Lead Specialist ASME/R6

At Rolls‑Royce SMR, our mission is simple: to deliver clean, affordable, sustainable energy for all. Our Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programme provides a uniquely British solution to a global energy challenge — supporting energy security, accelerating decarbonisation, and creating high‑value jobs across the UK. We are building the next generation of low‑carbon nuclear technology and are positioned to become a global leader in SMRs and the UK’s premier green export technology.

The Team

You’ll join our Structural Analysis function within Engineering — a team responsible for ensuring the structural integrity, safety, and long‑term reliability of Major Reactor Island (RI) equipment. The team provides technical governance, leads structural analysis methodologies, and ensures that our reactor components meet stringent nuclear safety and regulatory requirements. This work is mission‑critical: it directly underpins our ability to certify and deliver a world‑class SMR design.

Role Summary

This is a senior specialist position where you will shape the technical direction of ASME and R6 structural assessment across our SMR programme. You’ll act as a bridge between hands‑on engineering delivery and strategic leadership — defining standards, guiding teams, and enabling robust, regulator‑ready solutions. This role is essential to our success: your expertise will ensure that critical Reactor Island components meet the highest levels of integrity, resilience, and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing technical governance for ASME Section III/XI and R6 structural analysis across Major RI equipment.
• Leading best practice within the team, ensuring high‑quality outputs, clear documentation, and auditability.
• Guiding and mentoring engineers across the Structural Analysis team (>12 FTE) and supporting capability development.
• Scoping and managing outsourced work packages, writing Statements of Work, and ensuring suppliers meet RR‑SMR expectations.
• Mitigating technical risks through structured methods, metrics, and regular reviews.
• Chairing Grade‑E GR reviews and providing technical assurance across the design lifecycle.
• Collaborating with cross‑functional teams (materials, NDE, safety case, fabrication, design) to integrate structural solutions.

The Impact

In this role, you will shape the technical integrity of one of the UK’s most significant clean‑energy programmes. Your work will safeguard the safety, reliability, and lifetime performance of our reactor systems; directly influencing regulatory approval, manufacturing confidence, and long‑term fleet deployment. You will also build capability within the team, ensuring our future workforce is skilled, empowered, and ready to deliver the first wave of SMRs and beyond.

Essential Qualifications & Requirements

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status (or equivalent).
• Significant experience in the nuclear industry — particularly in ASME BPVC III/1 and XI/1, defect tolerance, and R6/BS 7910 assessments.
• 10+ years’ experience performing stress calculations using ABAQUS, ANSYS, or DYNA, including checking and approving FEA models.
• Experience leading engineering teams and delivering complex analysis programmes in highly regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of materials behaviour, fabrication effects, welding, degradation mechanisms, and NDE interfaces.

Pay and Benefits

We anticipate paying a salary of between £60,000-£78,750 plus:

• Bonus - Performance related bonus of up to 12.5%
• Benefits Allowance - £2200, enabling you to create a bespoke package
• Pension - 12% employer and 6% employee contributions.
• Holidays - 28 days holiday (+ public holidays) and the ability to buy or sell up to 4 days
• Family Friendly Policies including: 39 weeks paid Maternity, Surrogacy and Adoption Leave, 6 weeks Paternity Leave, IVF and Assisted Conception, Neonatal Care and more
• Private Medical Insurance - BUPA single cover health care
• Life Assurance - 6x pensionable pay
• £250 - One-off payment for new starters for home office purchases

Location & Ways of Working

We offer hybrid working with office locations in Derby, Warrington, or Manchester. Flexibility is important to us, and the expected frequency of on‑site work will be discussed during the recruitment process.

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

We are Rolls-Royce SMR. A career with Rolls-Royce SMR offers a unique opportunity to contribute to an exciting organisation delivering a transformational mission. Rolls-Royce SMR is a radically different approach to proven nuclear technology. Each Rolls-Royce SMR power station will generate 470MW of low-carbon energy - equivalent to more than 150 onshore wind turbines and enough to power a million homes for over 60 years. With its Rolls-Royce SMRs will play a vital role in supporting renewable energy by helping to overcome intermittency and ensure a stable, sustainable energy future.

We’re proud to be one of the few employers that can genuinely say we’re a strengths-based organisation. Our people are here because of what makes them exceptional - and our role is to help them make the most meaningful contribution of their careers, doing work they love. We offer opportunities that go beyond traditional career paths. At Rolls-Royce SMR you can develop your career by exploring roles and challenges that align with your unique talents.

Our culture

At Rolls-Royce SMR, we are committed to ensuring that our teams reflect the communities we serve and that everyone can be themselves at work. We know that diverse teams are more innovative and get better results, and that our people can thrive and be more successful in truly inclusive cultures. Join us and help shape our culture.