At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead teams to ensure environmental compliance and safety in nuclear projects.
- Company: Cavendish Nuclear, a key player in the UK's clean energy future.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, pension scheme, health support, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a commitment to inclusivity and employee wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the UK's energy resilience and environmental standards.
- Qualifications: Degree in environmental or engineering discipline; experience in regulated industries.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Drive Environmental Excellence at The Forefront Of The United Kingdom’s Clean Energy Future. At Cavendish Nuclear, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Principal Environmental Permitting Engineer at any of our main UK locations, near Bristol, Warrington, Leicester, Newbury, or Preston.
The UK’s small and advanced modular reactor sector is entering a pivotal phase, with major programmes progressing and strong government backing. Join us as a Principal Environmental Permitting Engineer at the centre of this momentum and build your career across the nuclear and defence sector. We’re seeking a Principal Environmental Permitting Engineer to join our Advanced Nuclear Technologies team, working in a fast‑moving, innovation‑led environment with real national impact. You’ll help shape the next generation of nuclear power through cutting‑edge design, accelerated deployment and projects that strengthen the UK’s long‑term energy resilience.
This is a full‑time role, based across any of our main UK locations. Flexible working patterns are available, and travel to other customer sites will be expected.
Day‑to‑day, you’ll be required to:
- Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams to deliver environmental and safety outcomes aligned to programme requirements.
- Oversee environmental permitting activities and ensure full compliance with United Kingdom regulatory frameworks.
- Build and strengthen environmental capability, processes and best practice across projects.
- Engage collaboratively with regulators, clients and key stakeholders to maintain strong, trusted relationships.
- Support licensing and approval processes by preparing high‑quality documentation and ensuring the right expertise is in place.
Essential experience of the Principal Environmental Permitting Engineer:
- Demonstrating strong knowledge of United Kingdom environmental regulation, permitting or site licensing.
- Leading complex engineering or infrastructure projects in highly regulated industries such as nuclear, energy or infrastructure.
- Managing technical teams and delivering outcomes in challenging programme environments.
- Engaging effectively with regulators and external stakeholders.
- Driving continuous improvement in environmental performance and compliance.
Qualifications for the Principal Environmental Permitting Engineer:
- Degree or equivalent in an environmental, engineering or scientific discipline.
- Professional membership or working towards chartered status is desirable.
Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Standard (BPSS) security clearance for this role.
What we offer:
- Generous holiday allowance.
- Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance.
- Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+.
- Employee share scheme.
- Employee shopping savings portal.
- Payment of Professional Fees.
- Reservists in the armed forces receive 10‑days special paid leave.
- Holiday Trading allows UK Cavendish employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement.
- Be Kind Day enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity.
- Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
Cavendish We’re Cavendish Nuclear — a team of 5,000 specialists and a core part of Babcock International Group. Here, you’ll be part of something bigger. Across clean energy, defence, and civil decommissioning, your work will contribute to projects that are critical to energy security and national protection. Together, we’re shaping a future that lasts — not only through the impact we make, but through meaningful careers that respect your work‑life balance. Join us and discover how far we can go, together.
We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email careers@babcockinternational.com with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.
Closing date: 08/06/2026
Lead Environmental Permitting Engineer — Hybrid, UK employer: Nuclearinst
Cavendish Nuclear is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that champions innovation and collaboration in the nuclear and defence sectors. With flexible working arrangements, generous benefits, and a strong commitment to employee development, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the UK's clean energy future while enjoying a healthy work-life balance. Join us to be part of a supportive culture that values your contributions and fosters personal and professional growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Environmental Permitting Engineer — Hybrid, UK
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to professionals in the environmental and nuclear sectors on LinkedIn. Join relevant groups, attend webinars, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Cavendish Nuclear and understand their projects and values. Think about how your experience aligns with their goals in the clean energy sector. We want to see you shine, so practice common interview questions and have your own ready to ask!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for environmental excellence! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've driven compliance and improved environmental performance in past roles. We love hearing about real-world impacts, so make sure to highlight your achievements!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we’re always looking for candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our mission at Cavendish Nuclear. Let’s make a difference together!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Environmental Permitting Engineer — Hybrid, UK
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Principal Environmental Permitting Engineer role. Highlight your experience with environmental regulations and any relevant projects you've led, as this will show us you're a great fit for the position.
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t just list your qualifications; demonstrate how your skills align with the job description. Use specific examples from your past work that illustrate your ability to manage complex projects and engage with stakeholders effectively.
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured documents that are easy to read. Avoid jargon unless it's relevant to the role, and make sure to proofread for any typos or errors.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This ensures your application is received properly and allows us to process it more efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Nuclearinst
✨Know Your Regulations
Make sure you brush up on the latest UK environmental regulations and permitting processes. Being able to discuss specific regulations and how they apply to the role will show that you're not just familiar with the basics, but that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Principal Environmental Permitting Engineer, you'll be leading multidisciplinary teams. Prepare examples of past projects where you've successfully managed teams and delivered results in challenging environments. This will demonstrate your capability to lead effectively in this role.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you’ve engaged with regulators and external stakeholders in previous roles. Be ready to share specific instances where you built strong relationships or navigated complex discussions. This will highlight your communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions related to environmental permitting and compliance. Review common scenarios you might face in the role and think through your approach to solving them. This preparation will help you feel more confident and articulate during the interview.
