Senior Research Engineer (SRE)-Civil Nuclear Technology Transformation

MTC - Manufacturing Technology Centre; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) invites applications for a Senior Research Engineer to provide technical leadership on large client projects in the civil nuclear sector, interfacing with engineering teams across disciplines.

You will help mature new manufacturing processes, conduct feasibility studies, and support business development from initial client engagement to scoping and proposals, with a focus on safety-critical engineering and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Degree qualified or equivalent experience.
• Manufacturing engineering experience including operations.
• Knowledge of basic manufacturing principles.
• Advanced knowledge in a speciality area (technology or industrial sector).
• Knowledge of practical problem-solving tools and techniques.
• Practical understanding of Project Management principles.
• Evidence of commercial awareness.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership on large client projects and manage outputs to time, budget, and internal quality standards.
• Support business development from initial client engagement to line walks, project scoping and proposal writing.
• Propose and deliver capability improvement and development projects.
• Represent the team at industry events and across the MTC/HVMC/wider industry.
• Apply civil nuclear knowledge to regulatory, QA, traceability, and safety-critical engineering.
• Engage stakeholders to drive innovation, technology adoption, and industrial transformation.

Skills

Degree qualified

Manufacturing engineering

Basic manufacturing principles

Advanced specialty knowledge

Problem solving tools

Project Management

Commercial awareness

Education

Degree or equivalent

Job description

The Vacancy

The Candidate should have civil nuclear sector experience in the following areas – Understanding Strategic challenges and opportunities facing the civil nuclear sector- Including but not exhaustive list-

• Modularisation within decommissioning
• Leveraging technology adoption
• Innovation, Leadership and culture

The Technology Transformation Team provides engineering support in the early stages of our client’s improvement journey, such as maturing new manufacturing processes or novel technologies, improving existing manufacturing operations, or scaling-up production from prototype to full volume.

The Senior Research Engineer (SRE) focusses on the technical leadership of projects and shaping the development of project-related activities across MTC, interfacing with various technology departments and industrial sectors, including highly regulated environments such as the civil nuclear sector.

Typical activities include on-site discovery, manufacturing feasibility studies, process and technology down selection, horizon scanning, maturity assessments and supply chain research.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership of large client projects and work packages, delivering technical outputs, on time, to budget and following MTC's internal quality & governance practice.
• Support business development activities from initial client engagement to line walks, project scoping and proposal writing
• Propose and deliver capability improvement/development projects
• Represent the team at industry events and across the MTC/HVMC/wider industry
• Apply civil nuclear knowledge and experience where relevant, including:
  • Understanding and working within nuclear industry regulations, standards, and quality frameworks (e.g., ONR expectations, nuclear codes and compliance requirements)
  • Supporting manufacturing and process development aligned to nuclear-grade quality assurance and traceability requirements
  • Contributing to projects involving nuclear supply chain development, qualification, and capability assessment
  • Applying best practices in safety-critical engineering, risk management, and design for high-integrity applications
  • Engaging with stakeholders across the civil nuclear sector to support innovation, technology adoption, and industrial transformation

Essential Skills/Qualifications/Experience

Knowledge and Experience

• Degree qualified or equivalent experience
• Manufacturing engineering experience including operations
• Knowledge of basic manufacturing principles
• Advanced knowledge in a speciality area (technology or industrial sector)
• Knowledge of practical problem-solving tools and techniques
• Practical understanding of Project Management principles
• Evidence of commercial awareness

About The MTC

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is an internationally renowned and respected research and development organisation, bridging the gap between academia and manufacturing, and is home to some of the brightest minds in engineering from around the globe.

The MTC's engineers, scientists and technicians work with some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world in a supportive and collegiate environment for the development and demonstration of new technologies on an industrial scale, helping manufacturers of all sizes develop new and innovative processes and technologies.

Established to prove cutting edge manufacturing advances in an agile environment in partnership with industry, academia and other institutions, the MTC works with hundreds of industrial clients across a range of sectors including automotive, aerospace, rail, informatics, food and drink, infrastructure, construction and civil engineering, electronics, oil and gas and defence. The MTC helps businesses thrive by advancing their technological and engineering capabilities to improve their business efficiency, capability and competitiveness.

Supported by one of the largest public sector investments in UK Manufacturing, the MTC's engineering capabilities cover research and development, advanced manufacturing management, factory design and training for the skills of the future.

The MTC has world‑class facilities in Coventry, Liverpool and Oxford, and is part of the UK's High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK.

Reference Checks and Security Checks (where applicable)

Due to the nature of our business, all employment is subject to satisfactory references being obtained alongside a level of security clearance checks.