Senior Fluids Thermal Analyst (Reactor Plant)

Senior Fluids Thermal Analyst (Reactor Plant)

Role Title: Senior Fluids Thermal Analyst (Reactor Plant)

Location: Hybrid working with a primary site of Derby, Manchester or Warrington

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 the role of Senior Performance Analyst, involved in industry-leading, cutting-edge design projects for a new type of power station.

As a senior performance engineer, you will lead a small team to model fluid and thermal systems that extract power from the nuclear core and ensure safe reactor operation. Your responsibilities include producing models and analyses that demonstrate reactor operation, collaborating with system designers to optimise plant and safety system designs to maximise safety, performance, and value for money. Your analysis outputs will be key inputs to the safety case and support the overall substantiation of the power station design.

The team utilises various tools and software to analyse key scenarios, including:

• Normal operations, where the reactor produces power and responds to grid demand,
• Operating transients such as shutdowns and refuelling restart procedures,
• Reactor faults, with passive safety systems protecting the core and containment integrity,
• Severe accidents, involving cooling damaged fuel and containing harmful fission products.

Given the safety-critical nature of this modelling, excellent quality-management processes, code verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification are essential. Developing robust and automated analysis routes using Python on Linux-based high-performance computing resources is a key aspect. All performance engineers must ensure output quality through rigorous processes, support code validation, and contribute to continuous improvement of methods and tools.

The team collaborates closely with the in-house test capability team, which is building large-scale test rigs to validate performance analysis tools. Opportunities include benchmarking codes against test data and supporting test rig design and campaigns.

Effective communication and collaboration across engineering and non-engineering disciplines are crucial, as performance analysis supports many aspects of the power station design. Flexibility and proactive engagement with other teams are expected.

Performance engineers are responsible for planning their work to meet objectives, adhere to quality processes, and deliver on schedule. Senior performance engineers will also support capability development, staff growth, or lead technical areas or interfaces.

If you meet at least 75% of the requirements, we encourage you to apply, even if you are considering a sector or career change. We welcome transferable skills and diverse backgrounds.

Role Details:

• Ref: 299
• Department: Engineering - Performance & Analysis
• Location: Derby, Manchester, Warrington
• Employment type: Full-time
• Salary: £48,000 - £62,500
• Closing date: 20/06/2025