Mechanical Engineer (Nuclear Ventilation)

AECOM; West of England; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Extra annual leave

Public holidays – flexible schedule

Learning & development support

Job summary

AECOM in Adelaide is seeking a Ventilation Engineer with nuclear experience to lead the design and engineering of safety‑significant ventilation and containment systems. You will work with multidisciplinary teams to integrate ventilation into complex facilities and support safety cases throughout the project lifecycle.

The role offers relocation for qualified candidates and a path to professional registration within a dynamic, regulated environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent with experience delivering ventilation systems.
• Experience in nuclear, defence, pharma or other highly regulated environments and understanding of safety culture.
• Strong understanding of HVAC, airflow, containment and contamination control.
• Experience with HEPA filtration, radiological environments, cleanrooms or similar.
• Knowledge of safety-significant systems, hazard analysis, ALARP, and V&V is desirable.
• Chartered Engineer status or commitment to registration is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and engineering of nuclear- and safety-significant ventilation systems.
• Develop technical specs, calculations, equipment schedules through concept, preliminary and detailed design phases.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate ventilation into facility design.
• Conduct airflow modelling, contamination control assessments and risk analyses.
• Support safety cases, verification, and validation activities.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship while managing scope and deliverables.
• Assist with commissioning, testing, and regulator engagement.

Skills

Ventilation engineering

Nuclear safety

Technical leadership

Communication & stakeholders

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree

Job description

Company Description

Our global portfolio of work comprises the design of iconic and award-winning buildings and landscapes. From strategic planning through to project realisation, the connections we make among people and place provide sustainable outcomes for our clients and the communities we serve. We place a premium on investing in digital capabilities and innovations which bring a unique consistency and efficiency to our scalable work. Together with our clients, we are working to evolve and elevate the built environment across sectors including social infrastructure, transit, technology and logistics, and commercial and corporate real estate, while focusing on solutions that promote long term health and wellbeing for all.

Everyone belongs at AECOM

We’re committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging - because great ideas come from diverse perspectives. AECOM is proud to be a Fortune 500 Most Admired Company , a WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality , Work180 Equitable Workplace Awards 2025 Winner and an AWEI Bronze Tier LGBTQ+ Inclusive Employer .

Job Description

We’re looking for a Ventilation Engineer with Nuclear experience to join our Adelaide Building Engineering team. You will be working on complex and safety-significant projects in a highly regulated environment. You’ll be responsible for the design and engineering of specialist ventilation and containment systems, working closely with multidisciplinary teams and providing technical leadership across the project lifecycle.

This role is based in Adelaide. Relocation packages are available for suitably qualified candidates.

How you’ll make a difference

• Lead the design and engineering of nuclear and safety-significant ventilation systems, including HVAC, air handling units, filtration, ductwork and associated mechanical plant.
• Develop and review technical specifications, calculations, equipment schedules and design documentation through concept, preliminary and detailed design phases.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams across building, architectural, structural, electrical, controls, process and operations to integrate ventilation systems into the wider facility design.
• Undertake engineering studies, airflow modelling, contamination control assessments, hazard and risk assessments to support design development and technical decision-making.
• Support safety cases, engineering justifications, requirements management and verification and validation activities for safety-significant ventilation and containment systems.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers and designers, while managing scope, programme, resources and technical deliverables.
• Support commissioning, testing, balancing, containment verification and performance acceptance activities, as well as engagement with clients, stakeholders, suppliers and regulators.

Qualifications

The following qualifications and experience are highly desired, but if you don’t tick all the boxes, you could still be a perfect fit for this role.

The qualities that help you thrive

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent qualifications and experience, with proven experience delivering ventilation, HVAC or mechanical systems on major infrastructure, industrial, defence, energy, transport or other highly regulated projects.
• Experience within nuclear, defence, pharmaceutical, life sciences, laboratory, semiconductor or other highly regulated environments, with an understanding of safety culture and working within stringent regulatory requirements.
• Strong understanding of HVAC and ventilation engineering, including airflow management, pressure regimes, containment, confinement and contamination control.
• Experience with specialist ventilation systems such as HEPA filtration, radiological or hazardous environments, fume/process exhaust, cleanrooms, laboratories, controlled environments, smoke management or emergency ventilation.
• Knowledge of safety-significant and safety-classified systems, hazard analysis, risk assessment, ALARP principles, and reliability, availability, maintainability and inspection requirements.
• Experience with ventilation controls and BMS integration, requirements and configuration management, systems engineering, V&V, equipment procurement, vendor management and factory acceptance testing would be advantageous.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to provide technical leadership, work autonomously when required and collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
• Chartered Engineer / CPEng status, or a commitment to achieving professional registration, is desirable. A willingness to learn and work in a dynamic, deadline-driven environment is essential.

The ability to meet AUKUS Clearance requirements is essential.

Why you’ll love working with us

• Flexible work arrangements, including alternative start/finish times, full-time, part-time, job-sharing and hybrid work options
• Purchase up to 6 weeks additional annual leave per year
• Flex public holidays – swap Easter or other holidays for ones that suit you better
• Continuous learning and growth - lunch and learns, professional development courses, financial study assistance, 5 days paid study leave, global career opportunities

Ready to push the limits of what’s possible?

We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, additional health or mental health needs, and/or neurodiverse conditions. If you require any adjustments during the hiring process, please let us know.

To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

AECOM acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we, our clients and our communities live and work around Australia. We pay our respects to their cultures and to their Elders — past, present, and emerging. We are committed to connecting to Country in our work through meaningful engagement with First Nations peoples and businesses. Find out more about our Australian Reconciliation Action Plan here: https://aecom.com/au/our-vision-for-reconciliation/.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you’re working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion – a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation and benefits programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We also provide a robust global well-being program. We’re the world’s trusted global infrastructure firm, and we’re in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

Join us, and you’ll get all the benefits of being a part of a global, publicly traded firm – access to industry-leading technology and thinking and transformational work with big impact and work flexibility. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.