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Navy NEC · Engineering

N16O Submarine Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator: Engineering Laboratory Technician

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

A Navy Enlisted Classification: a skill designation sailors hold in addition to their rating.

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Overview

A Submarine Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator serving as an Engineering Laboratory Technician performs radiological controls, water chemistry control, and associated analyses. The technician also operates and performs organizational level maintenance on mechanical systems for submarine nuclear propulsion plants.

Core Skills

  • Nuclear propulsion plant radiological controls
  • Plant water chemistry control and analysis
  • Propulsion mechanical system operation and maintenance

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Nuclear Monitoring Technicians

Submarine nuclear plant radiological control duties transfer directly to civilian radiation monitoring and exposure-control work.

How to prepare: Compare your documented radiological control experience with a civilian radiation protection technician opening to identify site-specific monitoring procedures to learn.

What the civilian work involves
  • Calculate safe radiation exposure times for personnel using plant contamination readings and prescribed safe levels of radiation.
  • Monitor personnel to determine the amounts and intensities of radiation exposure.
  • Inform supervisors when individual exposures or area radiation levels approach maximum permissible limits.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Microsoft Excel

Chemical Technicians

Water chemistry control and associated analyses provide directly relevant experience for chemical testing of plant process liquids.

How to prepare: Target process-water laboratory openings and compare their analytical methods with your documented water chemistry experience to choose a focused laboratory refresher.

What the civilian work involves
  • Conduct chemical or physical laboratory tests to assist scientists in making qualitative or quantitative analyses of solids, liquids, or gaseous materials.
  • Maintain, clean, or sterilize laboratory instruments or equipment.
  • Prepare chemical solutions for products or processes, following standardized formulas, or create experimental formulas.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Microsoft Excel

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Operating and maintaining submarine nuclear propulsion mechanical systems provides a foundation for commercial nuclear plant operations.

How to prepare: Ask a commercial nuclear facility's operator training program to assess your service record against its entry and licensing criteria. Licensed reactor operation requires meeting the facility's education, training, and experience requirements, facility certification of the required training and experience, and an NRC license valid only for that facility.

What the civilian work involves
  • Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety.
  • Develop or implement actions such as lockouts, tagouts, or clearances to allow equipment to be safely repaired.
  • Monitor all systems for normal running conditions, performing activities such as checking gauges to assess output or the effects of generator loading on other equipment.

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (5 documents)
  1. NAVPERS 18068F Vol II (NEOCS, Jul 2026 edition): NEC N16O

    [1] NEC entry "N16O - Submarine Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator - Engineering Laboratory Technician"; cached text line 8634; NAVPERS 18068F Vol II, 2026-07 edition

    Supports: Nuclear propulsion plant radiological controls, Plant water chemistry control and analysis, Propulsion mechanical system operation and maintenance, Nuclear Monitoring Technicians (O*NET 19-4051.02), Chemical Technicians (O*NET 19-4031.00), Nuclear Power Reactor Operators (O*NET 51-8011.00)

  2. O*NET: Nuclear Monitoring Technicians

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Nuclear Monitoring Technicians (O*NET 19-4051.02)

  3. O*NET: Chemical Technicians

    [3] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Chemical Technicians (O*NET 19-4031.00)

  4. O*NET: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

    [4] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators (O*NET 51-8011.00)

  5. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Licensing Process for Operators

    [5] Process for New Operator Licenses; page last reviewed/updated September 15, 2026

    Supports: Nuclear Power Reactor Operators (O*NET 51-8011.00)

Defense contractor jobs for N16O

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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