Head of Radiological Protection Engineering

Rolls-Royce SMR

. Act as the overall technical authority for radiological engineering and analysis across Rolls-Royce SMR .

Posted 10/9/2026full-timeDerby • United KingdomLead💰 £85,600 - £112,350 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in radiological engineering, technical leadership, and strategic direction within the nuclear industry, with a strong focus on safety, regulatory compliance, and capability development.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Radiological EngineeringTechnical LeadershipNuclear Safety PrinciplesRegulatory EngagementCapability Development

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Radiation ProtectionSevere Accident AnalysisRadiological Consequences AnalysisRadiation PhysicsShielding AnalysisTechnical GovernanceSafety Case DevelopmentEngineering Programme DeliveryCapability Roadmap DevelopmentOrganisational Development

Soft Skills

MentoringTeam LeadershipStrategic OversightCommunicationProblem-Solving

Certifications & Qualifications

Chartered PhysicistChartered EngineerChartered ScientistBaseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check

Industry Keywords

Nuclear IndustryGeneric Design Assessment (GDA)Regulatory FrameworksDefence-in-Depth ConceptsEngineering Culture

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

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 meet quality, cost, and schedule expectations
Lead development of relevant elements of the E3S case and 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 interfaces with Layout, Reactor Systems, Core Design, Licensing, Environmental Protection, and Operations teams
Lead regulatory engagement activities and represent the organisation to external stakeholders
Act as deputy to the Head of Power Station Performance & Analysis Capability when required
Promote a strong nuclear safety culture
Develop and mentor engineering leaders, technical specialists, and future capability areas
Provide strategic, technical, programme, and organisational leadership for radiological engineering disciplines
Oversee delivery of work to multiple programmes and development of approximately 40 engineers, specialists, and technical leaders

Requirements

What you’ll need

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
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
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
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
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 integrated into engineering decisions
Experience developing robust nuclear safety cases supported by analysis and evidence
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
Applicants must obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance
Applicants must satisfactorily complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
Applicants must satisfactorily complete a basic financial probity check
Postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline would be advantageous
Knowledge of regulatory frameworks beyond the UK would be beneficial
Experience supporting GDA, licensing or regulator-facing programmes would be advantageous
Experience in radiation protection, shielding, accident analysis, reactor physics or safety case development would be advantageous
Experience leading capability development within a growing organisation would be advantageous
Experience managing and scaling teams through organisational growth would be advantageous

Benefits

Comp & perks

Performance-related bonus target opportunity up to 20%
Benefits allowance of £8,500 per annum for a bespoke package
Pension with 12% employer and 6% employee contributions
29 days holiday plus public holidays
Ability to buy or sell up to 5 holiday days
Private Medical Insurance (BUPA single cover)
Life Assurance at 6× pensionable pay
£250 one-off home office support payment for new starters
Flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment
Career growth opportunities in a rapidly scaling business
Continuous learning and engineering excellence culture