Senior HVAC Engineer - Plant Equipment in Cheshire, Warrington

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 Plant Equipment team is responsible for delivering a broad portfolio of mechanical and HVAC systems into the SMR, supporting safety, operability and performance across the power station. This is a key engineering role, offering end‐to‐end ownership of HVAC plant and equipment within a complex, regulated environment.

As a Senior HVAC Engineer – Plant Equipment, you will work within the Miscellaneous Plant Equipment team to deliver HVAC and ventilation products into the SMR design. You will take ownership of allocated equipment and systems, working across the full lifecycle — from requirements definition and supplier engagement through to design assurance, governance and contract delivery.

You will collaborate closely with internal stakeholders and external suppliers, acting as an intelligent customer to ensure design intent, safety, quality, cost and schedule are balanced and fully assured. As the programme matures, the role will grow to include increased responsibility for cost, schedule and supply‐chain alignment. This role offers exposure to a truly global supply chain and the opportunity to influence how HVAC systems are standardised and modularised across the SMR fleet.

We’ll Need You To:

• Own the delivery of key SMR HVAC systems and components
• Deliver equipment such as air‐handling units, ductwork, filtration systems, dampers and chillers
• Develop and manage requirements in collaboration with internal stakeholders
• Apply standardisation and modularisation principles across HVAC designs
• Act as the intelligent customer for supplier‐developed designs
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers
• Apply engineering governance and quality processes
• Review and approve technical outputs from suppliers and internal teams
• Oversee contract delivery in line with programme milestones
• Support the development of junior engineers within the team
• Adapt to evolving scope, priorities and business demands
• Travel between SMR offices and supplier locations as required

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 HVAC system or plant equipment design
• Experience delivering equipment within complex or regulated environments
• Ability to own technical scope from requirements through to delivery
• Experience working with suppliers and acting as an intelligent customer
• Strong stakeholder‐management and coordination skills
• Understanding of quality assurance and engineering governance
• Ability to balance technical, cost and programme considerations
• Experience supporting or mentoring junior engineers
• Flexible and adaptable approach in a changing programme environment
• Willingness to travel to supplier and SMR sites

Qualifications:

• Degree‐level qualification, HND or equivalent in a relevant technical discipline
• Member of, or working towards membership of, a recognised professional body (e.g. CIBSE, IMechE or similar)

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 in exceptional cases, and the role may evolve as the organisation continues to grow.

Benefits include:

• Bonus – Performance‐related target opportunity
• Benefits Allowance – For a bespoke benefits package
• Pension – Competitive employer and employee contributions
• Holidays – 28 days (+ public holidays) with ability to buy or sell leave
• Private Medical Insurance
• Life Assurance
• Home Office Support for new starters

Selection Process: The closing date for this role is 21st June 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