Lead Engineer - Verification & Validation Process Development / Continuous Improvement

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 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 Development Engineering organisation is responsible for proving that the SMR power station meets its objectives and requirements. We provide the data and evidence that underpin the design and delivery of the power station through robust verification and validation (V&V), testing, demonstration, commissioning, and research programmes. This work spans not only nuclear engineering but also the broader range of engineering and operational disciplines required to deliver a major infrastructure project.Development Engineering comprises four key capability areas: Research & Technology, Verification & Validation, Test, and Commissioning. About the Role As a Lead Engineer in V&V Capability, you will report to the Senior V&V Capability Manager and play a pivotal role in shaping how V&V is performed across the programme. You will lead the development and continuous improvement of processes, methods, tools, and standards that enable effective design verification and product validation.While V&V Delivery Engineers focus on the "what, when, and why," you will own the "how" - ensuring technical excellence, coherence and integration across the business. This role involves close collaboration with Systems Engineering, Requirements Management, Change & Configuration Management, Performance & Analysis, Test and Commissioning teams. We'll Need You To: Drive the creation and implementation of efficient, integrated V&V processes, methods, tools and standards that achieve programme objectives Act as a V&V focal point for technical excellence, ensuring quality and safety across V&V and Development Engineering Collaborate with stakeholders across the business to embed V&V processes and tools seamlessly Ensure technical quality, competency, and safety requirements are met across the Development supply chain Support strategic planning for internal and external resource capability Work with SMEs and capability engineers to support project delivery within cost, quality, and schedule constraints 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: Verification & Validation expertise, including experience developing and applying V&V principles and managing V&V data throughout the lifecycle Confident in communicating & applying Systems Engineering knowledge such as requirement identification, interface and lifecycle management; and application into problem solving and continuous improvements, e.g. stakeholder maps, boundary diagrams, activity breakdown, optioneering and trade off matrix. Experience with one or more of the following (desirable): + ISO15288 Systems and Software Engineering + IAEA SSG-69 Equipment Qualification for Nuclear Installations + EPRI Nuclear Power Plant Equipment Qualification Reference Manual + Environmental, Safety, Security & Safeguarding (E3S) principles including ALARP and BAT Ability to design and improve processes, tools and standards Experience with (desirable): + ALM tools: IBM DOORS, Siemens Polarion + MBSE tools: Capella, Sparx Enterprise Architect (Unified Modelling Language Diagrams) Strong communication and influencing skills, able to engage and align stakeholders Experience mentoring, coaching and developing technical talent Typically a degree in an engineering discipline or equivalent experience; Chartered Engineer status or working towards it 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-£75,000 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 startersYou'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. Selection Process: The closing date for this role is 30th March 2026, with interviews being able to take place immediately. Role Title: Lead Engineer V&V Process Development / Continuous Improvement (Capability) We are Rolls-Royce SMR A career with Rolls-Royce SMR offers a unique opportunity to contribute to an exciting organisation delivering a transformational mission. Rolls-Royce SMR is a radically different approach to proven nuclear technology. Each Rolls-Royce SMR power station will generate 470MW of low-carbon energy - equivalent to more than 150 onshore wind turbines and enough to power a million homes for over 60 years. With its Rolls-Royce SMRs will play a vital role in supporting renewable energy by helping to overcome intermittency and ensure a stable, sustainable energy future. We're proud to be one of the few employers that can genuinely say we're a strengths-based organisation. Our people are here because of what makes them exceptional - and our role is to help them make the most meaningful contribution of their careers, doing work they love. We offer opportunities that go beyond traditional career paths. At Rolls-Royce SMR you can develop your career by exploring roles and challenges that align with your unique talents. Our culture At Rolls-Royce SMR, we are committed to ensuring that our teams reflect the communities we serve and that everyone can be themselves at work. We know that diverse teams are more innovative and get better results, and that our people can thrive and be more successful in truly inclusive cultures. Join us and help shape our culture. Find out more