Senior Engineer - Major Reactor Island Equipment

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

The business

Our mission is to deliver clean, affordable energy for all. Rolls‐Royce SMR provides a British solution to a global energy challenge, combining world‐class engineering with disciplined delivery. We are building scalable nuclear technology with the ambition to become the UK’s premier low‐carbon export.

The team

The Engineering Directorate sits at the heart of Rolls‐Royce SMR, transforming complex nuclear concepts into buildable, licensable products. Within this, the Reactor Assembly and Major Reactor Island Equipment teams drive technical maturity, integration, and programme delivery for some of the most safety‐critical components of our plant.

Summary

In this context, we are looking for a Senior Engineer – Major Reactor Island Equipment (Reactor Pressure Vessel), reporting to the Manager – Heavy Vessels. This role shapes the technical, cost and programme delivery of the critical Reactor Pressure Vessel component, translating generic design into site‐ready, deployable solutions.

We’ll need you to:

• Maturing and governing technical solutions for the Reactor Pressure Vessel
• Leading integrated programmes across design, analysis, manufacture, and verification activities
• Managing cost, risk, and schedule across complex, multi‐site delivery programmes
• Developing and guiding engineers to deliver high‐quality, safety‐critical outputs

As you can see, this is a pivotal and growing role where you’ll bring clarity through ambiguity, strong leadership and first‐class engineering judgement to outcomes that genuinely matter.

Essential skills / qualifications

• A degree‐level qualification in a relevant engineering discipline, with Chartered Engineer status or actively working towards it
• Experience of designing high‐integrity nuclear or safety‐critical components across the full product lifecycle
• In‐depth knowledge of component integration, verification, manufacture and delivery within complex, regulated engineering environments

location

We offer flexible and hybrid working. Regular travel between UK sites is expected, with occasional national and international supplier engagement to support programme delivery.

What’s in it for me you

• Salary between £53,800 and £66,500.
• Bonus - Performance related target opportunity of 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.

statements

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. As a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to fair, supportive recruitment practices and workplace adjustments where needed. You may not feel you meet every requirement – and that’s okay. If you feel you meet around 75% of the role, we would love to hear from you. We also welcome applications from candidates bringing transferable skills or considering a sector move.

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. Find out more about our inclusion pledge.

Rolls-Royce SMR is a place where everyone can grow, so whatever background you bring with you, please apply if this is a role that would make you excited to come into work every day and help shape our culture.

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 can thrive.

What we offer

At Rolls-Royce SMR, our reward offering is focused on recognising you for your efforts and motivate you to continue achieving. Our rewards and benefits scheme are designed for employees to have complete control. By providing complete autonomy, you can focus on what’s important to you. Whether it’s investments, insurances or wellbeing, it’s in your hands.