Reporting to the Senior Manager for Major Reactor Island Equipment, the Lead Specialist – High Integrity Vessels is responsible for providing technical expertise and strategic direction for the design, integration, and lifecycle assurance of the Rolls-Royce SMR High Integrity Vessels.
Working collaboratively across engineering teams, the Lead Specialist will provide expertise on subject matters such as Structural Integrity, Structural Analysis, ASME Code compliance and beyond code requirements. They will act as the technical focal point for internal stakeholders, external partners, suppliers and regulatory stakeholders.
The Lead Specialist will ensure these components meet stringent nuclear safety, performance, and regulatory requirements across all phases of the SMR lifecycle.
The ideal candidate will be a highly respected professional with extensive industry experience and deep expertise in the design and analysis of safety-critical nuclear equipment.
Key selection criteria:
The candidate shall have a broad understanding of the design, manufacture, operation and through-life management of High Integrity Vessels in the Nuclear Industry (e.g. RPVs, Steam Generators and Pressurisers).
Extensive knowledge and understanding of structural integrity in the context of High Integrity Vessels in the nuclear industry.
Proactively research and collaborate to build industry knowledge, which they embed within their department. They lead communities of practice to enhance engineering, technology, and safety standards for High Integrity Vessels. Stay at the forefront of industry developments, ensuring new approaches are understood and integrated into team and departmental practices.
Manage complex stakeholder scenarios to ensure cross-functional alignment. They work closely with senior leadership to define, validate, and assure specialist capabilities. They effectively communicate technical and strategic insights to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Clearly articulate both technical and strategic insights to diverse stakeholders. Proactively address domain-specific challenges, escalating only when necessary. As a technical lead for High Integrity Vessels, they advocate for logical, proportionate, and pragmatic solutions. They collaborate with senior leaders to define and assure specialist capabilities, and ensure their work is well-documented and communicated for auditability and continuity.
Pay and Benefits:
We anticipate paying a salary of between £57,600- £74,500 plus:-
Bonus - Performance related bonus of up to 12.5%
Benefits Allowance - £2200, enabling you to create a bespoke package
Pension - 12% employer and 6% employee contributions.
Holidays - 28 days holiday (+ public holidays) and the ability to buy or sell up to 4 days
Private Medical Insurance - BUPA single cover health care
Life Assurance - 6x pensionable pay
£250 - One-off payment for new starters for home office purchases
Why 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
Skills Required
- Broad understanding of design, manufacture, operation and through-life management of High Integrity Vessels (RPVs, Steam Generators, Pressurisers).
- Extensive knowledge of structural integrity for High Integrity Vessels in the nuclear industry.
- Expertise in structural analysis and ASME Code compliance (and beyond-code requirements).
- Proven experience leading communities of practice and embedding industry knowledge within teams.
- Ability to manage complex stakeholder scenarios and communicate technical and strategic insights to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Experience ensuring work is well-documented and auditable for safety and regulatory continuity.
- Demonstrable experience with nuclear safety, regulatory requirements, and lifecycle assurance for SMR components.
- Willingness/ability to undergo BPSS clearance, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, and basic financial probity check.
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.
