At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Mechanical Branch in delivering innovative nuclear engineering solutions.
- Company: Join EDF, a leader in nuclear energy shaping the UK's future.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, private healthcare, pension scheme, and customisable perks.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on a nationally significant project while developing your career.
- Qualifications: Degree in engineering and experience in senior leadership roles within regulated environments.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 90000 £ per year.
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Location: Aztec West, Bristol (hybrid working)
Salary: Competitive
Ready to lead a critical engineering function shaping the future of nuclear energy in the UK? Do you enjoy bringing together talented people, solving complex technical challenges, and influencing major project outcomes? At EDF, Success is Personal – and this is your opportunity to lead with impact while developing a career that's unique to you.
The Opportunity
As Head of Mechanical Branch, you'll provide leadership across one of the most important engineering areas within the Sizewell C Nuclear Island programme. You'll be accountable for the successful delivery of mechanical equipment and fluid systems activities, helping support the journey towards An Electric Britain while ensuring the highest standards of quality, safety, schedule, and technical excellence.
EDF EPR Engineering UK delivers the design for nuclear island buildings, systems, and equipment for Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C nuclear new build projects. Working as part of an integrated team, EPR Engineering supports construction and commissioning while preparing design-replication feasibility and related engineering activities.
Alongside a competitive salary and potential for an annual bonus, you'll join us in a hybrid role based at Aztec West in Bristol. You'll work closely with multidisciplinary teams across the UK, France, and Germany, combining office collaboration with flexibility to work from home.
As a member of the Sizewell C Senior Leadership Team, you'll shape strategic decisions, lead a team of specialist engineering managers and engineers, and oversee the replication of proven EPR designs for the next generation of nuclear power. This is a rare opportunity to influence a nationally significant project while developing people, capability, and engineering excellence across an international organisation.
Who You Are
We're looking for a Head of Mechanical Branch who combines strong engineering expertise capabilities with experience leading complex programmes in highly regulated environments. You'll be comfortable managing multidisciplinary teams, driving delivery performance, and working with senior stakeholders across international organisations.
To be shortlisted, you need to offer:
- Degree-level qualification, or equivalent, in an engineering or related technical discipline
- Established experience in a senior engineering, leadership, or project management position
- Experience within Nuclear New Build, EPR, or Pressurised Water Reactor environments
- Strong knowledge of EPR design principles and engineering processes
- Proven experience managing engineering delivery against quality, cost, and schedule commitments
- Good understanding of UK nuclear regulations, industry requirements, and engineering best practice
- Experience leading technical teams within a highly regulated environment
- Experience managing multidisciplinary engineering activities and complex stakeholder interfaces
- Fluent English language skills
What You'll Be Doing
- Leading the operational management of the Mechanical Branch, including a team of approximately eight direct reports
- Representing the Mechanical Branch within the Sizewell C Project Senior Leadership Team
- Coordinating mechanical engineering activities delivered across teams in the UK, France, and Germany
- Managing technical integration, risk mitigation, quality performance, and delivery commitments across the branch
- Overseeing interfaces with manufacturing, supply chain, project, and quality stakeholders to resolve technical issues and support successful delivery
Pay, Benefits and Culture
Alongside a competitive salary and potential for an annual bonus, private healthcare, and a market-leading pension scheme, your package will include customisable benefits such as electric vehicle leasing, discounted gym membership, life assurance, tech vouchers, experience days, and more.
At EDF, we believe there are multiple definitions of what it means to succeed. That's why we offer you the freedom to develop a career that's unique to you. Here, Success is Personal – it's your journey, powered by us.
Everyone is welcome at EDF; we're committed to building a workforce that reflects gender balance, social mobility, and inclusion of minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ communities, and those with disabilities. As a Disability Confident employer, we will support applicants requiring adjustments. Join us and find your success at EDF!
For this role you must have evidence of right to work in the UK. As a project, we do not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, race, colour, religion, disability or sexual orientation, and we welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Head of Mechanical Branch employer: EDF
At EDF, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. As an Occupational Health Advisor in Exeter, you will enjoy a flexible hybrid working model, a competitive salary, and access to a market-leading pension scheme, all while making a meaningful impact on workplace health and safety.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Mechanical Branch
✨Get Your Hands Dirty at Engineering Events
Join local engineering meetups or industry conferences related to mechanical engineering. Whether it's a workshop or a career fair, these events are goldmines for networking and getting a foot in the door. Plus, you can showcase your passion and enthusiasm directly to potential employers like EDF.
✨Connect with Professors & Peers
Tap into your university’s resources—professors often have connections in the industry. Don’t be shy to ask about potential openings or recommendations. Your classmates might also know of companies hiring. Often, it’s who you know that gets you in front of the right people!
✨Highlight Your Projects and Practical Experience
When you land those interviews, make sure to talk about your hands-on projects or internships. Whether it's a design project or hands-on experience with CAD software, specific examples will make you stand out. Companies like EDF love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of EDF and apply directly through there. It shows initiative and interest in their specific values. Plus, you'll often find openings that aren't advertised on job boards, giving you a better chance to land that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Mechanical Branch
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Expertise:In mechanical engineering, it’s vital to highlight your technical skills and projects. Make sure to include relevant software proficiency (like CAD tools) in your CV. If you've worked on specific engineering projects, detail your key contributions — we want to see how you’ve applied your skills in a practical setting!
Focus on Problem-Solving Examples:Employers in mechanical engineering love to see how you handle challenges. Use your cover letter to share specific instances where you’ve solved a complex problem or improved a design. This will show us you're not just knowledgeable but also capable of applying that knowledge effectively.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Include any relevant certifications or training that can set you apart from the competition. Whether it's coursework from your degree, a recognised certification, or extra training in new technologies, we love to see candidates who continuously improve their skill set. This tells us you're serious about your career in engineering!
Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don’t forget to customise your CV for EDF and the Head of Mechanical Branch role specifically. Pull examples from your experience that align with the job description — it shows us you've done your research and are genuinely interested in becoming part of the team. We recommend applying through our website to ensure your application gets to the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at EDF
✨Brush Up on Your CAD Skills
Since mechanical engineering often involves design processes, be ready to showcase your proficiency in CAD software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD. Bring along a digital portfolio or even some sketches that demonstrate your design capabilities — it’s a great way to show what you can bring to the table at EDF.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions that test your understanding of engineering principles and problem-solving skills. You might get hypothetical scenarios where you need to design a component or troubleshoot a mechanical system. Practising these types of questions will give you the confidence to tackle whatever comes your way!
✨Show Your Team Spirit
As a full-time mechanical engineer, collaboration is key! Be ready to share examples of past team projects or any experiences where you contributed to solving a complex problem with others. Demonstrating your ability to work in a team will resonate well with the interviewers at EDF.
✨Discuss Your Future Goals
Since this is a full-time position, your long-term vision is important. Be open about your career aspirations, whether it’s mastering a specific tool or leading projects. This shows that you're committed not just to learning but also to growing with EDF, making you a more appealing candidate.
