At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead architectural projects and design robust control systems for power stations.
- Company: Join Rolls-Royce SMR, a leader in innovative energy solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, generous holidays, and private medical insurance.
- Other info: Hybrid working with excellent career growth opportunities in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on energy systems while mentoring the next generation of engineers.
- Qualifications: Experience in C&I system design and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 53700 - 70500 £ per year.
The role is within Rolls‑Royce SMR and focuses on delivering safe, secure, and technically robust control, protection and monitoring systems across the power station.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead significant architectural packages of work, generating design decisions and supporting rationale.
- Apply independence, segregation and separation principles to C&I architectural decisions.
- Maintain system‑level architectural consistency across all major plant islands.
- Develop and manage architecture deliverables including the Capella model and system‑level design documentation.
- Collaborate with systems engineering, plant architecture, safety case and wider integration teams.
- Support development and refinement of cross‑cutting C&I system requirements.
- Ensure architectural changes are captured, reviewed and appropriately integrated into the design lifecycle.
- Support architectural verification and validation activities, including reviews.
- Present and explain complex architectural concepts to technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
- Mentor more junior team members contributing to architecture development.
- Interface effectively with internal and external stakeholders to support architectural alignment.
Qualifications & Experience
- Significant experience across the C&I system design lifecycle, including specification, assessment, installation, commissioning and verification.
- Strong understanding of architectural resilience principles (independence, separation, segregation, diversity).
- Knowledge of C&I technologies, digital platforms, protection systems, instrumentation and software/hardware architectures.
- Experience applying industry standards such as IEC 61508, IEC 61513, IEC 61226 or similar from other safety‑critical sectors.
- Strong systems engineering capability, including requirements management, interface management and structured decision‑making.
- Experience using MBSE tools (Capella preferred) and requirements management tools (e.g. DOORS, Polarion).
- Ability to translate high‑level plant requirements into clear functional and logical architectural designs.
- Strong communication and presentation skills, able to convey complex system interactions.
- Experience engaging with internal and external stakeholders including safety, engineering, suppliers and regulators.
- Ability to provide technical support, coaching and guidance to less‑experienced engineers.
- Degree‑qualified in electrical, control, instrumentation or systems engineering, or equivalent experience.
Location & Working Arrangements
Hybrid working with one of the following locations as your primary site: Derby, Manchester or Warrington.
Salary and Package
£53,700–£70,500 per annum, dependent on skills, values and knowledge, with some flexibility in exceptional cases.
Benefits
- Performance‑related target bonus of 12.5%.
- Benefits allowance £2,200 per annum for 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.
Equity & Diversity
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. As a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to fair, supportive, and continually improving recruitment practices that ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Application Closing Date
7th June 2026
Senior Engineer - C&I Architecture employer: Rolls-Royce SMR Limited
Rolls-Royce SMR is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration in the field of control and instrumentation architecture. With a strong commitment to employee growth, we provide extensive mentoring opportunities and a comprehensive benefits package, including a performance-related bonus and generous holiday allowance. Our hybrid working model across locations like Derby, Manchester, and Warrington ensures flexibility while maintaining a focus on delivering safe and robust systems for the power sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Engineer - C&I Architecture
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the industry, especially those at Rolls-Royce SMR. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into C&I architecture topics. Brush up on your knowledge of IEC standards and be ready to discuss how you’ve applied them in past projects.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your mentoring skills! If you’ve helped junior engineers before, share those experiences. It highlights your leadership potential, which is key for a Senior Engineer role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Engineer - C&I Architecture
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in C&I system design and architectural principles. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant projects!
Showcase Your Technical Skills:When detailing your experience, focus on your knowledge of industry standards like IEC 61508 and your familiarity with MBSE tools like Capella. We love seeing candidates who can clearly articulate their technical expertise!
Communicate Clearly:Remember, you’ll be presenting complex concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Use straightforward language in your application to demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively – it’s a key part of the role!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and get back to you quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Rolls-Royce SMR Limited
✨Know Your C&I Architecture Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of control and instrumentation (C&I) systems. Be ready to discuss architectural resilience principles like independence and segregation, as well as industry standards such as IEC 61508. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the concepts but can apply them in real-world scenarios.
✨Prepare for Technical and Non-Technical Questions
Since you'll be presenting complex architectural concepts to various stakeholders, practice explaining these ideas in simple terms. Think about how you would communicate technical details to someone without a technical background. This will demonstrate your strong communication skills and ability to engage with diverse audiences.
✨Showcase Your Mentoring Skills
As a senior engineer, mentoring junior team members is part of the role. Be prepared to share examples of how you've supported less-experienced engineers in the past. Highlight your coaching style and how you help others grow, which will reflect positively on your leadership capabilities.
✨Familiarise Yourself with MBSE Tools
If you have experience with Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools like Capella or requirements management tools like DOORS, make sure to mention it. If you don’t, take some time to learn the basics. Being able to discuss these tools will show that you’re proactive and ready to hit the ground running.
