Civil engineering Jobs in Chattanooga, TN

Position Summary
The Civil Mechanical Planner is responsible for developing detailed work packages, planning and scheduling field activities, and supporting the safe and efficient execution of civil and mechanical projects at TVA nuclear facilities. This position serves as the critical link between engineering, maintenance, construction, project management, and field execution teams to ensure work is planned, coordinated, and executed in compliance with nuclear quality, safety, regulatory, and procedural requirements.
This role is heavily focused on civil construction, structural maintenance, concrete repair, excavation, site development, foundations, steel structures, coatings, and infrastructure projects within operating nuclear facilities and decommissioning environments. The planner develops comprehensive work plans that optimize productivity, minimize schedule impacts, and ensure the highest standards of nuclear safety and quality.
Key Responsibilities
Planning and Work Package Development

• Develop detailed work packages for civil and mechanical construction, maintenance, modification, and repair activities.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, design change packages, work requests, and project scope documents.
• Create step-by-step job plans, work instructions, craft loading requirements, and resource estimates.
• Identify required labor, equipment, materials, tools, permits, and support organizations necessary for successful execution.
• Develop outage and online work plans supporting plant schedules and operational requirements.
• Incorporate lessons learned and industry best practices into planning activities.

Civil and Structural Project Planning

• Plan and coordinate:
  • Concrete placement, repair, and restoration projects.
  • Structural steel installation and modification activities.
  • Excavation, trenching, and backfill operations.
  • Foundations, footings, and anchor bolt installations.
  • Roadway, drainage, and site improvement projects.
  • Building modifications and facility upgrades.
  • Seismic and structural reinforcement projects.
  • Coatings, waterproofing, and protective barrier installations.
  • Scaffold and temporary structure requirements.
  • Underground utility and infrastructure work.

Mechanical Planning Support

• Plan mechanical maintenance, repair, replacement, and modification activities.
• Coordinate crane and rigging requirements for equipment movement.
• Develop work packages for pumps, valves, piping systems, HVAC equipment, and structural supports.
• Identify system boundaries, lockout/tagout requirements, and work windows.
• Coordinate with Operations and Maintenance organizations to support plant reliability objectives.

Scheduling and Resource Management

• Develop detailed task sequences and logic-driven schedules.
• Estimate labor hours, craft staffing levels, and equipment utilization.
• Support outage planning and integrated schedule development.
• Coordinate work with contractors, union craft labor, and TVA personnel.
• Identify schedule risks, constraints, and mitigation strategies.
• Track planning metrics and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Material and Procurement Coordination

• Verify material availability prior to work execution.
• Develop bills of materials and procurement requirements.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain and Warehouse organizations.
• Ensure nuclear-grade material requirements and quality documentation are identified and available.
• Support contractor bid packages and scope development.

Nuclear Safety and Compliance

• Ensure all work packages comply with:
  • TVA procedures and standards.
  • NRC regulatory requirements.
  • Nuclear Quality Assurance requirements.
  • Industrial safety regulations.
  • Environmental compliance standards.
  • Radiation protection requirements.
• Participate in pre-job briefings, post-job reviews, and lessons learned evaluations.
• Support corrective action program initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.

Field Support

• Conduct field walkdowns to verify scope and identify execution challenges.
• Support work execution teams during project implementation.
• Resolve emergent planning issues and scope changes.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Maintenance, Operations, Radiation Protection, and Construction organizations.
• Provide technical planning expertise during outages and major project execution.

Required Qualifications
Education

• Associate's degree in Engineering Technology, Construction Management, Industrial Technology, or related technical discipline; or
• Equivalent combination of education, military experience, and relevant nuclear industry experience.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in planning, construction, maintenance, project controls, engineering support, or field supervision.
• Experience in commercial nuclear power, DOE facilities, fossil generation, heavy industrial construction, or large infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience planning civil and structural work activities.
• Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, and construction documents.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• 7+ years of nuclear industry experience.
• Experience supporting nuclear outages.
• Primavera P6 scheduling experience.
• TVA nuclear site experience.
• Knowledge of ASME, ACI, AISC, and nuclear quality standards.
• Experience with work management systems such as Maximo, Passport, or similar platforms.
• Previous experience supervising union craft personnel or contractors.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of civil construction methods and practices.
• Understanding of structural concrete, reinforcing steel, foundations, and structural steel systems.
• Knowledge of excavation, trenching, grading, and infrastructure construction.
• Ability to develop detailed work packages and execution plans.
• Strong understanding of nuclear work control processes.
• Excellent organizational and project coordination skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to work effectively in a highly regulated nuclear environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, scheduling software, and work management systems.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.

Working Conditions

• Frequent field walkdowns in industrial and radiological environments.
• Ability to access construction sites, scaffolding, elevated work areas, and confined spaces as required.
• Occasional travel to TVA nuclear facilities and project locations.
• Support of outage schedules, including extended hours and weekends as necessary.