Senior Engineer – Fuel Assemblies & Control Rods

Location: Hybrid with attendance at any Rolls-Royce SMR location, including Warrington, Derby or Manchester as required 

Our Mission 

At Rolls-Royce SMR, we're delivering a new generation of nuclear power that will provide affordable, low-carbon electricity for decades to come. By combining proven nuclear technology with innovative design and manufacturing approaches, we're helping to address global energy challenges while creating a cleaner future. 
 
This is an opportunity to join a business at a pivotal stage of growth and play a key role in delivering one of the UK's most ambitious engineering programmes. 

The Team 

You'll join our Core Components team within Engineering, where specialists work across the design, development and delivery of critical reactor core equipment. Working as part of a multidisciplinary environment, you'll collaborate with experts across component design, systems engineering, analysis, manufacturing, supply chain and programme delivery. 
 
The team is responsible for ensuring Fuel Assembly and Control Rod solutions achieve the required level of technical maturity whilst supporting key programme milestones and future deployment activities. 

The Role 

As Senior Engineer - Fuel Assembly & Control Rod, you'll provide technical leadership across the development of integrated core component solutions throughout the product lifecycle. You'll work at the centre of complex engineering challenges, driving design maturity, supporting programme delivery and ensuring robust engineering governance is applied throughout. 
 
This role offers the opportunity to influence product strategy, engage with suppliers and stakeholders on a global scale, and contribute directly to the successful delivery of the Rolls-Royce SMR programme. 

What We'll Need You to Do 

• Lead the development and delivery of Fuel Assembly and Control Rod technical solutions, ensuring designs achieve the required level of maturity throughout the product lifecycle. 

• Apply specialist engineering knowledge to solve complex technical challenges and support critical design decisions. 

• Coordinate activities across multidisciplinary teams, suppliers and stakeholders to deliver programme milestones safely, efficiently and to the required quality standards. 

• Manage technical risks, assumptions and dependencies, ensuring appropriate mitigation plans are developed and implemented. 

• Maintain compliance with engineering governance, regulatory requirements and internal quality processes. 

• Provide technical leadership, guidance and knowledge sharing to support capability growth within the wider team. 

• Represent the component scope in cross-functional reviews, customer engagements and supplier discussions as required. 

What You'll Bring 

• Degree-qualified in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline, or equivalent relevant technical experience. 

• Strong experience in the design, analysis, manufacture or support of nuclear core components, ideally including Fuel Assemblies and Control Rod Assemblies. 

• A sound understanding of the product lifecycle, covering concept development, detailed design, verification, manufacture and in-service support. 

• Experience delivering complex engineering work within highly regulated environments and integrated programme teams. 

• The ability to build effective relationships across technical and non-technical stakeholders while communicating complex information clearly. 

• A collaborative, adaptable and proactive approach, with the confidence to work independently and influence technical outcomes. 

• Chartered Engineer status, or active progress towards professional registration, would be advantageous.