Quality Technical Manager in Derby

Together, we're shaping the future of clean energy. At Rolls-Royce SMR, we're delivering a next generation nuclear power solution that will help provide secure, affordable, low-carbon energy for decades to come. As our programme continues to grow, we need talented people who are passionate about technical excellence, quality, and nuclear safety to help us achieve our ambitions.

We're looking for a Quality Technical Manager to provide technical governance across engineering and quality workstreams, ensuring the safe, compliant and high-quality delivery of nuclear systems and components. This is a unique opportunity to influence technical standards, engineering assurance and nuclear quality across one of the UK's most exciting engineering programmes.

The Role

We need you to act as a key technical authority, ensuring engineering activities align with nuclear safety requirements, regulatory expectations, engineering standards and organisational governance frameworks. You'll provide technical leadership and independent challenge across engineering activities, helping to ensure robust technical decision-making, effective governance, and high standards of engineering integrity. Working across Engineering, Quality, Safety and Programme functions, you'll play a vital role in maintaining and developing nuclear technical standards, Statements of Work and assurance processes that support the successful delivery of the Rolls-Royce SMR programme.

What You'll Be Doing

• Provide technical leadership and governance across engineering and quality-related workstreams.
• Act as a recognised technical authority, ensuring engineering outputs meet nuclear safety, quality and regulatory expectations.
• Lead the development, maintenance and continuous improvement of nuclear technical standards and Statements of Work.
• Ensure effective application of engineering governance, requirements management, verification and validation processes.
• Provide technical assurance and independent challenge to safeguard nuclear safety and technical integrity.
• Support compliance with applicable national and international nuclear codes, standards and regulatory requirements.
• Work collaboratively with Engineering, Supply Chain Quality, Safety, Regulatory Affairs and Programme teams.
• Coach and develop technical capability across the organisation, helping to strengthen technical competence and quality culture.
• Drive continuous improvement activities and support the integration of lessons learned across programmes.

What We're Looking For

We know there is no such thing as a perfect candidate. If you meet around 75% of the requirements listed below, we'd still love to hear from you.

Essential Experience

• Significant technical experience within the nuclear industry or another highly regulated, safety-critical environment.
• Experience operating as a Technical Authority, Technical Lead, Engineering Manager or similar senior technical role.
• Strong understanding of nuclear safety principles, engineering governance and quality assurance frameworks.
• Experience interpreting and applying engineering codes, standards and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership, influence decision-making and challenge constructively when required.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to work across multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of technical assurance, requirements management, verification and validation approaches.

Qualifications

We're interested in hearing from candidates who have:

• A degree in an engineering or scientific discipline such as Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Physics or Materials Science.
• Or significant relevant technical experience gained within nuclear or other highly regulated industries such as defence, aerospace, oil and gas, rail, or similarly safety-critical sectors.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to play a critical role in the development and delivery of a transformational UK energy programme. You'll help shape technical excellence, influence organisational quality standards and contribute to the safe deployment of advanced nuclear technology. You'll work alongside industry-leading experts in an environment that values collaboration, innovation, integrity and continuous learning.

Reward and Benefits

• Salary: £60,000 - £78,750
• £2,200 flexible benefits allowance
• 12.5% bonus opportunity
• 6x pensionable life assurance
• 50% income protection
• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• £250 new joiner payment
• Flexible and hybrid working options where business needs allow

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