This article originally appeared in the January 2026 issue of Industrial Projects Report. Read the magazine in full here.
Saimon Salvador wasn’t sure what direction to take when he graduated from Lafayette High School in Virginia. Then he discovered Day & Zimmermann’s (D&Z) Nuclear Worker Training Program (NWTP). The program removes barriers to entry unique to the nuclear industry and provides career pathways in the skilled trades for people living near Virginia’s power stations. With hands-on experience, mentorship, and a clear path forward, Saimon worked his first job during the fall outage at a D&Z customer’s nuclear station — just 90 days after graduation.
“This program gave me the chance to learn skills that matter and be part of something bigger,” said Saimon.
By choosing the trades, Saimon not only gets to be part of something bigger as he helps power his community with clean, nuclear energy, but he also isn’t saddled with college debt or spending years in a classroom before earning a paycheck. Instead, Saimon is preparing to move to the next phase of his career, entering D&Z’s Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) to become an electrician.
Saimon’s success is not unusual. The NWTP maintains an impressive 73% retention rate for participants returning for a second outage — a strong indicator that D&Z workers feel supported and prepared to advance in the industry. His journey illustrates a defining truth about D&Z: we invest in our people, and their success becomes our success.
A Great Place to Build a Career
As one of the largest family-owned companies in the U.S., Day & Zimmermann fills more than 12,000 craft positions each year
including welders, ironworkers, pipefitters, crane operators, millwrights, carpenters, scaffold builders, boilermakers, electricians, insulators, laborers, equipment operators, riggers, machinists, painters, valve technicians, and radiation protection technicians. D&Z’s people bring big ideas to life for a diversity of companies in the power and industrial markets, including existing and advanced nuclear reactor technology, coal, gas, hydro, and solar energy as well as advanced manufacturing and data centers.
From young people starting out, to transitioning veterans, to individuals seeking a new path, new workers across the country leverage D&Z’s support to enter high-demand craft careers and grow into long-term roles with strong earning potential. Key to this success is D&Z’s training programs, which meet people where they are and take them where they want to go, whether that means honing their craft or moving into leadership positions.
Field-Focused Apprenticeships & Internships
For those entering the trades, D&Z offers foundational training that leads to high-paying, meaningful work without the need for a four-year degree.
D&Z’s Nuclear Worker Training Program introduces nuclear fundamentals, safety protocols, and site expectations to prepare workers to contribute immediately at nuclear plants. The program covers nuclear in-processing, security screening for Unescorted Access inside the power station, National Center for Construction Education & Research’s (NCCER) “Core: Introduction to Basic Construction Skills” courses, and NCCER Level 1 courses in the student’s chosen trade.
D&Z’s Registered Apprenticeship Program combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction using NCCER curriculum to develop skills across nine craft disciplines including electricians, industrial maintenance mechanics, mechanical insulators, painters, pipefitters, millwrights, scaffolders, riggers, and welders. Workers earn while they learn, receive progressive wage increases, and graduate with Certified Journey Worker status in their chosen craft. D&Z’s RAPs are approved by the Departments of Labor in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia with expansion to other states in progress.
D&Z’s accredited status with NCCER ensures that apprentices receive standardized, industry-driven training with portable credentials recognized nationwide by the construction industry. These entry-level programs offer stability, advancement, and a powerful alternative to traditional college.
Upskilling & Specialized Craft Development
D&Z workers building their careers have access to upskilling opportunities designed to hone their skills and expand their job opportunities across the power and industrial markets D&Z serves. D&Z’s training programs use hands-on learning, simulation, and industry-recognized curriculum to help workers grow into higher-skill, higher-pay roles.
For example, Dynamic Learning Centers place workers in mock scenarios such as confined spaces or scaffolds to strengthen hazard recognition, reinforce procedural discipline, and build safety awareness. D&Z’s Craft On-Boarding Ranking Assessment, or “COBRA,” Trailer brings skill assessments directly to job sites, allowing nuclear craft to practice mock work orders, identify performance gaps, and work alongside mentors to strengthen their abilities before entering active nuclear environments.
D&Z’s mobile Valve Training Center delivers Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Standardized Task Evaluation programs to
workers on our job sites, providing hands-on valve maintenance training that meets safety and industry standards. With NCCER accreditation and EPRI affiliation, these programs offer portable, industry-recognized qualifications that position workers for long-term success.
In-Field Front-Line Supervisor Development
For those ready for leadership, D&Z offers programs that build communication, people management, planning, and technical competencies needed to lead teams safely and effectively.
D&Z’s First Line Leader Program equips new leaders with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to manage people and processes. Our Supervisor Development and Continuing Training Programs provide ongoing development to ensure supervisors can lead high-performing teams in demanding environments.
In addition to technical skills, leadership roles such as superintendents, project managers, and construction managers demand judgment, communication, and a deep commitment to safety. As a D&Z supervisor, you’ll have access to training that gives you the confidence and clarity to navigate project challenges in construction, energy, and industrial settings.
Safety Comes First
Safety is D&Z’s No. 1 core value, underpinning every role, shift, and learning experience. Our internal Why Not Zero?® campaign reflects our longstanding belief that every injury is preventable and every worker deserves to return home safe and injury free.
All D&Z training programs emphasize safety and incorporate practices like hazard recognition, human performance, and situational awareness. Our Behavior Observation Learning Tool, or “BOLT,“ program helps workers identify and correct at-risk behaviors before incidents occur. Safety training is reinforced through hands-on simulation, mentorship, and continuous learning.
Craft Careers Built on Opportunity
Saimon’s journey—from unsure graduate to nuclear professional preparing for an electrical apprenticeship—shows what’s possible when people are given training opportunities with a company that believes in their potential. His experience reflects Day & Zimmermann’s commitment to helping people build meaningful careers that support their families, strengthen our workforce, and power America’s future.
Contact Us Today
Ready to take the next step? Day & Zimmermann is ready to walk that path with you.
- Visit www.dayzimopenshop.com
- Follow Day & Zimmermann Open Shop Craft Labor on Facebook
- Call 888-605-0272
- Email DZMC@dayzim.com with “RAP: Tell Me More” to learn about Registered Apprenticeship Programs
- Veterans: Contact Antonio Ruiz (USN-Retired), at Antonio.Ruiz@dayzim.com or 757-805-5198
- Download DZ JobLinX mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
###