Lead Chemist (Nuclear Engineering) in Derby

At Rolls‑Royce SMR, our mission is simple and ambitious: to deliver clean, affordable energy for all. Our Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programme provides a British solution to a global energy challenge, helping the world transition to low‑carbon energy while supporting energy security. We are in pole position to become a world leader in SMR technology — a next‑generation approach to nuclear energy and the UK’s premier green export opportunity. As a fast‑growing organisation backed by decades of engineering excellence, this is an exciting time to join us.

The Team

You’ll join our Materials & Chemistry team, a growing group of more than 20 engineers supporting the full lifecycle of the Rolls‑Royce SMR power plant, from concept design through to operation and decommissioning. The team plays a cross‑functional role across the business.

Your work will directly support performance, safety, regulatory compliance, and the overall maturity of our reactor design — making this team essential to the success of the SMR programme.

Role Summary — Lead Engineer - Chemistry

As a Lead Engineer – Chemistry, you will play a key strategic and technical role in developing, justifying, and integrating water chemistry control across the Rolls‑Royce SMR design. This role is important because you will:

• Represent the chemistry discipline to regulators, partners, and potential customers.
• Shape the long‑term capability, strategy, and technical excellence of the chemistry function.
• Ensure our chemistry approach meets the highest standards of performance, safety, and compliance throughout the SMR lifecycle.

This is a role for someone who wants to combine deep technical expertise with leadership, influence, and broad business impact.

Key Responsibilities

In this role, you will be doing things like:

• Leading water chemistry control and justification activities across all reactor operating modes and systems.
• Acting as a primary technical interface, representing the chemistry discipline with authority and clarity.
• Contributing to the SMR safety case, including engagement with the regulator and potential customers.
• Coaching and mentoring junior engineers to build technical capability in the team.
• Conducting detailed technical reviews to ensure chemistry‑related outputs meet quality, accuracy, and compliance requirements.
• Driving strategic development of the chemistry team — identifying opportunities, building networks, and influencing the future direction of the discipline.
• Collaborating across multidisciplinary teams, identifying gaps or non‑conformances and proposing robust, practical solutions.
• Staying connected to external industry communities, ensuring Rolls‑Royce SMR remains at the forefront of nuclear chemistry practice.
• Owning and managing delivery plans, ensuring work is delivered to cost, schedule, and quality requirements.

The Impact You Will Have

In this role, you will:

• Directly influence the safety, operability, and performance of the Rolls‑Royce SMR.
• Help shape the UK’s future clean‑energy landscape.
• Build long‑term technical capability and excellence within the chemistry discipline.
• Represent Rolls‑Royce SMR to regulators, customers, and industry experts.
• Play a major role in progressing our SMR design through GDA Step 3 and beyond.

This is an opportunity to deliver work with real purpose — improving energy security, reducing global carbon emissions, and advancing world‑leading nuclear technology.

Essential Qualifications & Skills

We will need you to bring:

• A degree (or equivalent) in chemistry or a closely related discipline.
• Strong, practical experience in applied chemistry.
• Experience working in the nuclear, power generation, or other highly regulated industries.
• Understanding of PWR plant behaviour, ALARP principles and regulatory expectations (highly beneficial).
• Ability to interpret chemistry data, predict trends, and assess implications for safety and operability.
• Clear, confident communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical information to varied audiences.
• Strong collaboration skills — able to build relationships across multidisciplinary teams and external organisations.
• Experience coaching, mentoring, or supporting others in a technical environment.

Location & Ways of Working

We offer full flexibility across our UK offices in Derby, Warrington or Manchester, with hybrid working available. Typical expectations are around two days per week in the office, although this may vary depending on individual needs and team activities. We will discuss this with you during the recruitment process.

Pay and Benefits

We anticipate paying a salary of between £60,000-£78,750 plus:

• Bonus - Performance related bonus of up to 12.5%
• Benefits Allowance - £2200, enabling you to create a bespoke package
• Pension - 12% employer and 6% employee contributions.
• Holidays - 28 days holiday (+ public holidays) and the ability to buy or sell up to 4 days

Family Friendly Policies

Private Medical Insurance - BUPA single cover health care

Life Assurance - 6x pensionable pay

£250 - One-off payment for new starters for home office purchases

Why Join Us?

You’ll be joining a forward-thinking organisation that values transparency, fairness, and innovation. We offer:

• A flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
• Opportunities for career growth in a rapidly scaling business.
• A culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Inclusivity is important to us, and as a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to fair, supportive, and continually improving recruitment practices that ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Confidence can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job. But we'll let you in on a secret: there's no such thing as a 'perfect' candidate. If you feel you meet 75% of the requirements for this role, we would love to hear from you. Also, if you are considering a career move or a sector-jump, please get in touch – we welcome applications from people with transferable skills.

Our Application Process

Due to the safety regulations within the nuclear industry, applicants will be required to participate in additional screening. These are:

• Obtaining Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance
• Satisfactory completion of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Satisfactory completion of a basic financial probity check