Restored Design Engineering Capacity at a Critical Nuclear Generating Station
PROJECT BACKGROUND
In 2023, a major U.S. utility faced an urgent need for experienced design engineers to support operations at one of the nation’s most critical nuclear facilities. Industry-wide shortages in highly specialized nuclear disciplines, combined with rising workloads, aging infrastructure, and ongoing capital improvement programs, placed project schedules, regulatory commitments, and operational stability at risk.
To address these challenges, the utility selected CEIS | Power as a trusted partner capable of delivering niche engineering talent quickly and at scale. CEIS | Power was chosen for its proven success in filling hard-to-source roles, deep bench of nuclear-qualified professionals, and ability to rapidly mobilize teams to support critical plant operations.
CHALLENGES
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Insufficient Staffing Capacity
The utility had a significant gap in engineering expertise. Multiple design engineering roles...across civil, mechanical, and digital/I&C specialties—had remained open for more than a year due to industry‑wide workforce shortages and heightened qualification requirements.
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Critical Open Positions
Several key positions had been vacant for over 12 months, creating bottlenecks in design packages, modification work, and ongoing plant upgrades. These vacancies put pressure on internal teams and contributed to delays in scheduled work.
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Nuclear‑Specific Skill Requirements
Because the facility is a nuclear generating station, candidates required not only discipline‑specific engineering expertise but also nuclear experience, security clearance eligibility, and familiarity with industry standards such as IP-ENG-001 (Standard Design Process).
SOLUTIONS
CEIS | Power deployed our Design Engineers Staffing Services to support the client’s urgent technical workforce needs. Leveraging our national network of nuclear‑experienced engineers, targeted recruiting methods, and rigorous qualification processes, we:
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Identified and engaged engineers with direct nuclear facility experience
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Conducted rapid prescreening, qualification checks, and background verification
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Delivered candidates who aligned with the client's technical, regulatory, and cultural requirements
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Provided ongoing workforce support, retention management, and performance oversight to ensure long‑term success on site
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Our ability to quickly assemble a high‑caliber pool of engineering professionals enabled the client to immediately accelerate stalled work and reduce strain on internal teams.
OUTCOME
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Mobilized a Multi‑Discipline 10‑Person Engineering Team
Within months, CEIS Power deployed a full team of civil, mechanical, and digital/I&C Design Engineers to support key engineering and modification activities at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station—the largest power producer in the United States.
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Rapid Deployment: First Resource On‑Site in 30 Days
We placed the first engineer at the facility in just 30 days, significantly faster than typical nuclear‑engineering hiring cycles. Based on performance, we continued scaling to a 10‑person engineering unit in less than six months.
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Expanded Scope Through Proven Performance
The client expanded our responsibilities due to the quality of our placements, our ability to fill long‑open positions, and our exceptional workforce retention rates. CEIS Power became a trusted partner in stabilizing their design engineering capacity and supporting ongoing capital projects.