Senior Engineer - Major Reactor Island Equipment
Job Description
Role: 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
We’ll ask about your 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
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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