Lead Engineer - Verification & Validation Capability

Rolls-Royce SMR

East Midlands

Hybrid

GBP 60,000 - 75,000

Full time

9 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Bonus 12.5% (performance related)

Pension 12% employer, 6% employee

Private Medical Insurance - BUPA

Holidays 28 days + holidays

Home Office Support £250

Job summary

Rolls-Royce SMR is seeking a Lead Engineer to shape Verification & Validation across the programme. You will develop and continuously improve V&V processes, methods, tools and standards to enable effective design verification and product validation.

The role focuses on the how, ensuring technical excellence, digital integration and efficiency across the business. This is an opportunity to influence verification and validation delivery for a UK pioneering engineering programme, with hybrid work

Qualifications

Degree in Engineering or a technical discipline.
Chartered Engineer or working towards registration.
Experience applying V&V across engineering lifecycles.
Experience in regulated sectors (Nuclear, Defence, Aerospace, Energy).
Strong leadership and capability development proven track record.

Responsibilities

Lead development and implementation of integrated V&V processes, methods, tools and guidance.
Create and maintain digital solutions supporting verification, validation and compliance.
Translate user stories into practical workflows and capability improvements.
Drive continuous improvement and share lessons learned across V&V.
Lead adoption of emerging technologies (automation, AI) where appropriate.
Collaborate with SMEs to ensure technical excellence and consistency.
Develop training, coaching and guidance for engineers.

Skills

V&V expertise

Digital engineering

Leadership

Systems engineering

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Engineering degree

Chartered engineer

Tools

IBM DOORS

Siemens Polarion

Azure DevOps

MBSE

Power BI / Power Query

Job description

Role Title: Lead Engineer - Verification & Validation Capability

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.

About the Team:

The Verification & Validation (V&V) Capability team is fundamental to the successful delivery of the Rolls-Royce SMR programme.

The team provides the framework that connects requirements, verification and validation activities, exit criteria and compliance evidence across the entire project lifecycle. Working across engineering disciplines, the team develops and continuously improves the capability, methods, processes and digital tools that enable independent, evidence-led compliance assessments needed to demonstrate that the Rolls-Royce SMR power station meets its requirements, fulfils stakeholder needs and performs as intended.

The team develops integrated V&V processes, standards, templates and guidance, enhances digital toolsets and automation, builds engineering competence through coaching and subject matter networks, and ensures V&V is effectively integrated with Systems Engineering, Requirements Management, Configuration Management, E3S, Test and Commissioning.

Our mission is simple: to prove that the power station design and implemented solution meets its requirements and satisfies intent in the most efficient and effective way, from first-of-a-kind through to fleet deployment.

About the Role:

As a Lead Engineer - Verification & Validation Capability, you will play a pivotal role in shaping how Verification & Validation is performed across the programme.

You will lead the development and continuous improvement of V&V processes, methods, tools and standards that enable effective design verification and product validation. While V&V Delivery Engineers focus on the "what, when and why", this role focuses on the "how" — ensuring technical excellence, digital integration, consistency and efficiency across the business.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with a passion for engineering capability development, digital transformation, systems engineering and continuous improvement to influence how verification and validation is delivered across one of the UK's most exciting engineering programmes.

We’ll Need You To:

Lead the development and implementation of integrated V&V processes, methods, tools, standards and guidance
Create and maintain efficient digital solutions that support verification, validation and compliance activities
Translate user stories and engineering needs into practical workflows and capability improvements
Drive continuous improvement activities and implement lessons learned across the V&V function
Lead the application of emerging technologies, including automation and AI-enabled solutions where appropriate
Work with SMEs and capability engineers to ensure technical excellence and consistency
Improve V&V awareness and capability across the wider engineering organisation
Develop and deliver training, coaching and guidance to engineers and stakeholders
Ensure V&V processes integrate effectively with Systems Engineering, Requirements Management, Configuration Management, E3S, Test and Commissioning
Support strategic resource planning and long-term capability development
Contribute to departmental strategies including V&V strategies and management plans
Support technical quality, competency and safety requirements across the Development Engineering supply chain

Key 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:

Verification & Validation Expertise

Proven experience developing and applying V&V principles across the engineering lifecycle
Experience managing V&V data and maintaining traceability between requirements, activities and evidence
Experience conducting or supporting verification and validation activities such as testing, assessment, analysis or auditing
Experience within highly regulated sectors such as Nuclear, Defence, Aerospace, Energy, Process Industries or Oil & Gas

Capability Development

Experience developing and continuously improving engineering methods, processes and toolsets
Experience operating within digital engineering environments and transforming engineering workflows
Experience creating and delivering functional strategies, plans or improvement roadmaps
Proactive approach to continuous improvement and challenging the status quo

Experience in one or more of the following would be advantageous:

IBM DOORS, Siemens Polarion or similar ALM tools
DXL, Python, SQL or similar scripting/coding languages
Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE)
Capella or similar systems engineering tools
Azure DevOps
Configuration and Change Management
Agile delivery methodologies
Power BI, Power Query, Power Pivot, DAX and low-code automation tools

Communication & Influence

Strong interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills
Ability to bring multidisciplinary teams together to solve complex problems
Ability to explain complex topics clearly and concisely
Comfortable influencing engineering teams and driving adoption of new approaches
Ability to manage uncertainty and change in a constructive and pragmatic manner

Systems Engineering

Strong systems-thinking mindset
Practical experience applying Systems Engineering principles, methods and tools
Understanding of requirements management, traceability and lifecycle management
Familiarity with the INCOSE framework would be beneficial

Mentoring & Leadership

Experience developing engineering capability and supporting team growth
Experience coaching and mentoring engineers
Ability to review technical outputs and provide constructive feedback
Strong focus on quality and continuous improvement

Qualifications:

Degree qualified in Engineering or a relevant scientific or technical discipline
Chartered Engineer, or working towards professional registration
Equivalent experience will also be considered

The following would be advantageous:

Knowledge of ISO 15288 Systems and Software Engineering lifecycle processes
Familiarity with the INCOSE framework
Understanding of IAEA SSG-69 Equipment Qualification guidance
Knowledge of EPRI Nuclear Power Plant Equipment Qualification methodologies
Understanding of E3S requirements and the application of ALARP and BAT principles

Location:

Hybrid working with one of the following locations as your primary site: Derby, Manchester or Warrington

Salary and Package:

The salary band for this will be between £60,000-£75,000 dependent on the skills, values, and knowledge you bring. There may be some flexibility with the starting salary in exceptional cases, and, in due course, there is the potential for you to develop the role further.

Benefits include:

Bonus - Performance-related target opportunity 12.5%
Benefits Allowance - £2,200 per annum for a bespoke package
Pension - 12% employer and 6% employee contributions
Holidays - 28 days (+ public holidays) with ability to buy or sell up to 4 days
Private Medical Insurance - BUPA single cover
Life Assurance - 6x pensionable pay
Home Office Support - £250 one-off payment for new starters

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, and a culture that values diversity, innovation and continuous learning.

Selection Process:

The closing date for this role is 15th November 2026, with interviews being able to take place immediately.

Pay Range:

£60,000.00

£78,750.00

Why Join Us?

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.

Due to the safety regulations within the nuclear industry, applicants will be required to participate in additional screening. These are: