Principal Civil Engineer

Assystem; Bolton; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

25 days’ paid annual leave + bank hols

Professional fees reimbursed

Flexible working

Employee referral scheme

Job summary

Assystem in Bolton seeks a Principal/Senior Principal Civil Engineer to fortify its Fusion and Modular Nuclear capability. You will lead civil/structural design for complex nuclear facilities, guiding projects from concept to commissioning while ensuring safety, performance and cost efficiency.

You will shape design strategies, manage multidisciplinary reviews, and mentor engineers to advance Assystem’s nuclear capability in the UK and internationally.

Qualifications

• Experience in nuclear new build, SMR/AMR or other large, highly regulated programmes.
• Proven lead civil and structural activities through full project lifecycle.
• Strong knowledge of Eurocodes, British Standards and international design standards.
• Experience in seismic design, dynamic analysis and structural resilience.
• Understanding of nuclear safety principles and regulatory guides.
• Ability to champion MMC and off-site construction strategies.
• Excellent communication and client-facing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead analysis and design for nuclear safety-related and conventional civil structures.
• Develop engineering solutions for structures under seismic, environmental and accidental loads.
• Oversee, review and approve technical deliverables and drawings.
• Act as Lead Civil Engineer, Technical Authority or SME.
• Ensure compliance with UK and international codes and safety requirements.
• Support development of safety cases and hazard assessments.
• Participate in multidisciplinary design reviews and asset integration.
• Support business development, client engagement and mentoring teams.

Skills

Technical leadership

Nuclear engineering

Seismic design

Project lifecycle

Stakeholder management

Multi-disciplinary

Education

Master’s in Civil/Structural Engineering

Chartered Engineer (ICE/IStructE)

Job description

Assystem is an international company with one mission: accelerate the energy transition around the world. Drawing on more than 55 years' experience in highly regulated sectors subject to strict security and safety requirements, our 8,000 personnel in 12 countries provide our customers with engineering and project management services, as well as digital services and solutions to optimise the performance of complex infrastructure projects throughout their life cycle. The Group is currently ranked second in the world for nuclear engineering. Our goal is to ensure a viable, efficient, and reliable energy future for all.

Job Description

We are seeking experienced Principal and Senior Principal Civil Engineers to join our Fusion and Modular Nuclear team. This is a unique opportunity to strengthen our ever-growing Civil, Structural and Architectural (CS&A) capability within Assystem, supporting the design and delivery of complex nuclear facilities for exciting SMR, AMR and Fusion developments in the UK and internationally.

In this role, you will help shape the future of nuclear infrastructure through integrated, innovative and resilient engineering solutions. Working within multidisciplinary teams, you will contribute to the development of major nuclear facilities from concept and optioneering through to detailed design, construction and commissioning. Your work will encompass site development and masterplanning, hazard assessment, safety case substantiation, advanced structural analysis, constructability, sustainability and operational performance.

You will provide technical leadership across a diverse portfolio of projects, working closely with clients, regulators, contractors and delivery partners to develop safe, efficient and cost-effective engineering solutions. The role offers significant opportunity to influence major programmes and contribute to the growth of Assystem's nuclear capability.

On a day-to-day basis, you will:

• Lead the analysis and design for both nuclear safety-related and conventional civil structures, including both above-ground and below-ground facilities
• Lead the development of engineering solutions for structures subjected to seismic, environmental and accidental loading conditions
• Oversee, review and approve technical deliverables, including engineering calculations, analysis reports, finite element models, specifications and drawings, in accordance with our quality assurance requirements
• Act as a Lead Civil Engineer, Technical Authority or Subject Matter Expert, providing technical leadership and independent review where required
• Ensure engineering solutions comply with applicable UK and international codes, standards, regulatory requirements, nuclear safety principles and environmental and health & safety requirements
• Support the development of nuclear safety cases, including hazard assessments and the derivation of civil and structural safety functional requirements
• Participate in multidisciplinary design reviews, ensuring effective integration of civil engineering solutions with architectural, mechanical, process, electrical, I&C, safety and geotechnical disciplines
• Support clients in fulfilling their Intelligent Customer responsibilities, providing trusted technical advice on strategic civil engineering matters
• Support business development activities, proposal preparation and client engagement, helping to expand Assystem's presence within the nuclear sector
• Mentor and develop engineers across the team, fostering technical excellence and supporting professional development and chartership

About You

You will bring strong technical leadership, sound engineering judgement and the ability to work effectively in complex, multi-disciplinary environments. You will be passionate about delivering high-quality engineering solutions that support the safe, efficient and sustainable deployment of next-generation nuclear facilities. We are looking for someone with:

• Significant, demonstrable, post-qualification experience within nuclear new build, SMR/AMR or other large scale, complex and highly regulated programmes
• Proven experience leading civil and structural engineering activities throughout the full project lifecycle, from concept development and optioneering through to detailed design, construction and commissioning
• Strong knowledge of applicable engineering codes, standards and regulations, including Eurocodes, British Standards and, where relevant, international design standards such as ACI, AISC and ASCE
• Experience in the analysis and design of reinforced concrete and steel structures, supported by an understanding of engineering substantiation and structural integrity assessments
• Experience or familiarity with seismic design, dynamic analysis, external hazards assessment and structural resilience considerations
• An understanding of nuclear safety principles and their application to civil and structural engineering design, including familiarity with ONR Safety Assessment Principles and Technical Assessment Guides
• The ability to champion and embed Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) from project inception, shaping design strategies that optimise off-site manufacturing, modularisation, construction efficiency and programme costs
• Familiarity with power plant layouts and operational requirements, including strategies for asset and investment protection
• Experience in supporting site evaluation and site characterisation early-stage development activities for major infrastructure or energy projects would be advantageous
• A delivery-focused mindset, with the confidence to influence senior stakeholders
• Excellent communication and client-facing, skills, with a collaborative approach to guiding and developing colleagues
• A passion for shaping the next generation of nuclear and clean energy infrastructure

Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering or a related engineering discipline
• Chartered Engineer status (ICE, IStructE or equivalent recognised professional institution)

Benefits include:

• Pension scheme (8% company contribution / 4% personal contribution)
• 25 days’ paid annual leave + bank holidays + option to buy or sell days
• Professional fees reimbursed
• Flexible working
• Employee referral scheme

Why Apply?

Join Assystem and become a key player in delivering critical nuclear projects that shape the future of energy. Embrace this opportunity to excel in a dynamic environment where your expertise and leadership will drive global innovation.

We are committed to equal treatment of candidates and promote, as well as foster all forms of diversity within our company. We believe that bringing together people with different backgrounds and perspectives is essential for creating innovative and impactful solutions. Skills, talent, and our people’s ability to dare are the only things that matter! Bring your unique contributions and help us shape the future.