Lifecycle Engineer – SSNA – Submarines

Derby
4 days ago
Create job alert

Job DescriptionLifecycle Engineer - SSNA (Nuclear Watchkeeper) - SubmarinesFull TimeDerbyA vacancy has arisen for a Lifecycle Engineer to join the SSNA Chief Engineering team based in Derby.The SSNA Chief Engineering team in a key role responsible for improving submarine availability, by influencing design to consider maintainability, supportability, operability, and reliability principles. Improvement in the availability of the submarine flotilla is one of our customer's key priorities and in this position you will be responsible for ensuring we meet their expectations.You'll be working with key stakeholders across the Rolls-Royce Submarines business and wider enterprise, including the MoD, BAE Systems and Babcock, to ensure all through-life aspects of the Naval Reactor Plant are optimised to achieve this outcome. You'll be the driving force behind these activities, and to succeed, you'll be an experienced and pragmatic engineer, with excellent communication skills, as collaboration is essential as part of this role. You will provide technical leadership and support to the programme teams to enable delivery of these activities through alignment of key business areas and supporting functions. We're expecting that you'll be up for the challenge that a complex technical programme with tight timescales brings.Why join Rolls-Royce? At Rolls-Royce we are proud to be a business that has truly helped to shape the modern world and are committed to always being a force for progress; powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere.By joining Rolls-Royce, you'll have the opportunity to work on world-class solutions, supported by a culture that believes individuality is our greatest strength, and all perspectives, experiences and backgrounds help us innovate and enable our high-performance culture.What you will be doing: In this role you'll form a key part of the SSNA Chief Engineering team and be responsible for identifying and enabling delivery of work packages across the business. You'll be an experienced and pragmatic engineer that's able to identify and deliver solutions to complex problems, often requiring innovative approaches affecting multiple stakeholder groups.Developing the strategy and providing technical leadership for the Integrated Product Support programme of work for the SSNA Naval Reactor PlantWorking closely with key stakeholders (internal and external) in a collaborative manner, to ensure effective solutions are identified and the 'best-for-enterprise' solution adoptedRepresenting Rolls-Royce at external meetings with the SSNA Support Integrator organisation (comprising MoD, BAE Systems and Babcock).Ensuring LfE from in-service programmes is considered and implemented on the SSNA programme where appropriate.Identifying opportunities to reduce the maintenance burden associated with the Naval Reactor Plant and enabling delivery of associated work packages.Ensuring environmental, sustainability and disposal aspects are appropriately considered for the Naval Reactor Plant.Providing technical leadership and supporting the project teams to ensure successful and timely delivery of work packages and ensuring the required level of quality is achieved.Position Qualifications:To be successful in the role you will have:Detailed knowledge of the Naval Reactor Plant is highly desirable.The ability to initiate strategies for solving complex problems and the making of accurate decisions and recommendations.Self-starter who can take the initiative and make risk-based, informed judgements, whilst recognising when to escalate or consult specialists and subject matter experts.Ability to work effectively across a range of tasks and collaboratively with stakeholders from multiple disciplines, both internally and externally.Strong planning and organising skills to manage short, medium and long-term activities and deliverables.Engineering degree or equivalent.For more than 60 years Rolls-Royce Submarines has designed, supplied and supported the nuclear propulsion plant, providing power for all UK Royal Navy nuclear submarines. To work for Rolls-Royce Submarines an individual must hold a Security Check clearance. We will support the application for Security Clearance if you don't already have it. Due to the nature of work we conduct, we can only progress applications from individuals who are a UK national or, in MoD approved cases, a dual national.Our vision is to ensure that the excellence and ingenuity that shaped our history continues into our future. Our multi-year transformation programme aims to turn Rolls-Royce into a high-performing, competitive, resilient and growing company. Join us, and it can be your future vision too.Rolls-Royce are committed to being a respectful, inclusive, and non-discriminatory workplace where individuality is valued, diverse perspectives fuel innovation, and everyone can thrive.As part of our selection process, candidates in certain locations may be asked to complete an online assessment, which can include cognitive and behavioural aptitude testing relevant to the role. If required, full instructions for the next steps will be provided.Job CategoryEngineering for ServicesPosting Date02 Jan 2026; 00:01Posting End Date09 Jan 2026PandoLogic. Keywords: Marine Engineer, Location: Derby, ENG - DE23 8NX

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Design/Development Engineer (Pressure Vessels) - Submarines

Systems Engineers x2 (Propulsion)

Graduate Software Engineer — Real-Time Telemetry

Graduate Aerospace Systems Integration Engineer — Hybrid

Graduate Software Engineer – Real‑Time Telemetry Platform

Graduate Aerospace Systems Integration Engineer — Hybrid

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Neurodiversity in UK Space Careers: Turning Different Thinking into a Superpower

The UK space sector has quietly become one of the most exciting places to build a career. From small satellites & launch services to Earth observation, navigation, in-orbit servicing & space data startups, the industry needs people who can solve hard problems in smart ways. Those people are not all “typical” engineers or scientists – and that’s a strength, not a weakness. If you live with ADHD, autism or dyslexia, you may have been told your brain is “too distracted”, “too literal” or “too disorganised” for precision work in the space sector. In reality, many of the traits that made school or previous jobs difficult can be major assets in space engineering, mission operations & space data roles. This guide is written for neurodivergent job seekers exploring UK space careers. We’ll look at: What neurodiversity means in a space industry context How ADHD, autism & dyslexia strengths map to common space roles Practical workplace adjustments you can request under UK law How to talk about neurodivergence in applications & interviews By the end, you’ll have a clearer sense of where you might thrive in the UK space sector – & how to turn “different thinking” into a genuine superpower.

Space Sector Hiring Trends 2026: What to Watch Out For (For Job Seekers & Recruiters)

The UK space sector is no longer a niche curiosity. It is now a strategic industry worth billions, employing tens of thousands of people across nearly 2,000 organisations – and it has been growing faster than the wider UK economy for years. At the same time, employers report serious skills shortages, especially in software, data and systems engineering, with recruitment and retention now cited as key barriers to growth. For job seekers, this is encouraging – but it does not mean every space application is an easy win. For recruiters, competing for talent with tech, defence, energy and finance is only getting harder. This article, written for www.ukspacejobs.co.uk , explores the space sector hiring trends to watch in 2026, aimed at both: Job seekers searching for terms like “space jobs in the UK”, “satellite jobs UK”, or “space engineer roles”; and Recruiters and hiring managers interested in “space sector hiring trends” and “space recruitment UK”.

Space Industry Recruitment Trends 2025 (UK): What Job Seekers Need To Know About Today’s Hiring Process

Summary: UK space‑sector hiring has shifted from pedigree‑first screening to capability‑driven evaluation across the full stack—spacecraft systems, payload/RF, flight software, GNC/ADCS, propulsion, structures/thermal, AIT (assembly–integration–test), mission/ground operations, reliability/radiation, and compliance (ECSS, export control). Employers want proof you can build, test, operate and scale space systems safely and economically. This guide explains what’s changed, what to expect in interviews & how to prepare—especially for satellite/spacecraft engineers, payload & RF/MM‑wave, flight & ground software, GNC/ADCS, power/thermal, AIT/test, mission ops, data/EO, and space product/TPM roles. Who this is for: Systems engineers, payload/RF engineers, flight software & FDIR, GNC/ADCS, power/thermal/structures, propulsion, AIT/test, reliability/radiation, QA/compliance, ground segment/cloud, mission operations, EO/data processing, and product/programme managers targeting roles in the UK space ecosystem.