Component Engineer Major Reactor Island Equipment

Role: Component Engineer – Major Reactor Island Equipment

Locations: Hybrid working with one of the following locations as primary: Derby, Warrington or Manchester.

The Business

Our mission is to deliver clean, affordable energy for all. Rolls‑Royce SMR provides a British solution to a global energy challenge, combining proven nuclear capability with innovation and pace. We are building a scalable power technology that will become a cornerstone of the UK’s low‑carbon future and a globally competitive export.

The Team

The Engineering Directorate converts complex nuclear challenges into licensable, buildable products. Within this, the Major Reactor Island Equipment team designs and matures the most critical components of the Reactor Island, working across disciplines and with a global supply chain to deliver safe, robust and repeatable solutions.

Summary

In this context, we are looking for a Component Engineer – Major Reactor Island Equipment, reporting into one of our Major Reactor Island Equipment Engineering Managers. This role contributes to the end‑to‑end design and delivery of safety‑critical reactor components such as the Reactor Pressure Vessel, Control Rod Drive Mechanisms, Integrated Head Package, Pressuriser, Steam Generators, Accumulator Vessels, Supports and Structures, integrating full lifecycle requirements into mature, compliant product definitions.

We’ll need you to:

• Develop and mature mechanical component designs across the full product lifecycle.
• Integrate technical, manufacturing, regulatory and supply‑chain requirements into robust solutions.
• Own elements of the digital product definition and supporting technical documentation.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks while balancing performance, cost and schedule drivers.

This is an opportunity to apply rigorous engineering thinking in an evolving environment, combining problem‑solving capability, curiosity and collaboration to shape products of national and global significance.

Essential skills / qualifications

• A degree‑level qualification in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline (or equivalent experience), with Chartered Engineer status or working towards it.
• We’ll ask about your experience of mechanical or equipment design across product development lifecycles.
• Working knowledge of regulated engineering environments, design substantiation and component manufacturing routes.

Location

This role can be based at any Rolls‑Royce SMR location, with flexible and hybrid working available. Occasional travel to other sites, suppliers or partners will be required.

What’s in it for you

• Salary between £40,000 - £52,500.
• Bonus - Performance related target opportunity of 12.5%.
• Benefits Allowance – £2,200, 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.   
• Family Friendly Policies including: 39 weeks paid Maternity, Surrogacy and Adoption Leave, 6 weeks Paternity Leave, IVF and Assisted Conception, Neonatal Care and more.
• Private Medical Insurance - BUPA single cover health care.
• Life Assurance - 6x pensionable pay.
• £250 - One-off payment for new starters for home office purchases.

Statements

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. As a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to fair, supportive recruitment practices and to making workplace adjustments where needed.

You may not feel you meet every requirement – and that’s okay. If you feel you meet around 75% of the role, we would love to hear from you. We also welcome candidates bringing transferable skills from other industries.

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
 

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
 

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