Senior Chemical/Process Engineer

Veolia Environmental Services (Uk) Plc; Lowton Common; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental services company is seeking a Senior Engineer to join their radioactive waste management team. This role requires a chemical or process engineer with substantial experience in waste processing technologies and nuclear project involvement. Responsibilities include leading projects, adhering to safety regulations, and providing mentorship. Candidates should possess a relevant degree and have at least 5 years of related industry experience.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in nuclear licensed projects.
• Experience in decommissioning and waste management.
• Ability to act as an intelligent customer, writing specifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineering projects in radioactive waste management.
• Manage small projects including planning and resource allocation.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to the team.

Skills

Process flow and P&ID development

Technical guidance and mentoring

Strong communication skills

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Education

Degree or equivalent in relevant discipline

Tools

Relevant engineering software

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced and adaptable Senior Engineer to join our radioactive waste management team. The role is suitable for a chemical or process engineer with industrial experience in waste processing technologies, decommissioning projects, research and development, technology commercialisation, and mentoring within the hazardous waste and nuclear industry. This role is within a small core UK team with collaboration across Veolia companies in the UK and abroad. A strong technical skillset should be complemented by personal curiosity and energy to work across the project lifecycle from business development to project delivery to support of operating plants. The successful candidate is expected to contribute positively within the team by taking on responsibilities and creating opportunities within a strategic framework.

Responsibilities

• Process/Chemical Engineering: Lead and support engineering projects focused on developing new technology, exploiting and optimising existing technology, to support the efficient and safe operation of radioactive waste management processes, including treatment, storage, and disposal.
• Identify and adhere to relevant regulations, codes and standards. Produce and review reports, calculations and drawings. Keep abreast of developments in research and industry, new products, techniques, and opportunities for innovation and technology transfer.
• Project Management: Manage small projects, adhering to budgets and deadlines. This includes planning, resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder communication. Support dedicated project managers and planners in the delivery of larger projects. Produce and review RAID logs.
• Technical Guidance and Mentoring: Provide technical guidance and mentorship formally and informally; foster a culture of continuous learning and development within the waste management team.
• Collaboration: Collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels, including clients, regulatory bodies, research institutions, and technology providers. Infrequent antisocial hours may be required to attend online meetings with international participants.
• Communication: Communicate complex technical information clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences using appropriate media and techniques.
• Safety: Adhere to site safety rules and procedures within non-nuclear and nuclear environments, including wearing of appropriate PPE and RPE.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Design of plant from concept to detail. Process flow and P&ID development. Experimental design. Plant scale-up. Plant estimating/costing.
• Knowledge of relevant safety regulations and procedures including hazard and operability (HAZOP) and safety case input.
• Knowledge of system modelling; coupled physical/chemical processes.
• Experience with industrial collaborations and partnerships.
• Preparation for and leadership of design reviews.
• Ability and experience of acting as an intelligent customer, including writing of specifications.
• Use of AI to accelerate work and improve quality.
• Desirable: Bid development (technical, cost).
• Knowledge of thermal treatment, vitrification, encapsulation, and other conditioning technologies.
• Decontamination: application, reagent recovery, pH/oxidation control, etc.
• Liquid waste treatment: effluent treatment plant, liquid immobilisation.
• Disposability management (acceptance criteria, process control).
• Degree or equivalent in relevant discipline.
• Engineering Council registration and membership of a professional institution.
• Experience of working on a nuclear licensed site or directly on projects for deployment on nuclear licensed sites, typically 5 years minimum.
• Experience of decommissioning and waste management projects.
• Experience of leading and mentoring teams.
• Proficiency in relevant software: office and engineering.

Personal Attributes

• Strong communication (email, reporting, slides, verbal) and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Aptitude and inclination to research topics for personal education and development.
• Must have the right to work in the UK; sponsorship is not available.
• Must be eligible for security clearance should this be required by the client at any point.
• Willing to fit in with company values and culture; team-oriented, inspiring and challenging in a professional manner.
• Available to travel on work-related business with some overnight stays and international travel. Driving licence preferred.

Veolia Nuclear Solutions UK's vision is to work collaboratively to produce world class technical solutions that support a cleaner and safer planet.