Location: Hybrid | Derby, Warrington or Manchester
Our Mission
At Rolls-Royce SMR, we're delivering a new generation of clean nuclear energy. Our Small Modular Reactor technology has the potential to provide secure, affordable, low-carbon power for decades to come, helping countries meet growing energy demands while supporting net-zero ambitions.
Join us and you'll play a part in one of the UK's most exciting engineering programmes, working alongside talented people who are shaping the future of energy.
The Team
You'll join the Components & Mechanical Equipment (C&ME) function, responsible for the mechanical systems and equipment that make up a Rolls-Royce SMR power station.
Reporting to the Assistant Chief Design Engineer, you'll work closely with Customer Project teams, engineering leaders and Integrated Product Teams, helping to ensure customer requirements are translated into clear, achievable and well-prioritised delivery plans. As customer projects continue to grow, this role will play a key part in balancing project-specific needs with our long-term product strategy.
The Role
We are recruiting for two positions within our Customer Projects team, supporting two strategically important programmes: CEZ and Great British Nuclear (GBN). While the responsibilities are the same, each role will be aligned to a different customer project. Candidates only need to submit one application.
As Lead Engineer for Customer Projects, you'll be the link between our Customer Project organisation and the Components & Mechanical Equipment team.
You'll bring structure to complex technical and programme requirements, ensuring customer demand is clearly understood, prioritised and deployed across the right engineering teams. Working across a matrix organisation, you'll build alignment between stakeholders, maintain visibility of delivery commitments and influence decisions that support both programme success and product standardisation.
This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced engineer who enjoys combining technical understanding with stakeholder engagement, programme coordination and problem-solving.
What We’ll Need You to Do
Act as the primary interface between Customer Project teams and Components & Mechanical Equipment, ensuring requirements are clearly understood and translated into deliverable work packages.
Coordinate customer-led demand across Integrated Product Teams, establishing priorities, delivery commitments and resource requirements.
Build strong relationships across engineering, programme and commercial functions to align stakeholders around shared objectives.
Provide visibility of progress, risks and dependencies, supporting proactive decision-making and effective issue resolution.
Influence customer requirements and engineering solutions to maximise standardisation and minimise unnecessary bespoke design.
Apply your technical understanding of complex mechanical systems to support prioritisation, challenge assumptions and guide delivery decisions.
Drive continuous improvement in how customer projects and engineering teams work together, improving efficiency and delivery performance.
What You’ll Bring
Degree-qualified in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
Significant experience within a complex engineering environment, ideally spanning both technical delivery and project-facing responsibilities.
Experience working with mechanical equipment, engineered products or complex systems within a regulated industry.
The ability to influence stakeholders, build consensus and deliver outcomes within a matrix organisation.
Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex requirements into clear and actionable plans.
Experience managing competing priorities and maintaining delivery focus in a fast-paced programme environment.
A proactive, collaborative approach and a willingness to challenge constructively in pursuit of the best outcome.
At Rolls-Royce SMR, we know there is no such thing as the perfect candidate. If you meet around 75% of the requirements and are excited by the opportunity to shape the future of clean energy, we'd love to hear from you.
Location
This role can be based at our Derby, Warrington or Manchester offices, with hybrid and flexible working arrangements available.
Salary and Package:
The salary band for this role will be between £60,000 – £78,750 dependent on the skills, values and knowledge you bring. There may be flexibility in exceptional cases, and the role may develop further as the programme grows.
Benefits include:
Bonus – Performance‑related target opportunity up to 12.5%
Benefits Allowance – £2,200 per annum for a bespoke package
Pension – 12% employer and 6% employee contributions
Holidays – 28 days (+ public holidays) with the ability to buy or sell up to 4 days
Private Medical Insurance – BUPA single cover
Life Assurance – 6× pensionable pay
Home Office Support – £250 one‑off payment for new starters
Pay Range:
£60,000.00-
£78,750.00Why Join Us?
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.
• 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
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Skills Required
- Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience
- Significant experience working in a complex engineering environment
- Experience spanning technical delivery and project-facing responsibilities
- Experience with mechanical equipment, engineered products, or complex systems
- Experience working within a regulated industry
- Ability to influence stakeholders, build consensus, and deliver outcomes in a matrix organization
- Strong communication skills and ability to translate complex requirements into actionable plans
- Experience managing competing priorities in a fast-paced program environment
- Proactive, collaborative approach with willingness to challenge constructively
What We Do
Rolls-Royce SMR is a UK-based company developing an affordable, integrated small modular reactor (SMR) power plant. It leverages established nuclear technology and a factory-based philosophy for fabrication and assembly to provide a repeatable, standardised, and investable energy solution globally, with the mission of providing clean and affordable energy for all.
