Role Title: Senior Engineer – CFD Analysis
Locations: Hybrid working with one of the following locations as your primary site: Derby, Manchester or Warrington
We anticipate paying a salary between £48,000-£63,000 DOE
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 (RR SMR) for the engineering analysis used to substantiate the performance and safety of the power station. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a key tool for supporting the design and development of the RR SMR as we apply CFD to a broad range of technical disciplines from complex 3D internal flows to 1D fluid systems analysis.
About The Role
The Senior Engineer – CFD Analysis will be responsible for the technical and programme delivery of CFD work packages across the power station, acting as both a technical author and reviewer for CFD analysis. The role will involve working alongside the design, performance and safety teams to determine suitable analysis requirements and scope of CFD analysis packages to support progressive design, but ultimately verify the performance and safety of the final RR SMR design.
The role includes contributing to the development of the wider CFD analysis methodology by applying Verification, Validation and Uncertainty Quantification (VVUQ) techniques, thereby demonstrating the adequacy of the CFD analysis they are responsible for. Senior Engineers may also be responsible for the technical supervision of small teams or junior engineers, which may include collaborating and/or management of CFD analysis delivered by our supply chain partners.
Role
The applications of CFD analysis to support the RR SMR are broad, with some of the key scenarios and technical disciplines this role would support being:
* 3D Internal flows to estimate pressure drop and flow distribution, including the effects of unsteady flow, turbulent mixing and conjugate heat transfer
* 1D Hydraulic systems analysis to demonstrate system performance / requirements, including system pressure drops, pump sizing and operating philosophy
* Complex transient phenomena such as flow induced vibration or compressible flow effects
* External airflow and discharges to atmosphere, such as cooling tower recirculation or gaussian plumes
* Heat and mass transfer mechanisms such as steam sparging and condenser/evaporator heat exchangers
Due to the safety-critical nature of the modelling we undertake, excellent quality-management processes and code VVUQ are essential. The development of robust and automated analysis routes around the analysis codes, including clear documentation of pre/post-processing scripts (in MATLAB/Python) and the use of our high-performance computing resources is an important aspect of this.
The CFD analysis group collaborates closely with our in-house test capability team, who are building large-scale multi-megawatt test rigs to represent key aspects of the plant to support the validation of the performance analysis tools. There are opportunities within the CFD group to work on benchmarking of our codes against test data, and support the development of the test rig designs and associated test campaigns.
As we strive to find the best fit for this position, we are seeking individuals with a minimum level of experience, training, and qualification. But we'll let you in on a secret: there's no such thing as the ‘perfect' candidate. If you feel you meet 75% of the requirements for this role, we would love to hear from you.
The Key Selection Criteria For This Role Are
* Proven ability to apply structured, high-assurance thermo-fluid analysis in safety-critical environments.
* Strong technical expertise in fluid mechanics and heat transfer principles.
* Hands-on experience with CFD tools such as Ansys Fluent/CFX and Star-CCM+.
* Experience in reviewing, verifying, and validating CFD models against experimental data.
* Ability to develop and deliver analysis methods, models, and tools to support design and safety cases.
* Track record of technically leading complex analysis projects and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
Typically you will have a degree level qualification an engineering discipline & be recognised through an appropriate professional body, or be working towards achieving this.
We welcome applications from a broad range of industries, with nuclear experience not being essential for this role.
Salary And Package
* We anticipate paying a salary of between £48,000-£63,000 DOE
* Bonus - Performance related target opportunity 12.5%
* Benefits Allowance – £2,200 per annum, enabling you to create a bespoke package
* Pension - 12% employer and 6% employee contributions.
* Holidays - 28 days holiday (+ public holidays) and the ability to buy or sell up to 4 days.
* Private Medical Insurance - BUPA single cover health care
* Life Assurance - 6x pensionable pay
* £250 - One-off payment for new starters for home office purchases
Why Join Us?
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