Senior Manager - Major Reactor Island Equipment

Role: Senior Manager – 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. Our Small Modular Reactor (SMR) provides a British solution to a global energy challenge. We are in pole position to become a world leader in SMRs and the UK’s premier green export technology. 

The Team 

The Major Reactor Island Equipment team defines, owns and governs critical nuclear plant components that underpin safe and efficient SMR operation. The team provides technical authority, integrated cross-functional leadership and design assurance across the full lifecycle, from generic product definition through to site‑specific deployment. 

Role summary 

We are seeking a Senior Manager – Major Reactor Island Equipment, reporting to the Head of Major Equipment. Leading a team of 20+ engineers, this role holds the accountability for delivery of the engineering effort for the most critical products across the nuclear island. This role provides senior technical authority, governance and programme leadership to enable robust generic & site‑specific delivery across the SMR programme. 

Key responsibilities 

We’ll need you to: 

• Own, govern and deliver engineering solutions for Major Reactor Island Equipment, including Reactor Vessel, Steam Generators, Pressuriser, and Control Rod Drive Mechanisms and other associated equipment. 

• Support the Head of Major Equipment in setting strategic direction for the teams, identifying issues, aligning priorities and establishing a clear vision. 

• Work closely with the Project Organisation and Engineering Managers to lead the prioritisation of engineering activities and resources across all project demands. 

• Drive production and engineering readiness activities to support release of Long Lead Items across multiple customer sites. 

• Implement and oversee engineering governance, chairing or supporting technical reviews, and securing approval at the appropriate project gates. 

• Lead the delivery of the required engineering documentation, definition, and substantiation. 

• Develop and maintain cost estimates, risk and opportunity registers, technical attributes, and performance metrics for Major Reactor Island Equipment. 

• Engage internally and externally, at all levels and across functions, to drive the programme needs and support your teams in critical decision-making. 

• Lead, develop, and mentor the Major Reactor Island Equipment engineers, whilst supporting the overall capability development of the teams. 

• Support the delivery of multiple design/make and make-to-print supplier contracts throughout the product lifecycle, playing a key role in the Intelligent Customer strategy. 

• Ensure full compliance with E3S obligations (environment, safety, security and safeguards) across all activities. 

This is a senior, influential leadership role requiring strong component engineering experience, governance expertise and the credibility to act as technical authority within a complex, regulated delivery environment. 

Skills, knowledge and experience 

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent, with a relevant engineering degree or demonstrable industry experience 

• Strong understanding of Major Reactor Island Equipment design, manufacture and through-life management 

• Proven experience in new product introduction and production readiness activities for Major Equipment manufacture 

• Knowledge and experience of engaging with nuclear regulators and technical assurance bodies 

• Strong experience of leading large engineering teams and indirect leadership across large multi-functional integrated project teams 

Location 

This role offers flexible and hybrid working arrangements. Regular attendance at a UK office will be expected, aligned to programme delivery needs, governance activities and stakeholder engagement. 

What’s in it for me? 

Salary and Package 

• We anticipate paying £68,000 – £90,000 depending on skills and experience 

• 17% Short Term Incentive Plan target opportunity 

• Annual Benefits Allowance – £5,000 per annum 

• Pension - 12% employer and 6% employee contributions  

• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays and the ability to buy or sell annually    

• Private Medical Insurance - BUPA single cover health care    

• Life Assurance - 6x pensionable pay   

• £250 - One-off payment for new starters for home office purchases  

Selection process & screening 

The selection process will include an initial conversation with Talent Acquisition, followed by two interview stages. 
Due to the nuclear environment, offers are subject to BPSS clearance, a DBS check and basic financial probity screening. 

Our commitments 

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

Confidence can sometimes hold people back. There’s no such thing as a “perfect” candidate – if you meet around 75% of the requirements, we would love to hear from you. We also welcome applications from those bringing transferable skills or considering a sector move. 

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.