Senior Engineer - Verification & Validation Delivery (Civils)

Rolls-Royce SMR; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus 12.5% performance-based

Benefits allowance £2,200 per year

Pension 12% employer / 6% employee

Holidays 28 days + holidays

Private medical insurance

Home office support £250

Job summary

Rolls-Royce SMR in the United Kingdom is seeking a Senior Verification and Validation Engineer to lead verification work for complex, safety-critical parts of the power station design and to mentor junior V&V engineers.

The role involves developing verification strategies, ensuring design compliance with requirements, and collaborating across engineering teams and with regulators to deliver a delivery-certified solution.

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification in an engineering discipline or working towards
• Experience in verification and validation of safety-critical systems
• Understanding of regulatory expectations in high-hazard environments

Responsibilities

• Lead verification and validation work packages for complex structures, systems or components
• Develop and execute verification strategies aligned to business and regulatory expectations
• Assess evidence and determine compliance with design requirements
• Provide mentorship, coaching and high-quality technical reviews across the V&V team
• Work with engineering and project functions to resolve issues and ensure quality outcomes
• Represent V&V in discussions with suppliers, customers, technical specialists and regulators

Skills

Verification & Validation

Complex structures

Regulatory compliance

Mentoring

Stakeholder communication

Risk management

Systems thinking

Technical leadership

Education

Engineering degree

Job description

We are Rolls-Royce SMR and we’re doing something that’s never been done before. We’re revolutionising an industry. That’s a once-in-a-career opportunity for those excited by such a challenge. This is more than just a job; this is a legacy.

The Development Engineering organisation is accountable for proving that the SMR power station design meets its objectives and requirements. It is also accountable for providing data and evidence to support the development of the power station design and delivery through the execution of verification, tests, demonstration, and research and technology programmes. This encompasses not just the domain of nuclear engineering, but the broader range of engineering and operations functions necessary to deliver a major infrastructure project.

About the Role

Senior Verification and Validation (V&V) Engineers fulfil a key role in Rolls‑Royce SMR’s Systems Engineering approach to design by leading the process of verifying that our power station design meets all its requirements. This forms a core part of our strategy to offer a delivery‑certain solution, by using modern engineering tools and techniques (analysis, rig testing, etc.) to prove the design before starting construction.

As a Senior V&V Engineer, you will take ownership of complex, safety‑critical, or business‑critical areas of the power station aligned with your expertise and experience. Your initial responsibility will be to develop a comprehensive verification strategy, outlining the activities to be performed and the evidence required to demonstrate compliance.

You will collaborate closely with design leads and technical specialists across the engineering team to execute this strategy. Throughout the verification lifecycle, you will lead the process of confirming design compliance for your assigned areas, based on the evidence generated. In addition to technical leadership, you will mentor other V&V Engineers, helping to build team capability, and provide rigorous technical reviews of outputs to ensure quality and consistency.

The key responsibilities include:

• Development of verification and validation strategies within area of responsibility
• Acting as an intelligent customer in the V&V of the plant and wider Rolls‑Royce SMR business
• Supporting the Verification and Validation of the safety case
• Production of reports for regulatory bodies and presentation/discussion of these reports with regulators as required
• Defining the objectives and requirements for verification and validation activities (rig tests, analyses, etc.) and agreeing these with delivery teams
• Reviewing/auditing and collecting evidence of verification activities conducted internally and externally within the supply chain
• Collating evidence and using it to assess compliance to requirements
• Managing technical interfaces across functions to ensure coherent and efficient technical solutions

We’ll Need You To:

• Lead verification and validation work packages for complex structures, systems or components
• Develop and execute verification strategies aligned to business and regulatory expectations
• Assess evidence and determine compliance with design requirements
• Provide mentorship, coaching and high‑quality technical reviews across the V&V team
• Work collaboratively across engineering and project functions to resolve issues and ensure quality outcomes
• Represent V&V in discussions with suppliers, customers, technical specialists and regulators

Key Skills Required:

• Experience in verification and validation of new or existing civil/structural/mechanical structures, systems, or components, ideally in a safety‑critical and highly regulated industry (nuclear desirable but not essential)
• Experience leading challenging and complex engineering work packages
• Experience in one or more of the following (desirable but not essential):
• Modular structures in steel or concrete
• Design for fire/blast/missile/seismic hazards
• Performance testing or physical test programmes
• Managing budget, schedule, and resources
• Reporting and controlling project scope
• Risk Management experience, including identification, reporting and mitigation of technical and programme risks
• Ability to build and maintain effective supplier/customer relationships
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, able to bring together multi-disciplinary teams
• Ability to manage uncertainty and change, communicate complex topics clearly, and influence stakeholders
• A clear analytical approach and methodical work process
• A systems‑thinking mindset, with experience collaborating across disciplines to define and manage system requirements
• Ability to conduct detailed technical reviews/checks with strong attention to detail and constructive feedback
• Degree‑level qualification in an engineering discipline and recognised by a relevant professional body (or working towards this)

We welcome applicants from a broad range of industries, with nuclear experience not being essential for this role.

Location:

Hybrid working with one of the following locations as your primary site: Derby, Manchester or Warrington.

Salary and Package:

The salary band for this will be between £50,650 - £66,500 dependent on the skills, values, and knowledge you bring. There may be some flexibility with the starting salary in exceptional cases, and, in due course, there is the potential for you to develop the role further.

Benefits include:

• Bonus - Performance‑related target opportunity 12.5%
• Benefits Allowance - £2,200 per annum for a bespoke package
• Pension - 12% employer and 6% employee contributions
• Holidays - 28 days (+ public holidays) with ability to buy or sell up to 5 days
• Private Medical Insurance - BUPA single cover
• Home Office Support - £250 one‑off payment for new starters

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, and a culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.

Selection Process:

The closing date for this role is 30th October 2026.

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.

Confidence can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job. But we'll let you in on a secret: there's no such thing as a 'perfect' candidate. If you feel you meet 75% of the requirements for this role, we would love to hear from you.

Also, if you are considering a career move or a sector-jump, please get in touch – we welcome applications from people with transferable skills.

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