Senior Engineer - Verification & Validation Delivery 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 Development Engineering organisation is accountable for proving that the SMR power station design meets its objectives and requirements. It is also responsible for providing the data and evidence that underpin the design and delivery of the power station through verification, testing, demonstration and research programmes. This spans not only nuclear engineering but the wider engineering and operational disciplines required to deliver a major infrastructure project.

Senior Verification and Validation (V&V) Engineers play a key role in Rolls-Royce SMR’s Systems Engineering approach by leading the process of verifying that the power station design meets its requirements. This forms a crucial part of our strategy to offer delivery certainty through the use of modern engineering tools and techniques — including analysis and rig testing — to substantiate the design before construction begins.

You will take ownership of complex, safety-critical or business-critical areas of the power station aligned to your expertise. Your initial responsibility will be to develop comprehensive verification strategies that define the activities and evidence required to demonstrate compliance. Throughout the verification lifecycle, you will work closely with design leads and technical specialists to execute these strategies and confirm compliance.

Alongside technical leadership, you will mentor other V&V Engineers, support capability development and complete rigorous technical reviews to ensure quality and consistency.

There are multiple roles to fill within the team & we are particularly interested in speaking with people from one or more the following backgrounds:

• Systems design integration across multiple engineering disciplines (e.g. fluid systems, thermo-hydraulics, mechanical, reactor core)
• Equipment Qualification (EQ) on a previous nuclear project, or qualification of components in a safety critical environment
• Reactor systems and/or components (e.g. reactor internals, integrated head package, control rod drive mechanisms, etc…)
• Nuclear auxiliary systems or components (e.g. radioactive liquid/solid/gas processing and storage, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), &/or nuclear sampling and handling)

We’ll Need You To:

• Develop verification and validation strategies within your area of responsibility
• Act as an intelligent customer in the V&V of the plant and across the RR SMR business
• Support the verification and validation of the safety case
• Produce reports for regulatory bodies and present/discuss findings with regulators
• Define objectives and requirements for verification activities (e.g. rig tests, analyses) and agree these with delivery teams
• Review and collect evidence of verification activities across internal teams and the supply chain
• Collate evidence and use it to assess compliance against requirements
• Manage technical interfaces across functions to ensure coherent and efficient technical solutions
• Coach and review the work of others to elevate technical quality across the team
• Perform detailed technical checks and provide constructive feedback to peers

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:

• Experience in verification and validation of new products, ideally in a safety-critical and highly regulated industry
• Experience leading complex engineering projects; nuclear experience preferred but not essential
• Strong project management capability including scope, schedule, resource and financial control
• Experience identifying, managing and escalating technical and programme risks
• Ability to resolve issues while ensuring quality and safety standards
• Strong supplier and customer relationship management skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; able to unite multi-disciplinary teams
• Strong analytical skills and a methodical approach
• Systems-thinking mindset with experience collaborating across engineering disciplines
• Degree in an engineering discipline and recognised by a professional body or working towards this

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

Salary and Package: The salary band for this will be between £50,650 - £66,500 dependent on the skills, values, and knowledge you bring. There may be some flexibility with the starting salary in exceptional cases, and, in due course, there is the potential for you to develop the role further.

Benefits include:

• Bonus - Performance-related target opportunity 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 ability to buy or sell up to 4 days
• Private Medical Insurance - BUPA single cover
• Life Assurance - 6x pensionable pay
• Home Office Support - £250 one-off payment for new starters

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, and a culture that values diversity, innovation and continuous learning.

Selection Process: The closing date for this role is 18th May 2026. The process will consist of an introductory call with the Talent Acquisition Partner, with first‑round interviews taking 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