Senior Engineer - Layout and Installation Assemblies 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 Layout and Installation Assemblies team is responsible for the design and delivery of Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) modules and installation assemblies across the Reactor Island. These solutions are fundamental to our modular delivery strategy and play a critical role in ensuring safe, efficient and constructible plant design.

About the Role:

As a Senior Engineer - Layout and Installation Assemblies, you will be responsible for the design and delivery of Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) modules and installation assemblies within the Reactor Island Layout design. You will develop an understanding of the full technical requirements and lifecycle of the modules, creating arrangements and layouts while helping determine manufacturing, installation and commissioning strategies. The role requires a strong understanding of how fluid and waste management systems interface with plant structures, equipment, supporting systems and operational activities across the facility lifecycle.

You will ensure that plant and system arrangements support safe, efficient and practical operation, inspection, testing, maintenance, replacement and eventual decommissioning. Working within a core Layout and Installation Assemblies team, you will have responsibility for the development of a defined cluster of modules within a critical area of the Reactor Island design. Getting the layout, modularisation and installation design right is absolutely critical to achieving the overall business objective and is a key part of our innovative SMR approach.

We’ll Need You To:

• Develop and validate Reactor Island layouts to ensure all requirements are met
• Progress a defined cluster of modules through the Design Review process
• Proactively engage with stakeholders to capture requirements and assumptions
• Understand technical and programme risks associated with Reactor Island installations and make informed engineering decisions
• Work alongside component, layout and CAD engineers to develop integrated module clusters
• Support the optimisation of manufacturing, installation and lifecycle delivery strategies through digital engineering, constructability and operability principles
• Lead assessments of plant operability, maintainability and accessibility throughout the design lifecycle
• Ensure layouts support efficient commissioning, testing, flushing, inspection and turnover activities
• Apply Design for Safety principles throughout the design process
• Ensure fluid and waste management systems are effectively integrated with wider plant systems and structures
• Support solutions that maximise plant availability and minimise outages, operational restrictions and system isolations
• Work closely with manufacturing, operations, commissioning and maintenance stakeholders to ensure through‑life requirements are fully incorporated within the design
• Contribute to technical reviews and project review gates throughout the programme lifecycle

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:

• Proven experience delivering layout and installation design programmes to time, cost and quality targets
• Experience developing engineering solutions from concept through to detailed design
• Understanding of robust design methodologies, DfX principles and engineering trade‑off studies
• Strong systems engineering capability, including:
• Requirements management
• Stakeholder management
• Technical and programme risk management
• Through‑life design considerations
• Gated design review processes
• Strong technical report writing and communication skills
• Ability to influence and engage with stakeholders across multiple disciplines
• Experience in the integration or design of mechanical process systems
• Experience with piping system design and plant layout development is highly desirable
• Nuclear industry experience is advantageous but not essential
• Experience within other highly regulated sectors such as Energy, Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Defence or Process Industries is also welcomed
• Knowledge of modular construction approaches, constructability assessments and assembly sequencing would be beneficial
• Familiarity with CDM regulations and construction delivery principles is desirable

Qualifications:

Degree‑qualified in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline. Chartered Engineer, or actively working towards Chartership.

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 £50,650 – £66,500 dependent on the skills, values and knowledge you bring. There may be flexibility with the starting salary in exceptional cases, and the role may develop further as the programme grows.

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 10th August 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