Head of Profession Engineering & Technology

Nuclear Restoration Services; Thurso; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Nuclear Restoration Services is seeking a Head of Profession Engineering & Technology at Dounreay in Scotland. You will provide strategic leadership, technical authority and professional excellence across the organisation, guiding engineering standards, performance and compliance on a high-profile decommissioning programme.

As the senior SME for Engineering & Technology, you will collaborate with executive leaders, regulators and stakeholders to drive continuous improvement, champion

Qualifications

• Degree qualified in an engineering or technical discipline, with Chartered Engineer status or clear pathway to attainment.
• Extensive engineering experience in complex, safety-focused or highly regulated environments.
• Proven leadership and line management with a track record of developing high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction for Engineering & Technology across the organisation.
• Develop and maintain engineering standards, governance arrangements and frameworks to support objectives.
• Lead talent development, succession planning, mentoring and capability building within the Engineering & Technology community.
• Build relationships with regulators, stakeholders and industry partners while championing innovation and continuous improvement.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Technical authority

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Education

Degree in engineering or technical discipline

Chartered Engineer status

Job description

Are you an experienced engineering leader looking for an opportunity to shape the future of one of the UK's most significant decommissioning programmes? Dounreay is seeking a Head of Profession Engineering & Technology to provide strategic leadership, technical authority and professional excellence across the organisation. This is a pivotal role where your expertise will directly influence engineering standards, operational performance, regulatory compliance and the successful delivery of complex decommissioning activities.

As the senior subject matter expert for Engineering & Technology, you will work closely with executive leaders, regulators, stakeholders and the wider engineering community to drive continuous improvement, champion innovation and develop the next generation of engineering professionals. This is a unique opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by helping deliver Dounreay's mission safely, sustainably and effectively.

Key Responsibilities

In this influential leadership role, you will set the strategic direction for Engineering & Technology across Dounreay, providing expert guidance to executive leadership and ensuring engineering excellence remains at the heart of decision-making. You will lead the development and implementation of robust standards, frameworks and governance processes, ensuring compliance with legislative, regulatory and industry best practice requirements. Working across programmes and projects, you will drive performance improvement, champion innovation and benchmarking activities, and represent Dounreay at site, national and international forums.

• Provide strategic leadership and authoritative advice on Engineering & Technology matters across the organisation.
• Develop, implement and maintain engineering standards, frameworks and governance arrangements to support operational and decommissioning objectives.
• Lead and inspire the Engineering & Technology community through talent development, succession planning, mentoring and capability building.
• Build strong relationships with regulators, stakeholders and industry partners while championing innovation, sustainability and continuous improvement.

What We're Looking For

We are seeking a highly credible engineering professional with extensive technical and leadership experience, capable of influencing at all levels within a complex and highly regulated environment. You will combine strategic thinking with excellent communication skills, enabling you to build confidence with senior leaders, regulators and technical specialists alike. A passion for developing people, driving organisational improvement and delivering positive change is essential.

• Degree qualified in a relevant engineering or technical discipline, or equivalent experience, with Chartered Engineer status or a clear pathway towards attainment.
• Extensive engineering experience gained within complex, safety-focused or highly regulated environments.
• Proven leadership and line management experience, with a strong track record of developing high-performing teams and future talent.
• Demonstrable success in leading change, influencing stakeholders and delivering continuous improvement initiatives at a strategic level.
• Post specific physical capability analysis assessment

If you are ready to play a leading role in shaping engineering excellence at Dounreay while contributing to a nationally important mission, we'd love to hear from you.

We are looking to hold interviews week commencing Monday 09 November 2026, however, please note that this vacancy may close earlier than the stated deadline should we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

If you require assistance at any point during the recruitment process contact [e-mail] at the appropriate time so we can make any necessary, reasonable adjustment.

Please note:

All successful candidates who do not already hold security clearance will need to provide proof of identity, eligibility to work in the UK, and employment/education history (typically covering the last 3–5 years) in line with NRS Baseline Security requirements. Some roles may also require full Security Clearance, which involves additional checks. For details, please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) guidance.