Senior Engineer - Materials: Welding and Manufacturing

About the Role

The Materials & Chemistry team supports the full lifecycle of the RR‑SMR, from concept design to decommissioning, providing expertise across reactor plant systems, components, manufacturing engineering, the conventional island, and supply‑chain stakeholders. This cross‑functional group ensures safety, integrity, and performance throughout the project. The Lead Engineer – Normal Operations Source Term will define, model, and justify radionuclide inventories and behaviours that underpin safe SMR operation. As the technical lead for the source‑term strategy, you will drive clarity and confidence in how radioactivity behaves across primary and secondary systems, supporting the safety case, regulatory engagement, and customer discussions. Your work will directly influence radiological safety, shielding design, maintainability, and operational dose outcomes, which are critical for regulatory acceptance and customer confidence. By shaping the UK’s next‑generation SMR justification and optimisation, you will help deliver a technology that provides clean energy for decades. • Lead delivery of the Normal Operations Source Term plan covering fission, actinide, corrosion and activation products. • Produce robust, auditable technical justifications using operational experience, modelling, and ALARP principles. • Provide authoritative safety‑case contributions and respond to regulator and customer queries. • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across design, systems engineering, manufacturing, shielding, and human factors. • Coach engineers, shape analytical methods and tools, and maintain engineering standards through high‑quality reviews. • Complete Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸source term
• ▸modelling
• ▸safety case
• ▸regulatory
• ▸team collaboration
• ▸engineering review

What You Bring

The role requires a degree in engineering, chemistry, physics or a related field, together with proven experience in reactor chemistry, radionuclide modelling, contamination transport, or source‑term analysis. Strong collaboration, influencing skills, and the ability to produce high‑quality technical documentation are essential, as is eligibility for BPSS clearance and compliance with export‑control constraints. Applicants will undergo additional nuclear‑industry screening, including BPSS clearance, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, and a basic financial probity check. • Degree in engineering, chemistry, physics or related discipline. • Proven experience in reactor chemistry, radionuclide modelling, contamination transport or source‑term analysis. • Strong collaboration and influencing skills with multidisciplinary teams. • Ability to produce high‑quality technical documentation and communicate complex concepts clearly. • Eligibility for BPSS clearance and ability to work within export‑control constraints. • Obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance. • Complete basic financial probity check.

Requirements

• ▸engineering degree
• ▸reactor chemistry
• ▸radionuclide modelling
• ▸collaboration
• ▸technical writing
• ▸bpss clearance

Benefits

A flexible hybrid working model is offered, with the role based in Derby, Warrington or Manchester. Office attendance frequency will be agreed during recruitment based on individual and business needs. The salary range is £50,650‑£66,500 plus a performance‑related bonus, a £2,200 annual benefits allowance, 12% employer and 6% employee pension contributions, 28 days holiday (plus public holidays) with the option to buy or sell up to four days, private medical insurance via BUPA, life assurance of six times pensionable pay, and a one‑off home‑office purchase payment. Rolls‑Royce SMR values transparency, fairness, innovation, and diversity, offering a flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment. Employees benefit from clear career growth opportunities in a rapidly scaling business and a culture that encourages continuous learning and development. • Salary £50,650‑£66,500 plus performance‑related bonus. • £2,200 annual benefits allowance and pension contributions (12% employer, 6% employee). • 28 days holiday plus public holidays, with option to buy or sell up to 4 days. • Private medical insurance (BUPA) and life assurance (6× pensionable pay). • One‑off home‑office purchase payment for new starters. • A flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment. • Opportunities for career growth in a rapidly scaling business.

Work Environment

Hybrid