Lead Engineer - Normal Operations Source Term

Rolls Royce SMR Ltd.; Warrington; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - GBP 79,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy firm in the UK is seeking a Lead Engineer for Normal Operations Source Term to define and model radiological inventories critical for safety cases. The role requires collaboration across multidisciplinary teams and expertise in nuclear chemistry and source-term modelling. The successful candidate will help lead innovative clean energy efforts and has the opportunity to significantly impact the UK's transition to sustainable energy.

Benefits

Performance related bonus up to 12.5%

Benefits allowance of £2200

28 days holiday plus public holidays

Private Medical Insurance

Life Assurance 6x pensionable pay

Qualifications

• Proven experience in nuclear chemistry.
• Strong understanding of radionuclide behaviour.
• Experience producing high-quality technical justifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Normal Operations Source Term plan.
• Define and justify radiological inventories.
• Provide authoritative inputs to the safety case.

Skills

Nuclear chemistry

Source-term modelling

Radiological analysis

Collaboration in multidisciplinary teams

Technical report writing

Education

Degree in engineering, chemistry, physics or related discipline

Job description

Lead Engineer - Normal Operations Source Term page is loaded## Lead Engineer - Normal Operations Source Termlocations: Warrington, UK: Manchester, UK: Derby, UKtime type: Full timeposted on: Posted Todayjob requisition id: JR100591At Rolls‑Royce SMR, our mission is simple and ambitious: to deliver clean, affordable and secure energy for all. Our Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programme brings a British‑designed solution to a global energy and climate challenge—combining proven PWR technology with modular manufacturing to accelerate deployment at scale. We are in prime position to become a world leader in SMRs, shaping one of the UK’s most important green export technologies of the future.**The Team**You’ll join our Materials & Chemistry team—more than 20 specialists supporting the entire SMR lifecycle, from conceptual design through to operation and decommissioning. The team provides critical expertise across Reactor Plant & Systems, Components & Mechanical Equipment, Manufacturing Engineering, and the wider supply chain. Your work in the chemistry function will directly influence safety case evidence, plant performance and radiological optimisation, ensuring our SMR design is safe, robust and regulator‑ready.**Role Summary**We are looking for a **Lead Engineer – Normal Operations Source Term**, an influential technical leader who will own and shape the source‑term strategy for our Small Modular Reactor.This role is vital: you will define, model and justify the radiological inventories and transport behaviours that underpin our safety case, shielding strategy, dose budgets and ALARP demonstrations. Working at the nexus of chemistry, materials, physics and safety, you’ll support both generic design work and emerging customer‑specific needs—helping us bring a new generation of nuclear technology to life.**Key Responsibilities****You will be doing:*** Lead and deliver the **Normal Operations Source Term** plan, covering radionuclides in coolant, corrosion products, activation products, fuel‑related products and system deposits.* Apply operational experience, modelling and ALARP principles to produce robust technical justifications across primary and secondary systems.* Provide authoritative inputs to the safety case, responding to regulator and customer queries with clarity and evidence.* Collaborate across the business—Reactor Plant & Systems, Components, ME, HF, shielding, supply chain—to support design integration and radiological optimisation.* Coach and mentor engineers, conduct technical reviews, and help build long‑term chemistry capability.* Identify gaps, shape tools/methods, and represent RR‑SMR in customer and external‑body engagements.**The Impact**This is a role where the impact is measurable and far‑reaching. Your work determines dose rates, shielding needs, maintenance strategies, plant operability and regulatory confidence. You will directly influence the safety and efficiency of a clean‑energy technology designed for deployment around the world. It’s an opportunity to leave your mark on the UK’s most exciting nuclear programme—helping define how a new generation of SMRs will operate safely for decades.**Essential Qualifications & Skills**We recognise that great people come from many backgrounds; however, for this role we need you to bring:* A degree (or equivalent) in engineering, chemistry, physics or related discipline.* Proven experience in nuclear chemistry, source‑term modelling, radiological analysis or reactor coolant/water chemistry.* Strong ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary teams and build trusted relationships.* Experience producing high‑quality technical justifications, reports and safety‑case evidence.* Understanding of radionuclide behaviour (fission, actinide, corrosion & activation products) and contamination transport mechanisms.**Location & Working Pattern**This role can be based at our Derby, Warrington or Manchester offices with regular office attendance. Typical office presence is discussed individually during the recruitment process, recognising that flexibility supports everyone’s best performance.**Pay and Benefits**We anticipate paying a salary of between £60,000-£78,750 plus:-* Bonus - Performance related bonus of up to 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 purchasesYou’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#LI-MR1 #hybridworking #engineeringjobs #weareSMR**We are Rolls-Royce SMR**A career with Rolls-Royce SMR offers a unique opportunity to contribute to an exciting organisation delivering a transformational mission. Rolls-Royce SMR is a radically different approach to proven nuclear technology. Each Rolls-Royce SMR power station will generate 470MW of low-carbon energy - equivalent to more than 150 onshore wind turbines and enough to power a million homes for over 60 years. With its Rolls-Royce SMRs will play a vital role in supporting renewable energy by helping to overcome intermittency and ensure a stable, sustainable energy future. We’re proud to be one of the few employers that can genuinely say we’re a strengths-based organisation. Our people are here because of what makes them exceptional - and our role is to help them make the most meaningful contribution of their careers, doing work they love. We offer opportunities that go beyond traditional career paths. At Rolls-Royce SMR you can develop your career by exploring roles and challenges that align with your unique talents.**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.You’ll