Senior Mechanical Engineer

Babcock International; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in nuclear solutions seeks a Senior Mechanical Engineer in Harwell, Oxfordshire. The role involves designing innovative solutions for critical nuclear projects, leading trials, and preparing design drawings. Candidates should have a relevant engineering degree and practical experience in plant or laboratory trials. Generous benefits package including flexible working arrangements. Commitment to building an inclusive culture and support for candidates with disabilities.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Matched contribution pension scheme

Access to Digital GP

Employee share scheme

Payment of Professional Fees

Volunteer leave

Excellent development opportunities

Qualifications

• Must be able to achieve and maintain BPSS/SC security clearance.
• Significant demonstrable experience in relevant engineering fields.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support plant and equipment trial activities.
• Prepare and produce drawings for basic, detail, and production design.
• Resolve technical and delivery issues in projects.

Skills

Practical experience in plant or laboratory trials

Detailed design for manufacture experience

Education

Engineering degree (or equivalent)

Job description

Job Title: Senior Mechanical Engineer

Location: Harwell, Oxfordshire + Hybrid Working Arrangements

Compensation: Attractive Salary + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF69503

Shape the Future of Nuclear Innovation

At Cavendish Nuclear we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as a Senior Mechanical Engineer at Harwell, near Didcot, Oxfordshire.

The role

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer, you’ll have a role that is out of the ordinary. You’ll be at the forefront of designing and delivering innovative solutions for one of the UK’s most critical nuclear decommissioning projects. Your work will directly contribute to the safe clean-out of legacy waste storage facilities, paving the way for future building decommissioning.

Day-to-day, you will

• Lead and support plant and equipment trial activities, recommending and reviewing design updates.
• Contribute to design reviews and ensure coordination and functionality across projects.
• Prepare and produce drawings for basic, detail, and production design in line with ISO standards.
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to the wider Cavendish Nuclear team.
• Resolve technical and delivery issues, keeping project managers fully informed.

You’ll work 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, based at Harwell, Oxfordshire. Hybrid working patterns are available (three days on-site, two days remote).

Essential experience of the Senior Mechanical Engineer:

• Practical experience in plant or laboratory trials, including writing and implementing Risk Assessments and Method Statements.
• Detailed design for manufacture experience.

Qualifications for the Senior Mechanical Engineer:

• Engineering degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline, with significant demonstrable experience.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Standard (BPSS) / Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

What we offer

• Generous holiday allowance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee share scheme
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Cavendish employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually.
• ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

Cavendish Nuclear

As a leader within the UK nuclear industry, Cavendish Nuclear, part of Babcock International Group, provides a comprehensive range of critical nuclear solutions in clean energy, defence and civil new build and decommissioning projects. Together, we’re innovating to make nuclear safer, faster and cost-effective across the nuclear energy life cycle. Your career with us could take you anywhere within Babcock International Group – from Canada, the USA to Japan. Work with us to create a safe and secure world, together.

We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email [e-mail] with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing date

17/12/2025