Senior Engineer – Materials

Rolls-Royce SMR Ltd; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus – Performance related target

Benefits Allowance – £2,200 per annum

Pension – 12% employer + 6% employee

Holidays – 28 days + public holidays

Private Medical Insurance – BUPA

Life Assurance – 6x pensionable pay

Job summary

Rolls-Royce SMR in Derby/Manchester/Warrington offers a Senior Engineer - Materials role to shape the UK’s next generation nuclear power plant. You will own materials analysis, manufacturing assurance, ageing management and analytical assessments, guiding engineers and influencing critical programme decisions for safety and design maturity.

You’ll apply materials expertise across design, manufacturing and operations, engaging with suppliers and industry bodies to maintain high standards in a

Qualifications

• Degree in Materials Engineering, Metallurgy or related field with professional registration progress.
• Strong experience in materials systems, behaviour and fabrication processes.
• Ability to develop and justify engineering documentation to high standards.
• Experience in nuclear or highly regulated industries with safety and quality focus.
• Knowledge of ASME standards and lifecycle from concept to support.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management across teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and delivery of materials engineering activities aligned with milestones.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to support plant integration and design decisions.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to engineers, building capability.
• Engage with suppliers and external bodies to embed best practice and assurance.
• Balance technical quality with programme cost and schedule requirements.
• Support regulatory engagements with clear, substantiated evidence.
• Drive continuous improvement and strategic planning for Materials & Chemistry capability.

Skills

Materials engineering

Metallurgy

Long-term performance

Technical leadership

Stakeholder management

ASME standards

Education

Bachelor's degree in Materials Engineering or related

Chartered status or progression toward registration

Tools

Welding technologies

Manufacturing processes

Analytical assessments

Job description

Location: Derby, Manchester, Warrington or Hybrid

Our Mission

At Rolls-Royce SMR, we are delivering a new era of clean, affordable nuclear energy. Our mission is to provide scalable low-carbon power that strengthens energy security and supports the global transition to net zero. By combining proven nuclear technology with innovative engineering and advanced manufacturing, we are creating a product with the potential to transform the future of electricity generation.

The Team

As part of the Nuclear Engineering & E3S Analysis function, you will join the Materials and Chemistry team, a highly influential discipline that supports the full lifecycle of the Rolls‑Royce SMR power plant. Working across design, manufacturing, operations and regulatory activities, the team provides specialist materials expertise that underpins safety, performance and long‑term plant integrity. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams, external partners, suppliers and industry bodies, playing a key role in solving complex challenges within a highly regulated environment.

The Role

We are looking for a Senior Engineer - Materials to help shape the future of the Rolls‑Royce SMR programme. This is an opportunity to apply your materials expertise to some of the most challenging engineering problems in the nuclear sector, supporting everything from materials selection and manufacturing assurance to ageing management and analytical assessments. You will take ownership of key technical deliverables, provide guidance to engineers across the team and contribute to critical programme decisions that support design maturity, safety justification and regulatory compliance. Whether your experience lies in materials analysis, manufacturing and welding, ageing management or materials data and qualification, you will have the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the successful delivery of the UK’s next generation nuclear power plant.

What We'll Need You to Do

Lead the development and delivery of materials engineering activities, ensuring outputs are technically robust, compliant and aligned with programme milestones. Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to support plant integration, resolve materials‑related challenges and influence key design decisions. Provide technical leadership and guidance to engineers across the team, helping to develop capability and maintain high engineering standards. Work closely with suppliers, industry bodies and external partners to embed best practice, strengthen technical assurance and address emerging issues. Manage multiple work packages simultaneously, balancing technical quality with programme, cost and schedule requirements. Support regulatory engagements by producing clear, well‑substantiated technical evidence and responding to materials‑related queries. Contribute to the ongoing development of the Materials and Chemistry capability by driving continuous improvement, knowledge sharing and strategic planning activities.

What You’ll Bring

• A degree, or equivalent qualification, in Materials Engineering, Metallurgy or a related engineering discipline, with Chartered status or progress towards professional registration.
• Strong experience in materials systems, materials behaviour, manufacturing and fabrication processes, and through‑life performance considerations.
• The ability to develop, review and justify technical requirements, specifications and engineering documentation to a high standard.
• Experience gained within the nuclear sector or another highly regulated industry, with an understanding of safety, quality and compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of materials manufacturing, welding technologies, materials degradation mechanisms and their application within complex engineering systems.
• Familiarity with industry standards such as ASME and an appreciation of the engineering lifecycle from concept design through to operational support.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to influence, mentor and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.

Location This role can be based in Derby, Manchester or Warrington, with hybrid and flexible working arrangements available. Regular collaboration with colleagues across our UK sites will be required, giving you the opportunity to work closely with some of the industry’s leading engineering specialists while maintaining a healthy work‑life balance.

Pay and Benefits

We anticipate paying a salary of between £50,650 - £66,500 plus:

• Bonus – Performance related target opportunity 12.5%
• Benefits Allowance – £2,200 per annum, enabling you to create a bespoke package
• Pension – 12% employer and 6% employee contributions.
• Holidays – 28 days holiday (+ public holidays) and the ability to buy or sell up to 4 days.
• Private Medical Insurance – BUPA single cover health care
• Life Assurance – 6x pensionable pay £250 - One‑off payment for new starters for home office purchases

Why Join Us?

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.
• 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.

Our Application Process

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

• Obtaining Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance
• Satisfactory completion of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Satisfactory completion of a basic financial probity check

We are Rolls‑Royce SMR

A career with Rolls‑Royce SMR offers a unique opportunity to contribute to an exciting organisation delivering a transformational mission. Rolls‑Royce SMR is a radically different approach to proven nuclear technology. Each Rolls‑Royce SMR power station will generate 470MW of low‑carbon energy – equivalent to more than 150 onshore wind turbines and enough to power a million homes for over 60 years. With its Rolls‑Royce SMRs will play a vital role in supporting renewable energy by helping to overcome intermittency and ensure a stable, sustainable energy future. We’re proud to be one of the few employers that can genuinely say we’re a strengths‑based organisation. Our people are here because of what makes them exceptional - and our role is to help them make the most meaningful contribution of their careers, doing work they love. We offer opportunities that go beyond traditional career paths. At Rolls‑Royce SMR you can develop your career by exploring roles and challenges that align with your unique talents.

Our culture

At Rolls‑Royce SMR, we are committed to ensuring that our teams reflect the communities we serve and that everyone can be themselves at work. We know that diverse teams are more innovative and get better results, and that our people can thrive and be more successful in truly inclusive cultures. Join us and help shape our culture. Find out more about our inclusion pledge.

Your career journey

At Rolls‑Royce SMR, we don’t just want you to contribute, we want you to grow. We have open dialogue with our employees to understand the ambitions for their career and set plans to achieve them. Whether it’s helping you obtain formal qualifications or pairing you with a mentor, Rolls‑Royce SMR will provide you with a fulfilling career.

Our Team | Rolls‑Royce SMR

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