Head of Radiological Protection Engineering

Role Title: Head of Radiological Protection Engineering

We are Rolls‑Royce SMR and we’re doing something that’s never been done before. We’re revolutionising an industry. That’s a once‑in‑a‑career opportunity for those excited by such a challenge. This is more than just a job; this is a legacy.

About the Team:

The Performance & Analysis team is the centre of excellence within Rolls‑Royce SMR for the engineering analysis used to substantiate the performance and safety of the power station.

The Head of Radiological Protection Engineering leads a group of specialist disciplines that are fundamental to the safety, licensing and operation of the SMR power station, including:

• Radiation Protection Engineering
• Severe Accident Analysis
• Radiological Consequences Analysis
• Radiation Physics & Shielding Analysis

Together, these teams provide the technical expertise, analysis and safety substantiation required to support design development, regulatory engagement and programme delivery across the SMR business.

About the Role:

As Head of Radiological Protection Engineering, you will provide strategic, technical, programme and organisational leadership for all radiological engineering disciplines within Rolls‑Royce SMR.

You will be responsible for developing and implementing the long‑term vision, capability strategy and organisational structure for the radiological engineering function, ensuring the business possesses the skills, tools, methodologies and governance arrangements necessary to deliver a licensable and commercially successful product.

This role combines senior technical authority with organisational leadership. You will be accountable for the quality of engineering solutions delivered across the function, the delivery of work to multiple programmes, and the growth and development of approximately 40 engineers, specialists and technical leaders.

You will work closely with engineering leadership, regulators, customers and industry bodies, providing direction on radiological protection, shielding, severe accident analysis and radiological consequence assessment while ensuring these disciplines operate as a cohesive and high‑performing organisation.

We’ll Need You To:

• Act as the overall technical authority for radiological engineering and analysis across Rolls‑Royce SMR
• Lead the Radiation Protection Engineering, Severe Accident Analysis, Radiological Consequences Analysis and Radiation Physics & Shielding Analysis teams
• Define and deliver the long‑term strategic direction for the radiological engineering function
• Develop capability roadmaps, organisational structures and succession plans
• Ensure technical outputs are delivered to appropriate quality, cost and schedule expectations
• Lead the development of relevant elements of the E3S case and associated supporting documentation
• Support Generic Design Assessment (GDA), licensing activities and customer programmes
• Provide technical leadership across complex safety, licensing and engineering challenges
• Establish and maintain strong interfaces with Layout, Reactor Systems, Core Design, Licensing, Environmental Protection and Operations teams
• Lead regulatory engagement activities and provide technical representation to external stakeholders
• Act as deputy to the Head of Power Station Performance & Analysis Capability when required
• Promote a strong nuclear safety culture throughout the organisation
• Develop and mentor engineering leaders, technical specialists and future capability areas

Key Skills Required:

We know there’s no such thing as the ‘perfect’ candidate. If you meet around 75% of the criteria below, we’d love to hear from you:

Functional & Strategic Leadership

• Ability to act as the recognised technical authority for radiological engineering and analysis
• Experience defining long‑term technical strategies and capability roadmaps
• Ability to balance programme delivery with capability growth and organisational development
• Experience identifying future skills, methods, toolsets and organisational needs
• Ability to lead experts, managers and specialists while maintaining strategic oversight

Organisational Management & Development

• Proven experience leading large technical organisations through managers and technical specialists
• Experience recruiting, developing and mentoring highly skilled engineering teams
• Ability to build and maintain a high‑performance engineering culture
• Experience managing organisational growth and technical capability expansion

Programme Delivery & Technical Governance

• Significant experience delivering complex engineering programmes to cost, schedule and quality requirements
• Experience prioritising resources across multiple programmes and competing demands
• Deep understanding of technical governance, assurance, review and approval processes
• Experience acting as an intelligent customer for externally delivered technical services
• Ability to challenge technical assumptions and ensure robust engineering conclusions

Nuclear Safety & Licensing

• Strong understanding of nuclear safety principles and defence‑in‑depth concepts
• Experience leading regulatory engagements and supporting nuclear licensing activities
• Ability to ensure radiological engineering considerations are appropriately integrated into engineering decisions
• Experience developing robust nuclear safety cases supported by analysis and evidence
• Knowledge of regulatory frameworks beyond the UK would be beneficial

Capability Development

• Experience developing engineering capability across people, processes and toolsets
• Proven ability to establish and implement best‑practice analysis methodologies
• Track record of driving efficiency, consistency and quality improvements across engineering functions

Qualifications:

• Degree qualified in Physics, Engineering, Mathematics or a related discipline
• Chartered Physicist, Chartered Engineer, Chartered Scientist or equivalent professional registration
• Significant experience within the nuclear industry
• Demonstrable experience of technical leadership and line management

The following would be advantageous:

• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline
• Experience supporting GDA, licensing or regulator‑facing programmes
• Experience in radiation protection, shielding, accident analysis, reactor physics or safety case development
• Experience leading capability development within a growing organisation
• Experience managing and scaling teams through organisational growth

Location:

Hybrid working with one of the following as your primary site:

Derby, Manchester or Warrington.

Salary and Package:

The salary band for this role will be between £85,600 – £112,350 dependent on the skills, values and knowledge you bring. There may be flexibility in exceptional cases, reflecting the scale and strategic importance of the role.

Benefits include:

• Bonus – Performance‑related target opportunity up to 20%
• Benefits Allowance – £8,500 per annum for a bespoke package
• Pension – 12% employer and 6% employee contributions
• Holidays – 29 days (+ public holidays) with the ability to buy or sell up to 5 days
• Private Medical Insurance – BUPA single cover
• Life Assurance – 6× pensionable pay
• Home Office Support – £250 one‑off payment for new starters

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 growth in a rapidly scaling business, and a culture that values diversity, continuous learning and engineering excellence.

Selection Process:

The closing date for this role is 23rd October 2026. The process will begin with an introductory call with the Talent Acquisition Partner, with interviews being able to take place straight away.

Pay Range:

-

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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