I applied through a recruiter. The process took 2 months. I interviewed at US Navy (Washington, DC)
Interview
Interview consists of 2 or 3 roughly hour-long technical interviews examining both your ability to answer fairly basic calculus and physics questions as well as your ability to think on your feet without giving up. After this is a brief interview with the admiral in charge of the Navy Nuclear Propulsion Program. Advice as someone who prepped interviewees: learn principles not problems and NEVER GIVE UP. If you really have no idea then start with F=MA or something equally basic and work from there. If you study enough then you should have an endless arsenal of vaguely related equations or concepts to play with rather than just staring at the paper in panic.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
1. Find the volume of this cup on my desk.
2. Teach me something.
3. Two people start running at two given rates in opposite directions around a running track. How many times do they pass each other before the faster runner completes 2 miles?
Math, Physics, thermofluids topics were asked by 2 different interviewers. They tended to care much more about thought process than the ultimate correct answers to the problems. Ended with the admiral interview; very direct and simple behavior questions.
Three technical interviews in Calculus/Physics, one personal with the admiral. Technical interview process was relatively straightforward and are straight from the practice problems your recruiter gives you. Definitely concentrate on optimization calculus problems and how to derive the volumes of shapes.
I applied in-person. The process took 3 months. I interviewed at US Navy (Washington, DC)
Interview
3 Rounds of interviews.
2 - Technical in nature, can be asked about any technical subject studied while at University. Calculus and Physics are fair game to all candidates. If you do not perform well on 1, you may receive 3rd technical interview.
1 - Interview with NAVSEA08 - Will be more of a personality interview, could reflect on past failures/obstacles, why you want to do the job, where you think you may struggle, and why you are a good candidate
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
The questions for technical interviews are derived from the NUPOC study guide materials.
These questions are random in nature, but you will generally have to demonstrate your knowledge on Physics and Calculus at a minimum and then often will answer questions concerning your major field of study.
