Senior Manager - Reactor Waste Systems Design

Senior Manager – Residual Heat Removal Systems

Location: Flexible (with UK travel as required)

We are Rolls-Royce SMR and we’re doing something that’s never been done before. We’re revolutionising an industry. That’s a once-in-a-career opportunity for those excited by such a challenge. This is more than just a job; this is a legacy.

We are now recruiting for the exciting role of Senior Manager – Residual Heat Removal Systems, to be involved in delivering an industry-leading, cutting-edge design project for a new type of power station.

About the Role:

This senior engineering leadership role is central to the design and development of critical safety systems within our Small Modular Reactor (SMR) programme, specifically:

Component Cooling and Essential Service Water Systems
Fuel Pool Cooling and Inventory Management Systems
Planned Shutdown Heat Removal Functions
You’ll lead a multidisciplinary team of around 20 engineers and manage a significant portion of the design budget (up to £2M annually), ensuring that technical solutions are safe, robust, and aligned with regulatory and programme requirements. You’ll also steer supplier contracts and lead key technical and programme governance processes.

Why This Role?

Leadership: You’ll be the senior technical authority for a vital part of our SMR technology, with delegated approval rights from the Chief Design Engineer.
Innovation: Shape the development of a pioneering nuclear system, influencing the direction of the UK’s clean energy future.
Impact: Your work will directly support the success of the UK's first fleet of SMRs—contributing to national energy security and net-zero targets.
What You’ll Achieve:

Lead the definition and delivery of complete engineering solutions for residual heat removal systems.
Drive system-level integration and safety justification activities.
Manage high-value, high-complexity design contracts across the supply chain.
Develop a high-performing engineering team and long-term capability strategy.
Engage with internal and external stakeholders, including the UK nuclear regulator.
We’re Looking For…

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.

We welcome applications from those looking to make a career shift or bring transferable skills from across the nuclear, oil and gas, petrochemical, defence, aerospace, or similarly complex industries.

Essential Criteria:

Chartered Engineer (or equivalent) with a relevant engineering degree.
Strong background in nuclear process and safety system design.
Experience delivering complex engineering programmes, ideally within a regulated industry.
Proven leadership and coaching ability in large, multidisciplinary teams.
Deep understanding of UK nuclear regulatory expectations, ALARP and BAT principles.
Strong track record in technical governance, including review and sign-off of complex design solutions.
Pay and Benefits:

On offer is a competitive salary, with a performance-related bonus, an attractive pension scheme (12% employer, 6% employee), and private medical insurance. You'll also receive a flexible benefits allowance enabling you to create a bespoke package to suit your lifestyle.

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.

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.

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
Your candidate experience is of the utmost importance to us. If you are not yet ready to apply but would like to discuss any of the above or require any reasonable adjustments (e.g. being able to apply in a different format), please contact (email address removed) arrange a confidential conversation with a recruitment partner