You may have the skills WECTEC is looking for and not realize it.
On October 7, WECTEC Staffing Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Westinghouse Electric Company, is partnering with SOAR for a regional hiring event to connect Eastern Kentuckians with skilled technical opportunities in the nuclear and broader energy industries.
WECTEC is currently recruiting for positions ranging from Valve and Instrumentation and Controls Technicians, and Field Machinists to radiation protection and wind-energy roles.
Some require specialized experience. Others may be opportunities for people with backgrounds in mining, manufacturing, industrial maintenance, electrical work, utilities, power generation, heavy equipment, mechanical trades, or technical education.
That’s why we don’t want Eastern Kentuckians to look at an unfamiliar job title — or see the word nuclear — and immediately decide they aren’t qualified.
Let’s take a closer look at the jobs. Think about what you already know how to do. Then apply and let WECTEC determine whether your experience and aptitude could be a fit.
What Is WECTEC Hiring For?
WECTEC is currently screening candidates for seven positions:
- Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) Technician
- General Valve Technician
- Field Machinists
- As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) Technician
- Senior Radiation Protection Technician
- Dosimetry Technician
- Traveling Wind Technician
These aren’t seven versions of the same job, and they don’t have the same qualifications.
Some require previous nuclear experience or specialized training. Others provide a much stronger opportunity to consider transferable skills and technical aptitude.
Here’s what each job actually involves — and who should consider taking a closer look.
Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) Technician
What is the job?
Think about the instruments and systems inside an industrial facility that tell operators what is happening.
Pressure. Flow. Temperature. Gauges. Sensors. Controls.
Instrumentation and Controls Technicians work with the equipment used to measure, monitor, and control industrial processes. Their work can involve electronic and pneumatic instruments, piping and tubing, calibration, troubleshooting, gauges, sensors, and precision tools.
In plain language, I&C Technicians help make sure the instruments telling operators what is happening inside a plant are accurate and working correctly.
Could your skills transfer?
Take a closer look if you have training or experience in:
- Advanced manufacturing
- Industrial maintenance
- Electrical technology
- Mining equipment
- Natural gas
- Power generation
- Utilities
- Automated production systems
- Mechanical or electrical maintenance
This is also a position recent technical graduates should explore.
If you’ve recently completed an Area Technology Center, community and technical college, advanced manufacturing, or other technical program and have strong mechanical or electrical aptitude, don’t assume limited experience automatically puts this opportunity out of reach.
If you understand equipment, can troubleshoot problems, work with tools, and have the aptitude to learn new systems, apply and let WECTEC evaluate your fit.
General Valve Technician
What is the job?
Valves play an important role in controlling the movement of liquids and gases throughout industrial facilities.
General Valve Technicians maintain, repair, test, and calibrate industrial valves and related mechanical control equipment.
The work may involve:
- Valves and pumps
- Mechanical equipment
- Hand and power tools
- Gauges
- Calibration
- Precision measurement
- Troubleshooting
- Blueprints and schematics
- Industrial maintenance
Could your skills transfer?
Think beyond someone who already has Valve Technician on their résumé.
Potential candidates could come from industrial maintenance, advanced manufacturing, welding or mechanical programs, mining, plant maintenance, power generation, natural gas, utilities, heavy-equipment maintenance, or military mechanical occupations.
Recent technical graduates should take a look, too.
We’ve already seen what that pathway can look like.
Ryan Hunter Moore graduated from Martin County High School in May after attending the Martin County Area Technology Center. He interviewed with WECTEC in the weeks before graduation.
In early August, Ryan began training to become a Valve Technician. He is now scheduled for his first outage assignment.
He didn’t begin with years of nuclear experience.
He began with technical education, aptitude, and an opportunity to learn.
If you’re mechanically inclined and comfortable working with tools and equipment, don’t assume this career isn’t for you simply because you’ve never worked in nuclear.
Field Machinist
What is the job?
Field Machinists perform hands-on machining work during nuclear outage assignments, using specialized equipment to repair, modify, and maintain critical components at facilities across the United States and bordering countries.
