Principal Stress Engineer/Technical Lead

Scantec; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in the UK is seeking a Principal Stress Engineer/Technical Lead to join their team in Derby. This role involves leading high-profile nuclear projects, mentoring engineers, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in structural integrity, advanced FEA skills, and knowledge of international codes. The position offers a competitive salary, benefits, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous benefits package including life assurance

Pension contributions

Employee support and development programmes

Qualifications

• Experience in nuclear sector preferred.
• Strong problem-solving skills required.
• Must thrive in a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering teams for high-profile nuclear projects.
• Oversee assessments using FEA and traditional methods.
• Collaborate with safety case engineers and specialists.

Skills

Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent work experience

Proven experience in structural integrity

Advanced proficiency in Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Experience leading technical teams

Experience with international codes: ASME, API-579, BS7910

Knowledge of pressure vessel and defect tolerance assessments

Experience interfacing directly with customers

Familiarity with Altair Hyperworks or similar tools

Experience with customer-specific methodologies (R3, R5, R6)

Tools

ABAQUS

ANSYS

Dyna

Job description

Principal Stress Engineer / Technical Lead

Derby

Full Time on site (some hybrid flexibility)

Introduction

A Global Engineering client is seeking Principal Stress Engineer to join their expanding team in Derby. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of nuclear infrastructure and to contribute to critical defence projects and next-generation energy systems.

As a recognised leader in nuclear and defence engineering, our client’s work spans new build and life-extension programmes across the civil and defence nuclear sectors. They have been a leading name in UK Nuclear

The Principal Stress Engineer will play a crucial role to underpin safety, reliability, and compliance across major projects

Role

As a Principal Stress Engineer, you’ll take the lead in shaping and delivering high-profile nuclear projects, acting as the go-to technical expert for all aspects of structural integrity. You’ll guide and support a talented engineering team, providing technical direction, mentoring, and ensuring every project meets the highest standards of quality, safety, and compliance.

You’ll oversee and sign off detailed assessments using both finite element analysis and traditional calculation methods, applying recognised international codes such as ASME, API-579, and BS7910. As the Independent Technical Approver, you’ll represent the business in client meetings, providing trusted advice, solving challenges, and building strong relationships.

Collaboration will be key, as you’ll work closely with safety case engineers and other specialists to ensure each project is backed by solid technical evidence. You’ll also play a hands‑on role in resolving complex engineering issues, improving processes, and driving continuous improvement across the team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced engineer who enjoys combining technical leadership with practical problem‑solving, someone who thrives in a collaborative environment and wants to make a genuine impact on major UK nuclear programmes.

Skills / Prior Experience Should Include :

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent work experience.
• Proven experience in structural integrity, ideally within the nuclear sector.
• Advanced proficiency in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using tools such as ABAQUS (other tools like ANSYS or Dyna also considered).
• Experience leading technical teams and mentoring engineers.
• Experience with international codes : ASME (Sections III or VIII Div 2), API-579, BS7910, BS7608, and others.
• Knowledge of pressure vessel and defect tolerance assessments.
• Experience interfacing directly with customers in technical discussions.
• Familiarity with Altair Hyperworks or similar pre / post processing tools.
• Experience with customer‑specific methodologies (R3, R5, R6) advantageous.

What’s on Offer

In this role you will work alongside some of the greatest minds in the Nuclear industry. You will have access to the tools and support to develop your career, pathways that will allow you to grow, support for qualifications and certificates and ongoing access to world class engineering expertise.

This role comes with a competitive salary, generous benefits package including life assurance and pension contributions and a wider benefits offering including employee support and development programmes.

If this sounds like an opportunity you’d like to explore simply click apply to learn more.