Senior Engineer – Core Design and Performance

Senior Engineer – Core Design and Performance

Role: Senior Engineer – Core Design and Performance

Locations: UK based hybrid, Derby, Warrington or Manchester

Pay: £48,000 - £62,500

As a Senior Engineer – Core Design and Performance at Rolls Royce SMR you’ll play a key role in shaping the future of nuclear energy. You will develop and refine neutronic and thermal-hydraulic models, lead methodologies for core analysis, and deliver technical assessments that underpin safety, security, and economic performance. This is an opportunity to work on cutting‑edge reactor technology, collaborating with experts to ensure our SMR reactor core meets stringent design and safety standards.

• Develop and refine core physics and thermal‑hydraulic models.
• Development, quality assurance and optimisation of core analysis methods.
• Deliver technical analysis across physics, kinetics, and/or thermal hydraulics.
• Produce assessments supporting E3S principles and plant economic performance.
• Establish verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification requirements.
• Provide technical supervision and informal coaching to junior analysts.

We’re looking for candidates who meet most of the following requirements:

• Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or a closely related discipline.
• Experience in reactor physics and/or thermal hydraulics analysis.
• Proficiency in Python for pre/post‑processing analysis scripts.

• Strong knowledge of reactor plant design and plant operations.
• Experience with physics and/or thermal hydraulics tools such as CASMO SIMULATE, S5, VIPRE, CTF and S5K.
• Familiarity with nuclear safety case development and regulatory practices.
• Understanding of software development processes and quality assurance.

• Proven ability to deliver complex technical tasks within agreed timescales.
• Strong planning, organisation, and risk management skills.
• Excellent technical writing and communication skills.
• Collaborative approach with experience mentoring junior team members.

We anticipate paying a salary of between £48,000 - £62,500 DOE plus:

• Bonus – Performance related target opportunity 12.5%
• Benefits Allowance – £2,200 per annum, 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.
• Private Medical Insurance – BUPA single cover health care
• Life Assurance – 6x pensionable pay
• £250 – One‑off payment for new starters for home office purchases

You’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.

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