This is travel-based field service work that combines mechanical skill, precision, problem-solving, and the ability to work safely in demanding industrial environments.
The work may involve:
- Specialized field machining equipment
- Mechanical troubleshooting
- Precision measurement
- Reading blueprints and technical drawings
- Equipment repair and maintenance
- Fabrication and industrial work
- Working safely around complex equipment and systems
Could your skills transfer?
This may be an especially strong opportunity for Eastern Kentuckians with backgrounds in:
- Machining or machine tool technology
- Industrial maintenance
- Heavy equipment maintenance
- Fabrication
- Welding
- Construction and mechanical trades
- Manufacturing
- Automotive or diesel technology
- Military mechanical occupations
- Technical or vocational programs
- Other hands-on industrial work
As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) Technician
The title may be unfamiliar, but some of the skills behind it won’t be.
What is ALARA?
ALARA stands for As Low As Reasonably Achievable. It refers to the principle of keeping radiation exposure as low as reasonably possible while work is being performed.
ALARA Technicians help plan and oversee work practices designed to protect workers and minimize exposure.
Who should take a closer look?
WECTEC’s recruitment information points toward people with experience in areas such as:
- Coal mining
- Heavy industry
- Manufacturing
- Industrial safety
- Utilities
- Power generation
- Highly regulated work environments
- Nuclear or outage work
Current and former coal miners are an especially important group to consider.
Why?
Because the transferable skills aren’t necessarily about radiation. They’re about how you work.
A strong safety mindset. Following detailed procedures. Situational awareness. Work planning. Communication. Working effectively in difficult industrial conditions.
Those are skills many Eastern Kentucky workers have developed over years — or decades — on the job.
If this is you, let’s connect!
Radiation Safety/Radiation Protection Technician
Don’t let the word radiation immediately make you think this job isn’t for you.
Radiation Safety/Radiation Protection Technicians help keep people safe while work is being performed inside a nuclear facility. They monitor work areas, use specialized equipment to check for radiation and contamination, document what they find, and make sure workers are following the appropriate safety procedures.
This position may be for you if…
Think about the people who have spent their careers working safely in and around coal mines, natural gas operations, manufacturing facilities, heavy equipment, industrial maintenance, or other environments where following procedures isn’t optional.
You may already understand more about this type of work than you think.
The nuclear industry has its own equipment, terminology, procedures, and training, but many of the underlying skills should sound familiar:
- Following detailed safety procedures
- Wearing and properly using PPE
- Working around potential hazards
- Using meters, monitors, gauges, or other technical equipment
- Documenting inspections, readings, or safety information
- Communicating safety requirements to coworkers
- Working on your feet and moving throughout an industrial facility
- Lifting and carrying equipment
- Working extended shifts and overtime when needed
- Understanding that safety comes before getting the job done faster
Who should take a closer look?
This opportunity may be worth exploring if you have experience in:
- Coal mining
- Natural gas
- Advanced manufacturing
- Industrial maintenance
- Heavy equipment
- Environmental health and safety
- Industrial construction
- Military or other highly structured technical environments
Recent graduates of community and technical colleges or other skilled-trades programs may also have relevant foundational skills, particularly those coming from programs involving industrial maintenance, electrical technology, instrumentation, advanced manufacturing, process technology, or similar technical fields.
You don’t necessarily need to look at the words Radiation Protection Technician and already know how to do the job.
Instead, look at the work behind the title.
If you’re accustomed to working safely in an industrial environment, following procedures, using technical equipment, and being accountable for the safety of yourself and the people working around you, take a closer look at this opportunity.
If that is you, let’s connect. If this is someone you know, send this to them.
Dosimetry Technician
What is dosimetry?
Dosimetry involves measuring and tracking an individual’s exposure to radiation.
A Dosimetry Technician supports radiation-protection activities by helping ensure workers’ exposure is properly monitored and documented.
Who should take a closer look?
This is another more specialized opportunity.
Potential candidates could include:
- Current or former nuclear outage workers
- Military nuclear personnel
- Early-career nuclear technicians
- Individuals who have completed radiation-protection training
- Workers with previous commercial nuclear experience
For someone already working in nuclear or outage-support work, this could provide an opportunity to explore a more specialized career path.
