Senior Layout Engineer - Containment Block

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

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Pension

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Holidays

Job summary

Rolls-Royce SMR is seeking a Senior Layout Engineer - Containment Block to lead the development of Containment Block layouts and installation assemblies within the Reactor Island team. You will drive multidisciplinary coordination across Systems, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Nuclear Licensing to deliver robust, constructible layouts for a UK SMR programme.

Hybrid working with Derby, Manchester or Warrington as primary locations, with occasional travel.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline, Chartered Engineer status or pathway to registration.
• Experience developing complex layout and installation solutions across multidisciplinary interfaces.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles and design governance.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of Containment Block layouts, installation assemblies and modular solution approaches.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary activities across Systems, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Nuclear Licensing teams.
• Develop and optimise plant layouts, equipment arrangements, cable/piping routes, HVAC within a nuclear context.

Skills

Mechanical layout development

Multidisciplinary coordination

Systems thinking

Stakeholder management

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree

Chartered Engineer status

Job description

Role: Senior Layout Engineer - Containment Block

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

Our Mission

Our mission is to deliver clean, affordable energy for all. Our Small Modular Reactor (SMR) provides a British solution to a global energy challenge. We are in pole position to become a world leader in SMRs and the UK's premier green export technology.

The Team

The Reactor Island Layout and Installations team is responsible for developing the integrated layouts, modules and installation strategies that sit at the heart of the Rolls-Royce SMR design. Working across a wide range of engineering disciplines, the team combines systems thinking, modularisation and advanced engineering practices to create a plant that is safe, buildable, operable and licensable, whilst supporting our ambitious deployment targets.

The Opportunity

In this context, we are looking for a Senior Layout Engineer - Containment Block to support our Containment Block Layout Manager. Working within the Reactor Island Installations and Assemblies team, you will be responsible for leading the development of an identified layout scope within the Containment Block, covering Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) modules and installation assemblies. This is a critical role that will influence how the plant is designed, manufactured, installed, commissioned and operated throughout its lifecycle.

We'll need you to:

• Leading the development of Containment Block layouts, installation assemblies and modularisation solutions, ensuring designs meet safety, performance, operability and maintainability requirements.
• Coordinating multidisciplinary engineering activities across Systems, Components, Mechanical Handling, Civil, Structural, Architecture, Human Factors, Operations and Supply Chain teams to deliver integrated engineering solutions.
• Developing and optimising plant layouts, equipment arrangements, cable routing, piping routes, HVAC systems and installation methodologies within a highly constrained and complex nuclear environment.
• Driving technical decision-making through concept development, trade-off studies and detailed design activities, ensuring engineering solutions are robust, balanced and aligned with programme objectives.
• Managing interfaces between multiple engineering disciplines, proactively identifying integration challenges, resolving clashes and ensuring design maturity is achieved in line with programme milestones.
• Developing manufacturing, installation, commissioning and maintenance strategies that support the Rolls‑Royce SMR modular build philosophy and overall delivery model.
• Maintaining ownership of technical risks, assumptions, actions and lessons learned, ensuring issues are escalated, managed and resolved effectively.
• Supporting engineering governance and gated design reviews, presenting design solutions and technical recommendations to senior stakeholders and technical authorities.
• Working collaboratively with licensing, safety case and regulatory teams to support the UK Generic Design Assessment (GDA) process and ensure design substantiation requirements are met.
• Producing, reviewing and approving high-quality technical documentation, including engineering reports, design substantiation documents, interface documents and regulatory submissions.
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives across layout, installation and modularisation activities, incorporating lessons learned and industry best practice into future designs.
• Acting as a visible technical leader within the programme, building strong working relationships across engineering disciplines while promoting collaboration, innovation and delivery excellence.
• As you can see, this is a pivotal role within our engineering organisation. You'll bring strong technical judgement, a systems-thinking mindset and the ability to influence stakeholders across a broad range of engineering disciplines, alongside:

What We're Looking For

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline, together with Chartered Engineer status or a clear pathway towards professional registration.
• We'll ask about your experience developing complex layout and installation solutions, managing multidisciplinary interfaces and delivering engineering programmes from concept through detailed design.
• Strong understanding of systems engineering principles, including requirements management, engineering governance, technical risk management and design review processes.
• Proven experience coordinating stakeholders and technical specialists across multiple engineering disciplines to achieve successful programme outcomes.
• Experience producing and reviewing technical documentation, engineering reports and design substantiation packages within a regulated environment.

Ideally, you'll also have experience in:

• Layout and routing of mechanical systems, including piping systems, cable management systems and ventilation/HVAC systems within complex industrial facilities.
• Nuclear Fuel Route design, Reactor Island integration, Mechanical Handling systems or other highly integrated nuclear plant systems.
• Supporting Generic Design Assessment (GDA), nuclear licensing activities or equivalent regulatory approval processes.
• Optimising layouts for constructability, operability, maintainability, inspection, commissioning and through-life operation.
• Modular construction methodologies, installation sequencing, offsite manufacture and modern methods of construction.
• Applying engineering judgement to resolve complex technical challenges involving safety, quality, cost and programme considerations.

Location

We offer hybrid and flexible working but will expect regular attendance at one of our offices in Derby, Manchester or Warrington, together with occasional travel to support programme activities, stakeholder engagement and design reviews.

What's In It For Me?

• We anticipate paying a salary of between £50,650-£66,500 DOE 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 5 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

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
• Exposure to one of the UK's most significant clean energy programmes
• Ongoing professional development and technical leadership opportunities
• A culture that values diversity, innovation and continuous learning

Selection Process

The recruitment process will consist of an introductory discussion with the Talent Acquisition team, followed by interviews with technical and functional stakeholders.

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

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Inclusivity is important to us, we are committed to fair, supportive and continually improving recruitment practices that ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

We are happy to discuss flexible working. We will also make workplace adjustments for disabled employees if these are needed to help them perform at their best in the role, and we are happy to discuss this once a job offer has been made.

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.

Pay Range:

£50,600.00

£66,465.00

Why Join Us?

• 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