Manager – RI Safety Systems (Fluid Systems) in Derby

We are Rolls‑Royce SMR and we’re doing something that’s never been done before. We’re revolutionising an industry. That’s a once‑in‑a‑career opportunity for those excited by such a challenge. This is more than just a job; this is a legacy.

The Reactor Safety Systems team is responsible for the design and delivery of safety‑critical plant systems that protect reactor and fuel integrity across all operating and faulted conditions. This is a unique opportunity to lead the development of key fluid‑based safety systems that sit at the heart of the nuclear safety case.

About the Role:

• Three positions are currently available for RI Safety Systems Managers, each leading the development of technical solutions within one of the following critical safety system areas:

• Spent Fuel Pool (SFP): Safety and duty systems including fuel‑pool cooling, inventory and purification systems, faulted fuel‑pool cooling and fuel‑pool boil‑off scenarios
• Low Temperature Decay Heat Removal (LTDHR): Class 2 systems including cold shutdown cooling, component cooling and essential service water systems and the associated cooling chain
• Emergency Core Cooling (ECC): Class 1 passive safety systems including Automatic Depressurisation Systems, Low Pressure Injection Systems, In‑Containment Water Storage Systems, Local Ultimate Heat Sink Systems and containment sump systems

In each case, you will lead a team of System Design Engineers through the full design lifecycle, progressing systems through gated design review cycles from concept through into detailed design. The majority of systems within the department are now entering the detailed design phase, building on established concept definitions. This role will therefore require both strong conceptual design thinking and the ability to mature systems through into fully defined, deliverable engineering solutions.

We’ll Need You To:

• Lead a team of engineers through system design progression and gated review cycles
• Deliver technically robust and fully substantiated designs for safety‑critical fluid systems
• Own design outputs across requirements, architecture, analysis and definition
• Take full line‑management responsibility, including coaching, mentoring and pastoral care
• Support senior leadership in growing team capability and delivery capacity
• Manage delivery of complex design programmes within a fast‑paced environment
• Define, manage and verify system requirements in line with systems‑engineering principles
• Apply structured lifecycle design approaches including:

• Requirements capture and validation
• Optioneering and decision‑making
• Design development under configuration control

• Design descriptions
• P&IDs
• Requirements specifications
• Optioneering and decision records

Key Skills Required:

We know there’s no such thing as the ‘perfect’ candidate. If you meet around 75% of the criteria below, we’d love to hear from you:

• Strong experience in fluid systems or process‑plant design, ideally in nuclear or regulated industries
• Proven track record of delivering complex system design programmes
• Experience technically leading teams or being accountable for engineering outputs
• Deep understanding of systems‑engineering principles and design lifecycle
• Ability to develop, assess and down‑select engineering options to robust solutions
• Experience producing and reviewing detailed engineering documentation
• Understanding of design governance, change control and configuration management
• Ability to balance safety, performance, operability and programme constraints
• Strong communication and stakeholder‑influencing capability

It would be beneficial (but not essential) to have:

• Experience progressing systems through detailed design
• Familiarity with nuclear design codes, standards and regulatory expectations
• Experience working in safety‑critical or highly regulated environments

Qualifications:

• Degree‑qualified in Engineering or a related scientific discipline
• Chartered, or immediately qualifying for chartership (IChemE, IET, IMechE or equivalent)

Experience:

Ideally you will have experience leading teams or being accountable for other engineers’ output.

Location:

Hybrid working with one of the following as your primary site: Derby, Manchester or Warrington.

Salary and Package:

The salary band for this role will be between £60,000 – £78,750 dependent on the skills, values and knowledge you bring. There may be flexibility in exceptional cases, reflecting the seniority and leadership responsibility of the role.

Benefits include:

• Bonus – Performance‑related target opportunity up to 12.5%
• Benefits Allowance – £2,200 per annum for a bespoke package
• Pension – 12% employer and 6% employee contributions
• Holidays – 28 days (+ public holidays) with the ability to buy or sell up to 4 days
• Private Medical Insurance – BUPA single cover
• Life Assurance – 6× pensionable pay
• Home Office Support – £250 one‑off payment for new starters

Selection Process:

The closing date for this role is 31st May 2026. The process will begin with an introductory call with the Talent Acquisition Partner, with interviews being able to take place straight away.

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