Power Technical Director in Leeds

Let’s secure the future of energy. The Power Energy Systems (PES) Practice of AtkinsRéalis is seeking a senior Technical Director in the Power Sector to join our UK team. We are looking for an experienced, client-facing technical leader who can act as a recognised authority in the thermal generation market, shape our technical strategy, strengthen relationships with key clients, and convert market opportunities into sustainable business growth.

AtkinsRéalis specialises in all aspects of engineering within the energy, defence, and nuclear sectors in the UK and internationally. We’re committed to providing industry-leading engineering solutions right through the project lifecycle, from feasibility to commissioning, with value added through client-side support as well as the construction phase. Our team is currently delivering work across the Power sector in the UK, as well as supporting other energy and infrastructure business sectors.

As a senior technical leader, you will provide authoritative direction across the organisation, contributing to practice and market strategy, influencing senior stakeholders, and leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver complex, high-impact outcomes. You will anticipate regulatory, commercial and technology challenges, develop differentiated technical offerings, and provide the assurance and judgement needed to help our clients make confident investment and delivery decisions.

Become part of a team where every voice matters, and together we can tackle our clients’ toughest challenges. We foster a diverse and inclusive environment where world-class talent thrives without boundaries. For us, collaboration isn’t a buzzword. We value the different perspectives our people bring and recognise everyone for their contributions equally. We also know that different people have different priorities, which is why we’re here to support you with whatever you need. Being a technical director with us involves UK-wide travel. We offer hybrid working which involves three days per week travelling/office-based. This position can be based at any of our key locations: Epsom, London, Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, or Glasgow. Other locations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The Power Technical Director will be accountable for technical leadership, engineering governance and strategic capability growth across our power generation portfolio. This is a senior appointment, reporting to the Practice Manager / Engineering Manager, with responsibility for shaping technical direction, assuring high-quality delivery, supporting business development and developing the next generation of technical talent.

The successful candidate will have the following responsibilities:

• Act as the recognised technical authority for thermal generation within the PES Practice and the wider AtkinsRéalis business, setting standards for technical excellence and professional judgement.
• Provide continuity from early client engagement and opportunity shaping through bid development, mobilisation and successful project delivery.
• Provide senior technical leadership across complex power sector projects, ensuring safe, compliant and value-led engineering outcomes.
• Influence practice-wide initiatives and recommend best practice to improve internal processes and services.
• Develop and own the discipline strategy, technical delivery model and assurance approach across a growing portfolio of owner’s engineer, front-end engineering, detailed design and technical due diligence projects.
• Build trusted senior relationships with clients, partners and internal stakeholders, operating credibly both on client sites and across AtkinsRéalis offices.
• Influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior clients, operations teams, project leadership, technical specialists and external stakeholders.
• Lead improvements to technical processes, services and delivery practices while ensuring robust engineering governance, assurance and risk management are consistently upheld.
• Oversee technical input into strategic bids and proposals, defining delivery strategy and working with cross-functional teams to prepare high-quality, compliant and commercially compelling submissions.
• Identify and convert opportunities for cross-selling and business growth, using commercial insight and technical credibility to strengthen client relationships and clearly articulate our value proposition.
• Grow and develop the power generation capability, particularly in the UK power sector, supporting workforce planning, talent development, mentoring and succession planning.
• Anticipate emerging market, regulatory and technology challenges, identifying risks and opportunities early and advising senior leadership on strategic responses.
• Provide strategic oversight across multiple complex, multidisciplinary projects, ensuring technical excellence, safe delivery, and alignment with client and practice objectives.
• Work independently in complex and ambiguous situations, acting as the escalation point for the most challenging technical matters and applying sound judgement to resolve issues.

You are an established senior technical leader with a proven track record of directing complex engineering solutions in accordance with relevant codes, standards and governance requirements. You combine deep technical expertise with commercial awareness, client credibility and the ability to lead others through change. You are comfortable influencing senior stakeholders, shaping strategy and operating in dynamic environments where sound judgement and clear direction are essential.

Key skills and attributes include the following:

• Degree qualified, ideally with a Master’s degree (MEng/MSc) in mechanical engineering or a related discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status, with membership of IMechE or another relevant professional institution; additional affiliation with relevant pressure parts, boiler, turbine, regulatory or industry working groups would be advantageous.
• Deep technical knowledge of thermal plant systems, including boilers, HRSGs, steam systems, balance of plant and associated pressure parts, supported by recognised analysis tools and relevant UK and international codes.
• Experience with steam and gas turbines, including inspection, performance, outage support, maintenance strategy, life assessment and integration with wider thermal plant systems.
• Hydropower experience would be beneficial, particularly where it supports broader power generation, asset management, mechanical plant, rotating equipment or owner’s engineer advisory services.
• Practical operational and maintenance experience on thermal plant, with an understanding of outage planning, plant availability, reliability, asset integrity and the commercial drivers that influence operational decision-making.
• A proven track record in technical delivery of engineering scopes covering plant assessment, life extension, remnant life evaluation, root cause analysis, refurbishment and modification of thermal plant assets.
• Demonstrable leadership of FEED, detailed design and technical advisory scopes for thermal generation projects.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams across mechanical, process, materials, inspection, assurance and site support activities.
• Ability to provide senior technical leadership during outages, shutdowns, life assessment programmes and major plant interventions.
• Strong client-facing, reporting and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate complex technical issues into clear recommendations, delivery strategies and investment decisions.
• Strong safety, regulatory and environmental compliance focus, including experience supporting or discharging Principal Designer duties under CDM 2015.
• Ability to assure technically compliant deliverables through effective governance, design review, issue identification, risk management and problem solving.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage senior clients and lead across multidisciplinary and international teams.
• Commercially astute, with the ability to build client relationships, support strategic bids, coach others and champion continuous improvement across the practice.

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.