Control & Instrumentation (C&I) - Design Engineer

ALTEN is a global engineering and technology consultancy operating across over 35 countries worldwide. We partner with industry leaders across sectors including Aeronautics, Aerospace, Defence, Naval, Automotive, Energy, Rail, IT and many more to deliver innovative engineering solutions that drive technological advancement & support sustainable transformation. Our teams of passionate and agile engineers work on cutting-edge projects that shape the future of technology and sustainability. At ALTEN, we empower talented engineers to innovate, solve complex challenges, and deliver impactful solutions that build tomorrow’s world—today.

ALTEN UK is seeking a motivated Control & Instrumentation (C&I) - Design Engineer to join our growing team in Derby | Manchester | Warrington, supporting key projects within the Energy sector. This is an exciting opportunity for engineers looking to develop deep technical expertise across the full lifecycle of control and instrumentation systems. In this role, you will lead the development of C&I functional specifications across the nuclear plant, translating high-level plant requirements into structured, implementable system designs. You will play a key role in defining how plant systems behave, interact, and respond under various operating conditions. Working at the heart of a multidisciplinary engineering environment, you will collaborate closely with system architects, plant designers, and simulation teams to ensure robust, aligned, and high-quality solutions. This is an excellent opportunity for experienced engineers who want to take ownership of complex design packages and contribute to a first-of-a-kind nuclear programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of functional design specifications for C&I systems across the SMR plant
• Translate plant-level requirements into clear, structured system functions and behaviours
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams:
• C&I architects and system owners
• Plant system and capability teams
• Modelling and simulation engineers
• Support technical decision-making and ensure alignment across engineering disciplines
• Deliver work packages to time, cost, and quality expectations
• Contribute to system design strategies including resilience, redundancy, and fault tolerance
• Support verification, validation, commissioning, and lifecycle activities
• Mentor and guide junior engineers within the team

Qualifications Required Skills

• Strong experience in Control & Instrumentation systems design, ideally within nuclear, energy, or other safety-critical industries (e.g. oil & gas)
• Experience in functional specification and system-level design
• Solid understanding of control systems and control theory
• Knowledge of system lifecycle activities including V&V, commissioning, and maintenance
• Familiarity with industry standards such as IEC 61508, IEC 61513, IEC 61226 (or equivalent)
• Experience applying systems engineering methodologies
• Experience with requirements management tools (e.g. IBM DOORS, Polarion)
• Understanding of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools (Capella preferred)
• Strong problem-solving skills with a structured, logical approach

Required Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, or equivalent military experience.
• Experience working with Control Systems
• Electrical Engineering experience
• Experience working on large infrastructure projects with high level safety requirements.

We bring together entrepreneurial, tech-driven people to deliver innovative solutions for leading companies. At ALTEN, you’ll work on exciting projects, supported by ongoing learning, mentoring, and clear career development tailored to your goals. Join a passionate team and help build tomorrow, today.

Additional Information

• A personalised career path and a rewarding management style
• A huge diversity of engineering projects and industries
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee assistance programme
• Life insurance & Pension Scheme
• Social atmosphere, regular gatherings & team buildings
• Flexible way of working (role dependent)

We are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant & actively encourage applications from members of the Armed Forces community, including veterans, reservists, service leavers, and military spouses/partners. We recognise the value of military skills and experience and are committed to ensuring that no applicant is unfairly disadvantaged during our recruitment and selection processes. ALTEN is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and values the strength of a global mix of backgrounds and perspectives. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of background or protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. This role may require you to have or be willing to go through Security Clearance. As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard; details of the evidence required to apply may be found on the government website Gov.UK. If you are unable to meet this and any associated criteria, then your employment may be delayed, or rejected. Details of this will be discussed with you at interview.