Lead Engineer - Low Voltage Switchgear

Rolls-Royce SMR; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 79,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus – Performance-related target up 

Benefits Allowance – £2,200 per annum

Pension – 12%

Holidays – 28 days (+ public holidays)

Private Medical Insurance – BUPA

Life Assurance – 6× pensionable pay

Home Office Support – £250

Job summary

Rolls-Royce SMR is seeking a Lead Engineer for Low Voltage Switchgear to drive the technical specification, development, integration and delivery of 400V AC and 220V DC indoor switchgear across the full project lifecycle.

You will lead component packages, engage suppliers, and provide technical guidance within the Electrical Components Team, ensuring safety, reliability and maintainability of switchgear systems for the SMR plant.

Qualifications

• Experience in electrical power engineering within design, engineering or equipment delivery environments.
• Experience specification, design, procurement, integration or qualification of LV switchgear and MCC systems.
• Knowledge of LV switchboards, MCCs, busbar systems and protection/control equipment.
• Familiarity with IEC/ BS standards and safety/operability considerations.

Responsibilities

• Develop component requirements for LV switchgear systems from system-level requirements.
• Create and maintain technical specifications for 400V AC and 220V DC switchgear equipment.
• Coordinate interfaces across electrical systems, disciplines and stakeholders.
• Review supplier proposals, calculations and drawings; support FAT and certification.
• Provide technical oversight to suppliers and engineering partners throughout the lifecycle.

Skills

Electrical power engineering

LV switchgear

MCC systems

Protection and control

Design reviews

Supplier engagement

Technical leadership

Mentoring engineers

Education

Electrical Engineering degree

Tools

Electrical design software

Job description

Role Title: Lead Engineer - Low Voltage SwitchgearWe 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.The Electrical Systems team is responsible for delivering safe, resilient and technically robust electrical infrastructure across the SMR power station. Low Voltage (LV) switchgear systems are fundamental to the reliable distribution of power throughout the plant, supporting both safety‑classified and non‑classified systems while ensuring operational resilience and maintainability.About the Role:As a Lead Engineer - Low Voltage Switchgear, you will be responsible for the technical specification, development, integration and delivery of 400V AC and 220V DC indoor switchgear equipment across the full project lifecycle.You will develop component requirements and procurement specifications following Systems Requirements Handover, ensuring that system requirements are translated into robust, maintainable and compliant switchgear solutions.Working within the Electrical Components Team, you will manage assigned component packages through the component governance process, supporting Gate Reviews, Design Reviews, procurement, supplier engagement, manufacture, testing, installation and final acceptance. Acting as an Intelligent Customer, you will provide technical oversight to suppliers and engineering partners to ensure all delivered solutions meet project requirements and lifecycle expectations.We’ll Need You To:Develop component requirements for LV switchgear systems from system‑level requirementsCreate and maintain technical specifications for 400V AC and 220V DC switchgear equipmentSupport development of Group Component Specifications (GCS) and Product Type (PT) specificationsReview engineering calculations, drawings and technical documentationAssess designs against safety, reliability, maintainability and operability requirementsCoordinate technical interfaces with other electrical systems, disciplines and stakeholdersAct as technical focal point for:Main switchboardsEssential services switchgearNon‑essential services switchgearDistribution boardsMotor Control Centres (MCCs)Bus couplers and synchronisation panelsSwitchgear auxiliary systemsProtection and control interfacesPrepare technical deliverables for Design Reviews and Gate ReviewsSupport technical assurance and independent review activitiesDevelop technical procurement specifications and scopes of supplyParticipate in supplier engagement and technical evaluation activitiesReview supplier proposals, compliance documentation, calculations and drawingsSupport Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and review certification documentationIdentify technical risks, assumptions and dependencies and implement mitigation plansCoordinate interfaces across systems, protection and control, civil, mechanical, procurement, safety and operations teamsKey Skills Required:We know there’s no such thing as the ‘perfect’ candidate. If you meet around 75% of the criteria below, we’d love to hear from you:Experience in electrical power engineering within design, engineering or equipment delivery environmentsProven experience in the specification, design, procurement, integration or qualification of low voltage switchgear and MCC systemsUnderstanding of the full equipment lifecycle, from concept development through manufacture, testing, installation and commissioningDemonstrable knowledge of:LV switchboardsMCCsBusbar systemsProtection and control equipmentDistribution boardsUPS interfacesBattery charger interfacesAuxiliary systemsExperience developing technical specifications and reviewing supplier designsKnowledge of:Protection studiesDiscrimination studiesFault level assessmentsLoad schedulesPower quality considerationsArc flash assessmentsMaintainability and resilience requirementsExperience using electrical design and analysis software to support technical substantiationFamiliarity with standards such as:IEC 61439IEC 60947IEC 60529IEC 62208BS 7671Experience coordinating technical interfaces across multidisciplinary teamsStrong stakeholder engagement and technical leadership capabilityExperience providing technical guidance and mentoring less experienced engineersWe welcome candidates from Nuclear, Defence, Aerospace, Utilities, Rail, Oil & Gas, Petrochemical and other highly regulated industries.Qualifications:Degree‑qualified in Electrical Engineering or a related disciplineEquivalent experience will also be consideredLocation:Hybrid working with one of the following as your primary site:Derby, Manchester or Warrington.Salary and Package:The salary band for this role will be between £60,000 – £78,750 dependent on the skills, values and knowledge you bring. There may be flexibility in exceptional cases.Benefits include:Bonus – Performance‑related target opportunity up to 12.5%Benefits Allowance – £2,200 per annum for a bespoke packagePension – 12% employer and 6% employee contributionsHolidays – 28 days (+ public holidays) with the ability to buy or sell up to 5 daysPrivate Medical Insurance – BUPA single coverLife Assurance – 6× pensionable payHome Office Support – £250 one‑off payment for new startersSelection Process:The closing date for this role is 5th October 2026. The process will begin with an introductory call with the Talent Acquisition Partner, with interviews being able to take place straight awayPay Range:£60,000.00-£78,750.00Why Join Us?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.Our Application ProcessDue 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-CE1 #LI-Hybrid #WeAreSMR #destinationnuclear