Traveling Wind Technician
WECTEC’s opportunities extend beyond nuclear energy.
What is the job?
Traveling Wind Technicians diagnose, maintain, and repair wind-energy systems.
The work can involve electrical troubleshooting, mechanical and hydraulic systems, equipment repair, climbing and elevated work, industrial maintenance, and renewable-energy systems.
Who should take a closer look?
This position has specific wind-industry training requirements, but it may be relevant to existing wind technicians and workers with applicable credentials and experience in electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, renewable-energy, or industrial-maintenance work.
These Are Travel-Based Career Opportunities
Many nuclear outage and contract positions require workers to travel to facilities outside Eastern Kentucky for assignments.
Candidates should consider that requirement seriously.
But for the right person, there’s another side to the equation: You may be able to call Eastern Kentucky home while building a career that takes you to assignments across the country.
That’s particularly relevant in a region where generations of workers have traveled for good jobs — or moved away altogether to pursue careers.
These opportunities aren’t necessarily about bringing the workplace to Eastern Kentucky. They’re about connecting Eastern Kentucky’s talent to opportunities while allowing home to remain home.
And it is seasonal work where you will make a salary comparable to a full-time salary and benefits year-round.
Interested, But Don’t Feel Ready Yet?
Maybe one of these jobs caught your attention.
You recognize some of the skills.
You could see yourself working in the industry.
But you’re thinking: I’m not ready yet.
That’s okay. There is another pathway.
SOAR is working with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) and its six colleges serving the SOAR region to provide training for eligible Eastern Kentuckians interested in preparing for opportunities in the nuclear industry.
The training is FREE for eligible candidates and is made possible through funding provided by the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority and the GitLab Foundation.
This isn’t only about filling jobs on October 7.
It’s also about building a pipeline of Eastern Kentuckians with the skills and preparation to compete for opportunities in this industry for years to come.
If you’re ready now, apply. If you’re interested but need additional preparation, explore the training.
The Hiring Event Is in Hazard. The Opportunity Is Regional.
There’s one more misconception we want to eliminate.
The WECTEC Regional Hiring Event will take place on Wednesday, October 7, in Hazard, but this isn’t a Hazard-only opportunity.
SOAR and WECTEC are recruiting candidates from all 54 Appalachian Kentucky counties served by SOAR.
And virtual interviews are available for candidates who cannot participate in person.
Whether you’re in Ashland, Morehead, Pikeville, Paintsville, Whitesburg, London, Manchester, Somerset, Middlesboro — or anywhere else across the region — take a look.
Don’t let the location of the event keep you from exploring the opportunity.
Don’t Decide You’re Not Qualified Before You Apply
Job descriptions serve an important purpose, but they can also cause good candidates to screen themselves out.
You see an unfamiliar title.
You don’t check every box.
You’ve never worked in nuclear.
So you move on.
We’re asking Eastern Kentuckians not to do that with these opportunities.
Think about what you’ve actually done.
- What equipment have you worked on?
- What tools can you use?
- What have you maintained, repaired, or troubleshot?
- Have you worked with electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic systems?
- Can you read blueprints, schematics, diagrams, or technical procedures?
- Are you accustomed to strict safety requirements?
- Are you willing to learn?
- Are you willing to travel?
If your answers suggest that your experience and aptitude could transfer, apply and let WECTEC make the final determination.
And if these opportunities aren’t right for you, there’s still something you can do. Share them.
Think about the miner, manufacturing worker, electrician, mechanic, welder, veteran, recent technical graduate, industrial maintenance employee, or skilled tradesperson you know.
They may scroll past the words nuclear energy because they don’t realize the industry is looking for people with skills like theirs.
Send them this article.
Because Eastern Kentucky already has people who know how to work safely, solve problems, understand equipment, learn new systems, and get the job done.
The opportunity is helping them see where those skills could take them next.
Apply if you’re ready. Train if you need to prepare. Share it with someone who should know.