Senior / Principal Engineer - Nuclear System Engineer

AtkinsRéalis; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Training & development

Flexible holidays

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis is seeking a Senior / Principal Nuclear System Engineer to drive safety assessments and substantiation across nuclear facilities. You will partner with clients, shape technical strategies, engage regulators, and lead multidisciplinary teams to ensure reliable plant operation and low-carbon objectives.

The role emphasizes mentoring, collaboration, and delivering practical engineering solutions across defence, generation, and new technologies, with a hybrid work model and

Qualifications

• Experience in safety-critical or highly regulated environments.
• Ability to guide technical delivery and provide practical solutions.
• Strong communication with clients and regulators.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of safety assessments for systems, including hazards analysis and substantiation.
• Partner with clients to shape technical and commercial strategies for system health.
• Engage stakeholders to champion system health and present technical solutions.
• Work across diverse clients in defence, nuclear, and emerging tech sectors.
• Support project delivery by balancing technical detail with wider context insights.
• Collaborate with AtkinsRéalis teams to share knowledge and drive best practices.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers to develop capability and leadership.

Skills

Safety-critical environments

Systems thinking

Technical delivery

Stakeholder communication

Mentoring juniors

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Job description

Job Description

Overview

Do you enjoy working in safety-critical industries and contributing to solutions for complex engineering challenges? Join us as a Senior / Principal Nuclear System Engineer and play a meaningful role in supporting our nuclear clients to assess and manage risk, and support the safe, reliable operation of systems supporting nuclear safety/generation. In this role, you will help enable innovative, decision-making across the lifecycle of nuclear facilities, bringing best practice into the operation and maintenance of plant, and ensuring that the plant remains available and reliable according to the design intent. This role contributes to our shared ambition of delivering low-carbon energy and shaping a more sustainable future for our planet and its people.

Your role

• Contribute to and lead the development of safety assessments for the system, including hazards analysis and safety substantiation, supporting strategic decisions across design phase, commissioning, operations and decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
• Partner with clients to understand their needs and help shape technical and commercial strategies for system health and robust engineering substantiation.
• Engage with a range of stakeholders to champion system health by sharing insights, presenting technical solutions and contributing to regulatory discussions, building trusted and collaborative relationships.
• Work across a diverse portfolio of clients, including defence, nuclear generation, new build, and emerging technologies such as fusion and SMR/AMRs, applying your expertise to solve complex system, plant and safety challenges.
• Support the successful delivery of projects by bringing together technical excellence and a critical-thinking approach, balancing attention to detail with a clear understanding of the wider context.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across AtkinsRéalis, leveraging global expertise and contributing to a connected and supportive technical community.
• Support the development of others by mentoring and guiding junior engineers, helping to build capability while strengthening your own leadership approach.

About you

• Bring experience in working within safety-critical or highly regulated environments, with an interest in applying systems thinking to complex challenges.
• Demonstrate the ability to contribute to and guide technical delivery, working collaboratively to develop effective and practical solutions.
• Show strength in communicating complex ideas clearly, adapting your approach to engage a wide range of stakeholders, including clients and regulators.
• Apply a thoughtful and structured approach to problem-solving, balancing technical detail with a broader strategic perspective.
• Value collaboration and knowledge sharing, contributing positively to team environments and multidisciplinary projects.
• Take pride in delivering high-quality work while remaining open to learning, feedback and continuous development.
• Show an interest in supporting and developing others, contributing to a culture of growth, inclusion and shared success.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

About AtkinsRéalis

We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.