Ref: 240
Department: Engineering - Reactor Plant Systems
Location: Derby, Manchester, Warrington
Employment type: Full-time, Part-time
Salary: £57,600 - £75,600
Closing date: 14/08/2025
Role Related
Reactor System Design Engineers (Various Positions Available)
UK based - Flexible location and working arrangements (full time or part time options)
As Rolls-Royce SMR progresses through detailed design and licensing, we are looking to grow the Reactor Systems department through the recruitment of System Design Engineers of all levels of experience, including:
- Reactor System Design Engineers
- Senior System Design Engineers
- Principal/Lead Design Engineers
- Technical Team Leader/Managers
The department is responsible for design and development of all mechanical, fluid and safety process systems across the Reactor Island. This includes, but is not limited to, the design of the Reactor Core, Reactor Coolant and Inventory Management Systems, Passive Safety Systems, Waste Management and Fuel Handling Systems.
Successful candidates will have the opportunity to be involved in the development and realisation of system design concepts, including detail process system design, the development of robust design and safety justifications supported by detailed performance evidence and underpinning assessments, development of through-life operating principles and procedures, and solving emergent technical issues.
Senior System Design Engineers will have the opportunity to take on technical leadership of key tasks or small teams and will be expected to utilise their knowledge and experience to provide supervision and coaching of their peers.
Lead/Principal System Design Engineers will have the opportunity to take the lead on large or complex design topics, using their experience to influence and continuously improve the overall capability and ways of working across the department.
Key skills and experience we are looking for:
Nuclear industry domain knowledge including:
- Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) design, plant and behaviour.
- Reactor plant operations, philosophy and procedures.
- Environmental, Safety, Security and Safeguarding (E3S) regulations and principals (including application of As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) and Best Available Technique (BAT) principals).
Systems engineering essentials, including:
- Systems engineering tools and techniques (e.g. functional modelling, Function Means Analysis (FMA), decision analysis), concept generation, assessment and selection.
- Requirements development (including development of structured Requirements, Evidence, Definition and Verification (REDV) data and information) and management.
- Functional interface development and management
Process/Mechanical systems design and operational knowledge in any of: - Reactor Core Design
- Nuclear steam raising and inventory management systems
- Radioactive waste processing and storage systems
- Nuclear Heating, Ventilation and Air Condition Systems
- Fuel Handling Systems
System design development including:
- Development and management of design requirements.
- Process equipment sizing and specification.
- Fluid flow / process calculations.
- Generation of system operating principles.
- Generation of design documentation (P&IDs, design reports, definition documents).
- System design and safety substantiation.
Technical leadership of design engineers (Senior and Principal Roles Only):
- Definition of an engineering project/programme of work.
- Delivery of programme milestones in line with agreed plans and budgets.
- Management of risks.
- Monitoring of progress.
- Technical writing and communication.
- Technical checking and supervision.
Pay And Benefits
Pay and Benefits
- Salary depending on the role starting from £50,000-£75,000
- Flexible location and working arrangements
- A performance related bonus of up to 12.5%,
- An attractive pension scheme with 12% employer and 6% employee contributions.
- You will also receive a flexible benefits allowance of £2,200, enabling you to create a bespoke package to suit your needs.
- 28 days annual leave (plus bank holiday) with ability to buy additional days.
- BUPA personal health cover
- £250 one-off cash allowance on joining to spend on your home-office set-up
Company Related
We are Rolls-Royce SMR
Rolls-Royce SMR is a rare employer because it blends the world-class brand of Rolls Royce with an exciting start-up that has a hugely challenging mission. We’re doing work that contributes to the survival of the planet. Because of our mission, there’s a pace and energy that is palpable, and our leaders draw you in with their passion, energy, and determination.
We’re one of a handful of employers who can genuinely say we’re a strengths-based organisation – our people are here because of what makes them great, and our job is to help them make the best contribution of their careers doing work they love.
The start-up mentality coupled with our strengths-approach to people means there are opportunities to grow in ways and jobs you probably would be barred from doing in more traditional companies.
Each Rolls-Royce SMR power station will have the capacity to generate 470MW of low carbon energy, equivalent to more than 150 onshore wind turbines and enough to power a million homes. It will provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years, helping to support the roll out of renewable generation and overcome intermittency issues
Our Culture
At Rolls-Royce SMR, we are committed to ensuring that our teams reflect the communities we serve and that everyone can be themselves at work. We know that diverse teams are more innovative and get better results, and that our people can thrive and be more successful in truly inclusive cultures. Join us and help shape our culture. Find out more about our inclusion pledge.
Rolls-Royce SMR is a place where everyone can grow, so whatever background you bring with you, please apply if this is a role that would make you excited to come into work every day and help shape our culture.
