Senior Engineer Dynamics in Cheshire, Warrington

At Rolls‑Royce SMR, our mission is simple and ambitious: to deliver clean, affordable energy for all. Our Small Modular Reactor (SMR) presents a British‑designed solution to a global energy challenge — scalable, reliable, low‑carbon power that can transform communities, industries, and national energy security. We are positioned to become a world leader in SMR technology and one of the UK’s most impactful green export innovations.

The Team

You will be joining our Structural Analysis function within the Engineering directorate — a team responsible for providing high‑integrity analysis that ensures our nuclear equipment performs safely under all dynamic conditions. Your team’s work directly influences reactor equipment design, safety case development, risk reduction and programme delivery.

Role Summary

This role gives you the opportunity to shape how we understand, model and optimise the complex behaviour of nuclear mechanical equipment under dynamic loads — contributing directly to the safe, timely, and efficient design of our SMR technology. You will play a key part in a high‑growth, high‑impact technical area, helping to define approaches, uplift capability, and influence design decisions from concept through to verification.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivering high‑quality dynamic/explicit structural analysis using tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, LS‑Dyna and Hypermesh, including dynamic FE, seismic, blast and impact modelling.
• Coordinating analysis activities for complex components and assemblies — from load‑path critique to material selection and compliance with design standards (e.g., ASME, good practice, legislation).
• Defining scope, estimating timelines, contributing to programme planning and adjusting activities as engineering priorities evolve.
• Managing external suppliers: specifying work packages, reviewing progress, critiquing outputs and ensuring delivery to quality, cost and schedule.
• Providing technical steer, supporting peer development, checking analysis work and helping uplift team capability.
• Collaborating with Hazards, Equipment Design, Materials, E3S and other engineering partners to deliver integrated solutions.

The Impact

In this role, your work directly contributes to safe, reliable nuclear equipment and helps shape industry‑leading analytical methods and tools. You will influence fundamental design choices, reduce programme risk, and help build an analytical capability that supports the long‑term success of the UK’s SMR programme. This is a chance to create solutions that will have decades‑long environmental and societal impact.

Essential Qualifications & Skills

• Experience in engineering analysis, ideally structural FEA with dynamic/explicit methods.
• Proficiency in ANSYS, Abaqus, or LS‑DYNA for explicit/dynamic FEA.
• Strong ability to conduct hand‑calculations (Mathcad/Excel).
• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
• Chartered Engineer or working toward Chartership.
• Experience delivering work within safety‑driven, standards‑led engineering (e.g., ASME, nuclear, oil & gas, rail).

Pay and Benefits

We anticipate paying a salary of between £50,650 - £66,500 plus:

• Bonus - Performance related target opportunity 12.5%
• Benefits Allowance – £2,200 per annum, 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.
• 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

We offer flexible hybrid arrangements with our offices in Warrington, Derby or Manchester; office attendance requirements will be discussed during the interview process.

Why Join Us?

You will 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