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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead thermal-hydraulic analysis and develop innovative CFD methods for cutting-edge projects.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking engineering firm focused on safety and quality.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, generous holidays, and private medical insurance.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the energy sector while advancing your engineering skills.
- Qualifications: Master’s degree in Engineering or related field; experience with CFD tools required.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 50650 - 66500 £ per year.
About the Role
As a Senior Engineer – CFD & Thermo‑fluids, you will lead the technical and programme delivery of thermal‑hydraulic analysis work packages across the SMR programme. You will act as both a technical author and reviewer, ensuring analysis outputs are technically robust, proportionate and aligned with programme governance and quality requirements. You will work closely with design, performance and safety teams to define analysis requirements and scope appropriate levels of analysis to substantiate them. Analysis may follow established RR‑SMR methodologies or require development of new methods, applying Verification, Validation and Uncertainty Quantification (VVUQ) techniques to demonstrate adequacy. You will contribute to method development, benchmarking activities and collaboration with verification engineers and the in‑house test capability team, supporting validation of analysis tools against experimental data and test‑rig results. Given the safety‑critical nature of the work, you will place strong emphasis on quality management, automation and reproducibility of analysis. Senior Engineers may also provide technical supervision, coaching and mentoring of junior engineers and oversee analysis delivered by supply‑chain partners.
Responsibilities
- Lead and deliver high‑quality CFD and thermo‑fluid analysis across plant and system design
- Apply advanced 2D/3D CFD methods to assess internal flows, pressure drops, heat transfer and transient behaviour
- Use 1D fluid‑systems modelling to support system performance, sizing and operating philosophy
- Define, plan and review analysis work packages, ensuring proportionate and robust delivery
- Develop and apply new analysis methods, including VVUQ techniques
- Support validation and benchmarking of analysis tools using experimental and test‑rig data
- Generate clear, well‑documented analysis outputs and technical reports
- Develop and maintain automated analysis workflows, including pre‑ and post‑processing scripts
- Apply rigorous quality‑management and governance processes
- Provide technical oversight, coaching and review to support team capability development
- Communicate complex analysis clearly to technical and non‑technical stakeholders
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 understanding of applied fluid mechanics and heat‑transfer principles
- Demonstrated experience leading complex CFD analysis using tools such as ANSYS Fluent, CFX or Star‑CCM+
- Experience with pre‑ and post‑processing tools (e.g. SpaceClaim, MATLAB, Python)
- Experience with 1D system analysis tools such as Siemens Flomaster
- Experience developing or reviewing thermal‑hydraulic analysis methods
- Strong understanding of analysis QA, verification, validation and uncertainty quantification
- Experience scoping analysis to support design or safety‑case requirements
- Ability to plan and deliver analysis programmes, managing milestones, risks and interfaces
- Strong technical communication and report‑writing skills
- Knowledge of nuclear or other high‑integrity industries (beneficial but not essential)
- Degree‑qualified to Master’s level (or equivalent) in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or related discipline
- Chartered Engineer (or equivalent), or working towards chartership
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.
Benefits
- Bonus – Performance‑related target opportunity
- 12.5% Benefits Allowance – £2,200 per annum for a 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 – 6× pensionable pay
- Home Office Support – £250 one‑off payment for new starters
Equal Opportunities
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.
Senior Engineer - CFD & Thermofluids employer: Rolls-Royce SMR
Contact Detail:
Rolls-Royce SMR Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Engineer - CFD & Thermofluids
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees on LinkedIn or at industry events. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your technical skills. Be ready to discuss your experience with CFD tools like ANSYS Fluent or CFX, and how you've tackled complex analysis in the past.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your problem-solving skills! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've developed new analysis methods or improved existing workflows. This will highlight your innovative side.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Engineer - CFD & Thermofluids
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Senior Engineer role. Highlight your CFD and thermo-fluids expertise, and don’t forget to mention any relevant tools you've used like ANSYS Fluent or MATLAB.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about this role and how your background aligns with our needs. Be specific about your experience in thermal-hydraulic analysis and method development.
Showcase Your Technical Communication Skills: Since you'll be communicating complex analysis to various stakeholders, make sure to demonstrate your ability to convey technical information clearly in your application. Use straightforward language and examples from your past work.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the process!
How to prepare for a job interview at Rolls-Royce SMR
✨Know Your CFD Tools
Make sure you’re well-versed in the CFD tools mentioned in the job description, like ANSYS Fluent or Star-CCM+. Be ready to discuss your experience with these tools and how you've applied them in past projects. A solid understanding of their capabilities will help you stand out.
✨Demonstrate Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to showcase your ability to lead complex thermal-hydraulic analysis. Think of specific examples where you’ve scoped analysis to support design or safety-case requirements. Highlight your experience with VVUQ techniques and how they contributed to the robustness of your analysis.
✨Communicate Clearly
Since you'll need to communicate complex analysis to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, practice explaining your past projects in simple terms. This will show that you can bridge the gap between engineering jargon and clear communication, which is crucial for this role.
✨Emphasise Quality Management
Given the safety-critical nature of the work, be prepared to discuss your approach to quality management and governance processes. Share examples of how you’ve ensured the reproducibility and reliability of your analysis outputs, as this will demonstrate your commitment to high standards.