Criticality Specialist in Thurso

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Criticality Specialist to join NRS Dounreay. You will provide expert criticality safety support across the site, delivering technical assessments, advice, compliance assurance and training to support safe operations. Working closely with multidisciplinary teams, regulators and stakeholders, you will help maintain the highest standards of nuclear safety.

NRS Dounreay is seeking a highly capable Criticality Specialist to provide technical leadership, advice and assurance across a diverse range of site activities. This role offers the opportunity to contribute directly to the safe delivery of nationally significant decommissioning and environmental restoration programmes. Working as part of a specialist safety team, you will influence criticality safety standards, support operational decision-making, and collaborate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to ensure the highest standards of nuclear safety and regulatory compliance are maintained.

What You'll Be Doing

• Support the development and implementation of criticality safety strategies, policies, procedures and best practices, helping to strengthen safety performance across the site.
• Provide authoritative criticality safety assessments, advice and training to support the safe planning and execution of operational and decommissioning activities.
• Engage effectively with regulators, customers and stakeholders to develop, review and implement robust standards, methodologies and safety arrangements.
• Undertake compliance inspections, technical reviews and investigations, identifying areas for improvement and supporting the resolution of criticality safety issues and non-conformances.

What You'll Bring

• Demonstrable experience in criticality safety, nuclear safety or a related technical discipline within a highly regulated industry.
• Proven ability to produce, review and assure technically robust safety assessments, documentation and safety cases.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to provide clear technical guidance and influence decision-making.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, together with a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety, compliance and professional integrity.
• Mathematical skills with ability to run criticality modelling calculations using code such as MONK.
• Chartered status or membership of a professional institution desirable but not essential.
• Knowledge/understanding/experience in criticality safety assessments.
• Degree in science (physics or chemistry).

Why Join Dounreay?

• Play an integral role in a critical national programme.
• Contribute to the safe and effective delivery of complex decommissioning activities.
• Help uphold the highest standards of health, safety, environment, and quality.
• Make a direct impact on protecting people, the environment, and site infrastructure.

Benefits such as; 13.5% employer pension contribution, 28 days annual leave + bank holiday, Company bonus scheme, Flexible working, Relocation assistance, Excellent flexible benefits & healthcare options.

Interviews are expected week commencing Monday ** 2026. Please note we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact: careers@dounreay.nrservices.uk.

Some Reasons We Think You'll Love It Here:

Please note: All successful candidates who do not already hold security clearance will need to provide proof of identity, eligibility to work in the UK, and employment/education history (typically covering the last 3–5 years) in line with NRS Baseline Security requirements. Some roles may also require full Security Clearance, which involves additional checks. For details, please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) guidance.