Senior Stress Engineer

Westlakes Recruit; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nuclear engineering firm in Manchester seeks a Technical Delivery Lead to oversee project teams and ensure high-quality stress analysis & structural integrity assessments. The ideal candidate will lead the development of technical capabilities, mentor junior engineers, and collaborate with multifaceted teams to tackle complex challenges, particularly in the nuclear sector. Strong communication skills and expertise in Finite Element Analysis are essential. This role champions technical excellence and fosters a supportive work culture.

Qualifications

• Experience in stress assessments in the nuclear sector.
• Expertise in modern techniques for stress and structural integrity assessments.
• Desirable: experience in CFD, dynamics, fatigue, and degradation mechanisms.

Responsibilities

• Lead project teams and technical work in client-facing roles.
• Define a strategic roadmap for stress engineering capability.
• Work with the Engineering Directors to forecast demand and plan workforce requirements.

Skills

Leadership in technical delivery

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)

Technical mentoring

Expertise in nuclear sector regulations

Strong communication

Education

Degree in engineering

Chartered Engineer (CEng)

Tools

ABAQUS

ANSYS

LS-Dyna

Altair Hyperworks

Python

Job description

Your Missions : Technical Delivery

You will lead project teams and technical work in client facing roles, delivering high-quality stress analysis and structural integrity assessments :

Act as a technical lead for stress and structural integrity, providing expert advice, troubleshooting, and technical oversight.

Serve as an Independent Technical Approver to ensure the highest engineering standards.

Use Finite Element Analysis and traditional hand calculations to justify strength, fatigue, defect tolerance, and structural performance to international codes and standards (including pressure vessel and defect-tolerance codes).

Collaborate closely with safety case authors, design engineers, and multidisciplinary delivery teams.

Mentor junior engineers, offering technical guidance and helping shape our next generation of stress specialists.

Stress Capability Lead

A portion of your time will be dedicated to leading, developing, and growing clients internal stress capability :

Capability Development & Governance

Define the strategic development roadmap for stress engineering capability

Maintain and improve technical processes, methods, best‑practice guides and quality frameworks.

Monitor workload, skill gaps and training needs across the stress discipline.

Lead technical upskilling initiatives, coaching frameworks and internal training pathways.

Team Growth, Recruitment & Retention

Work with the Engineering Directors and Business Management teams to forecast demand, plan workforce requirements, and shape the long‑term capability pipeline.

Support recruitment campaigns, interviewing and selecting high-quality stress engineers.

Ensure strong retention by fostering a supportive culture, mentoring talent, and providing growth opportunities.

Sales, Bidding & Business Development

Collaborate with Sales and Business Development teams to identify opportunities where stress capability adds value.

Contribute to bids, proposals, client presentations and technical sales materials.

Represent stress capability during strategic planning, major pursuits, and innovation initiatives.

Internal & External Leadership

Act as a visible leader and ambassador for stress engineering across the team and with clients.

Build and maintain relationships with key technical stakeholders, partners and industry bodies.

Qualifications

We want someone who can

Build high‑performing teams supporting a range of customers and industry sectors.

Lead stress and structural integrity assessments using modern techniques.

Deliver and review high‑quality technical assessments to recognised standards.

Mentor and guide junior engineers while acting as a senior technical reference point.

Work directly with clients to tackle complex stress and integrity challenges.

Demonstrate expert FE analysis capability (strength, fatigue, defects, lifetime assessments).

Apply ASME III / ASME VIII, API-579, BS7910, BS7608, R4 / R5 / R6 codes.

Desirable : experience in CFD, dynamics, fatigue, and degradation mechanisms.

Must have experience in the nuclear sector or a comparable highly regulated sector.

Your Toolbox Should Include

Degree in engineering + Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Experience in stress assessments in the nuclear sector.

Strong communicator with excellent commercial awareness.

Expert in ABAQUS (or ANSYS, LS‑Dyna, etc.).

Experience with Altair Hyperworks or similar tools.

Familiarity with code assessments (ASME, PD5500, BS2573, BS EN 13001, R6).

Coding and scripting using languages such as Python.

Knowledge of manufacturing methods, materials, and inspection techniques.

Why We're Different

Westlakes Recruit are a people solutions business that understands the complexities of nuclear and the importance of our clients' mission critical objectives.

Smarter, faster, more agile - we have a laser focus on nuclear, with deep sectoral knowledge.

We develop nuclear talent pools before you know you need them! We do Nuclear. We only do Nuclear. We do all of Nuclear.

Powering a Diverse Nuclear Future : As an equal opportunities business, we value applications