Manager – RI Safety Systems (Fluid Systems)

Role Title: Manager – RI Safety Systems (Fluid Systems)

We are Rolls‑Royce SMR and we’re doing something that’s never been done before. We’re revolutionising an industry. That’s a once‑in‑a‑career opportunity for those excited by such a challenge. This is more than just a job; this is a legacy.

The Reactor Safety Systems team is responsible for the design and delivery of safety‑critical plant systems that protect reactor and fuel integrity under all operating and faulted conditions. Residual Heat Removal Systems play a vital role in decay heat management and fuel temperature control during shutdown and accident conditions.

About the Role:

As Manager – RI Safety Systems (Fluid Systems), you will be responsible for the technical, programme and people leadership of residual heat removal systems across the SMR design. Your scope includes systems that provide decay heat removal from the reactor core and fuel pools at low temperatures, such as cold shutdown cooling systems and fuel‑pool cooling systems, as well as safety measures that provide control of fuel temperature during faulted low‑temperature conditions, including fuel‑pool boil‑off protection.

You will lead a team of reactor‑system design engineers and senior design engineers, comprising a mix of permanent Rolls‑Royce SMR staff and secondees from technical support organisations. As manager, you are accountable for the technical validity and robustness of design solutions developed under your direction, ensuring they are supported by comprehensive system analyses and safety justification.

You will plan and coordinate engagement with specialist analysts and subject‑matter experts across thermal hydraulics, reliability, safety (including HAZID and HAZOP), human factors, commissioning, decommissioning and maintenance. Where new capability or analysis support is required, you will work with senior leadership to develop the organisation and its supply chain to deliver the required scope.

This role is a senior leadership position within Engineering, requiring strong technical authority, proven people leadership and the ability to influence and motivate across multidisciplinary teams.

We’ll Need You To:

• Lead delivery of residual heat removal system design across the SMR programme
• Own systems providing decay heat removal from the reactor core and fuel pools
• Lead safety‑related design for faulted low‑temperature heat‑removal scenarios
• Ensure robust technical solutions and safety substantiation supported by detailed analysis
• Plan and coordinate multidisciplinary analysis activities and SME engagement
• Develop, author and technically assure high‑quality system design documentation
• Lead requirements definition, management and verification across system scope
• Deliver programme plans, managing risks and opportunities proactively
• Apply governance and configuration‑control processes rigorously
• Represent RR‑SMR in regulatory and stakeholder discussions within your scope
• Lead, coach and develop engineers within your team
• Promote collaboration, continuous improvement and inclusive leadership

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:

• Significant experience in nuclear fluid or process‑system design
• Strong understanding of reactor plant and safety‑related systems
• Proven experience leading engineers and delivering complex design programmes
• Ability to technically assure system‑level design and safety justification
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineering and analysis teams
• Strong stakeholder‑management and influencing skills
• Experience managing programme delivery, risk and configuration
• Chartered status 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 £60,000 – £78,750 dependent on the skills, values and knowledge you bring. There may be flexibility in exceptional cases, reflecting the seniority and leadership responsibility of the role.

Benefits include:

• Bonus – Performance‑related target opportunity up to 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 the 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

Selection Process:

The closing date for this role is 31st May 2026. The process will begin with an introductory call with the Talent Acquisition Partner, with interviews being able to take place straight away.

Why Join Us?

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
 

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