are carried out in accordance with the operating limits and conditions established by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

Purpose and Key Functions:

• Interpret schematics and blueprints for the reactor control instrumentation and cooling systems.

• Monitor and record instrument readings and make appropriate changes to maintain correct power levels.

• Monitor a variety of parameters to ensure safe conditions during start-up of the reactor.

• Document routine and unusual reactor maintenance procedures and repairs in a logbook.

• Document the transportation of dangerous goods.

• Maintain a logbook of sample irradiation history and movements from core to storage and delivery.

• Calculate hourly and daily reactor energy output.

• Calculate reactor power demand settings and sample irradiation times based on customer requirements.

• Determine dose rates and exposures in different work locations.

• Calibrate the reactor control instrumentation and radiation control equipment.

• Identify trends in reactor operation to determine any discrepancies or preventative maintenance that may be required.

• Detect instrumentation and control system failures and malfunctions during scheduled and unscheduled events.

• Troubleshoot and correct a variety of problems using diagnostic equipment.

• Communicate reactor issues to commercial and research customers and work with them to determine and correct problems that may arise with their irradiations.

• Use various measuring tools such as flow meters, temperature probes, conductivity meters, and level and pressure gauges.

• Escort contractors and tradesmen in and out of the reactor.

• Resolve irradiation conflicts with researchers and customers by checking and verifying irradiation records.

• Identify irregularities in customer requests that may compromise reactor safety and resolve before proceeding.

• Exchange technical and scientific information with colleagues.

• Train others as directed.

• Provide advice and assist individuals who have become contaminated.

• Assemble shipping boxes for radioactive materials.

• Use a press and dye to encapsulate and seal samples in aluminum cylinders for irradiations.

• Use tools such as a drill press, lathe, and cut-off saw to produce replacement parts required for systems maintenance.

• Load and offload samples in the reactor core.

• Measure electrical circuits with voltmeters and other electrometers.

• Measure the quantity of algaecides and anti-corrosive chemicals.

• Install samples and iodine rigs in the reactor core located at the bottom of a ten meter deep pool.

• Fabricate and repair reactor parts.

• Climb ladders to access cooling tower fans to check temperatures and access primary water system valves.

• Check garbage for radioactive contamination before removal from the building.

• Assemble and move shielding walls.

• Operate crane and schedule crane use between teams.

• Coordinate sample pickup and delivery.

• Estimate time and core positions available to irradiate a specific number of samples per shift.

Requirements:

• 3 year Community College diploma in Engineering Technology or related field.

• Requires 3 years of relevant experience.

Additional Information:

The successful candidate must pass a security background check as specified by the Nuclear Safety Control Act and will be classified as a Nuclear Energy Worker. Candidates are required to successfully pass a Certification Exam administered by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission upon completion of the Reactor Operator training program and must maintain certification as an ongoing requirement of the position.

Additional physical and health constraints may be applied to achieve these certifications.

Expected Start Date

November 2025

Location

McMaster Nuclear Reactor

How To Apply

To apply for this job, please submit your application online.

Employment Equity Statement

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.

The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information.

Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact:

• Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or
• Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or
• School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679

to communicate accommodation needs.

Interview Experience

At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to talent@mcmaster.ca or the HR contact associated with your position of interest.