Balance of Plant (BOP) Site‑Specific Design Lead

Manager – Balance of Plant (BOP) Site‑Specific Design Lead

Location: Hybrid working with one of the following locations as primary: Derby, Warrington or Manchester

Our mission

Our mission is to deliver clean, affordable energy for all. Our Small Modular Reactor (SMR) provides a British solution to a global energy challenge. We are in pole position to become a world leader in SMRs and the UK’s premier green export technology.

The team

The Conventional Island Engineering team is responsible for shaping and integrating the non‑nuclear systems that enable safe, licensable and efficient SMR deployment. Working across disciplines and interfaces, the team translates generic capability into robust, site‑specific solutions, aligned to regulatory and programme expectations

Role summary

We are seeking a Manager – Balance of Plant (BOP) Site‑Specific Design Lead, reporting to the Conventional Island Chief Design Engineer. This role provides multidisciplinary design leadership for site‑specific BOP solutions, ensuring integrated, compliant outputs that retain Rolls‑Royce SMR design intent while meeting environmental, safety, regulatory and programme requirements.

Key deliverables / duties

We’ll need you to:

• Leading the adaptation of the generic BOP product to meet site‑specific requirements, ensuring design intent, performance and safety expectations are maintained

• Acting as the multidisciplinary BOP design lead, integrating inputs across contributing engineering disciplines and resolving cross‑disciplinary and interface issues

• Overseeing site‑specific BOP configuration, ensuring robust configuration control and design maturity throughout the lifecycle

• Coordinating design inputs, analyses, definition documents and supporting safety justification across all BOP scopes

• Producing and assuring regulator‑ready documentation, supporting site licensing, planning and regulatory submissions

• Presenting BOP design solutions to customers, regulators and internal governance forums with clarity and confidence

• Developing and managing engineering schedules, deliverables and design maturity plans for site‑specific BOP work

• Engaging with Technical Authorities to secure guidance, assurance and approval at defined design and programme gates

• Leading, coaching and developing a small team of design engineers, while managing supplier design contracts and associated work packages

• Ensuring full compliance with E3S obligations (environment, safety, security and safeguards) across all BOP activities

This is a senior, high‑impact engineering leadership role requiring strong technical judgement, influence across boundaries and the confidence to steer complex, regulated design activity.

Skills, knowledge and experience

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent, with a relevant engineering degree or demonstrable industry experience

• Proven leadership experience delivering integrated, site‑specific designs within large, complex or regulated programmes

• Strong capability in multidisciplinary coordination, engineering governance and configuration control

• Knowledge of UK regulatory expectations, including ALARP / BAT, and experience engaging with assurance bodies

• We’ll ask about your experience leading teams and supplier‑delivered work packages

Location

This role offers flexible and hybrid working. Regular attendance at a UK office will be expected, aligned to programme delivery, stakeholder collaboration and governance activity.

What’s in it for me?

• We anticipate paying £63,700 to £75,000 depending on skills and experience

• 28 days’ leave, a 12% employer pension contribution, BUPA cover and more. You'll join an innovative organisation offering development, progression and a culture of openness and inclusion.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 

Selection process & screening

The selection process will include an introductory conversation with Talent Acquisition, followed by two interview stages.
Due to the nuclear environment, offers are subject to BPSS clearance, a DBS check and basic financial probity screening.

Our commitments

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. As a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to inclusive recruitment practices and will make reasonable adjustments where required.

Confidence can sometimes hold people back. There’s no such thing as a “perfect” candidate — if you feel you meet around 75% of the requirements, we would love to hear from you. We also welcome applications from those 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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