Senior Engineer - Containment Analysis

Role Title: Senior Engineer - Containment Analysis

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.

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. Containment analysis plays a critical role in understanding system behaviour during transients, operational scenarios and faulted conditions, supporting the safety case and informing key design decisions.

About the Role:

As a Senior Containment Fault Studies Analyst, you will lead thermal‑hydraulic modelling of the containment and associated emergency cooling systems, producing analyses that demonstrate system performance under a wide range of operating and fault scenarios. Your work will be central to demonstrating the effectiveness of safety systems, optimising plant design and substantiating key elements of the safety case.

You will work closely with system designers, safety case engineers, test teams and other technical specialists to ensure containment models are robust, validated and aligned with overall safety and performance requirements. You will also contribute to the development of analysis methods, verification and validation processes, and the continuous improvement of tools and modelling approaches.

Senior analysts are responsible for planning and delivering their own work, technically leading small teams and playing a key role in capability growth across the wider function.

We’ll Need You To:

• Lead containment and emergency cooling system modelling activities, producing high‑fidelity thermal‑hydraulic analyses
• Demonstrate the effectiveness of containment and safety systems under fault conditions and normal operation
• Work closely with system designers to influence design, control strategies and system performance
• Contribute analysis outputs that form key inputs to the safety case and support safety case authorship
• Model key plant scenarios including:
  • Normal operation and grid‑response
  • Operational transients such as shutdown and restart
  • Faulted conditions where passive safety systems are essential to protect the core
• Apply rigorous quality‑management processes, including verification, validation and uncertainty quantification
• Develop automated analysis workflows, including Python‑based routes on high‑performance Linux computing platforms
• Support code benchmarking against experimental data and collaborate with in‑house test teams developing multi‑megawatt test rigs
• Work flexibly across multidisciplinary teams, shaping analysis requirements and communicating results clearly
• Provide technical leadership to small teams and support capability development within the function

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:

• Strong experience in fluids and thermal analysis, applying structured and methodological approaches
• Good understanding of fluid dynamics, thermal processes and system behaviour
• Experience producing analysis reports and contributing to analysis sections of safety cases
• Familiarity with industry‑standard thermal‑hydraulic tools (e.g. RELAP, Flomaster, GOTHIC, VIPRE, CTF)
• Experience developing analysis methods, models and tools, ideally with Python
• Understanding of software development processes and analysis QA requirements
• Experience with verification, validation, benchmarking and uncertainty quantification
• Familiarity with thermal‑hydraulic test rig design and supporting experimental campaigns
• Knowledge of fluids/process/power‑generation plant in safety‑critical sectors (nuclear/defence/oil & gas/aerospace)
• Understanding of PWR behaviour, fault scenarios, reactor design substantiation and safety case principles (training can be provided)
• Knowledge of E3S regulations and principles including ALARP and BAT
• Proven ability to deliver analysis tasks to time, cost and quality
• Strong communication skills, able to clearly articulate complex analysis
• Experience technically leading teams and collaborating effectively across organisational boundaries
• Degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science or related discipline; Chartered status (or equivalent) is preferred

We welcome applicants from across nuclear and other regulated, high‑integrity industries.

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 £50,650–£66,500 dependent on the skills, values and knowledge you bring. There may be flexibility in exceptional cases, and there is future potential 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 – 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 environment, opportunities for career growth in a rapidly scaling business, and a culture that values diversity, collaboration and continuous learning.

Selection Process:

The closing date for this role is 7th June 2026. The process will begin with an introductory call with the Talent Acquisition Partner, with interviews being able to take place straight away.

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