mos.directory

Navy NEC · Engineering

N26O Surface Ship 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.

Browse Navy

Overview

A surface ship nuclear propulsion plant engineering laboratory technician performs radiological controls, water chemistry control, and associated analysis. This technician also operates and performs organizational level maintenance on surface ship nuclear propulsion plants.

Core Skills

  • Radiological controls and associated analysis
  • Plant water chemistry control and analysis
  • Organizational maintenance of nuclear propulsion plants

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

Performing radiological controls and associated analysis aboard nuclear-powered surface ships directly supports civilian radiation monitoring 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 analysis provide directly relevant experience for chemical testing of plant liquids.

How to prepare: Target plant water chemistry laboratory openings and compare their analytical methods with those you have performed to select 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.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Microsoft Excel

Nuclear Power Reactor Operators

Operating and maintaining surface ship nuclear propulsion plants provides relevant plant operations experience for civilian nuclear reactor operations.

How to prepare: Ask a commercial nuclear facility's operator training program to assess your documented Navy operating experience against its entry criteria. Licensed operation requires an NRC license valid only for that facility, with the facility licensee certifying that its applicable education, training, and experience requirements have been satisfied.

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.
  • 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 N26O

    [1] NEC entry "N26O - Surface Ship Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator - Engineering Laboratory Technician"; cached text line 8763; NAVPERS 18068F Vol II, 2026-07 edition

    Supports: Radiological controls and associated analysis, Plant water chemistry control and analysis, Organizational maintenance of nuclear propulsion plants, 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 N26O

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

Report an error on this page