Lead Specialist - Radiation Physics

Role Title: Lead Specialist – Radiation Physics

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.

We are now recruiting for a Lead Specialist – Radiation Physics to join our Performance & Analysis team, the centre of excellence for engineering analysis used to substantiate the performance and safety of the SMR power station.

About the Role:

The Lead Specialist – Radiation Physics will act as the go-to technical authority for Radiation Physics and Shielding (RP&S) analysis, ensuring technical excellence and quality across the organisation. You will develop methodologies for complex analysis, lead teams to deliver work aligned with technical and organisational objectives, and mentor team members to grow capability.

You will provide governance and critical review of RP&S analysis, ensuring compliance with quality and method requirements. Applications of RP&S analysis include radiation shielding and dose rate assessments, gamma and neutron flux and fluence data generation, DPA assessments, gamma heating, detector response, neutron activation, radioactive source term generation and decay calculations, burn-up and depletion calculations, and support to radiological consequence and safety case activities.

This role requires strong leadership, technical depth, and collaboration across engineering disciplines to deliver robust RP&S solutions.

We’ll Need You To:

• Act as the technical authority for RP&S analysis and lead complex work packages
• Develop and maintain RP&S methodologies and processes
• Provide governance and review of RP&S analysis, including external partner work
• Mentor and grow team capability, supporting strategic objectives
• Ensure compliance with ALARP principles and safety case requirements
• Collaborate across disciplines to deliver RP&S inputs to design and safety case.

Key Skills Required:

• MSc (or equivalent) in Nuclear Engineering or Nuclear Reactor Physics, with excellent understanding of radiation transport and radiation physics
• Chartered status with a relevant professional body (e.g., IoP)
• Significant experience applying structured, high-quality analysis methods in radiation physics and shielding
• Extensive hands-on experience with radiation physics and shielding codes such as MCNP, Attila/Attila4MC, SCALE; familiarity with SpaceClaim (pre-processing) and Tecplot/Python (post-processing)
• Proven ability to develop analysis methods and technical approaches to support design and safety cases, including uncertainty quantification and statistical methods
• Strong understanding of ALARP principles and the role of RP&S analysis in safety case development
• Track record of delivering complex analysis tasks to time, cost, and quality, with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills; experience leading technical teams
• Knowledge of radiation physics applications in safety-critical industries; experience interacting with nuclear regulators desirable.

Location:

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

Salary and Package:

The salary band for this will be between £60,000–£78,750 dependent on the skills, values, and knowledge you bring. There may be some flexibility with the starting salary in exceptional cases, and, in due course, there is the potential for you to develop the role further.

Benefits include:

• Bonus - Performance-related target opportunity 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 ability to buy or sell up to 4 days
• Private Medical Insurance - BUPA single cover
• Life Assurance - 6x 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 career growth in a rapidly scaling business, and a culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.

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