About the role
As a Senior Engineer – CFD & Thermo‑fluids, you will lead the technical and programme delivery of thermal‑hydraulic analysis work packages across the SMR programme. You will act as both a technical author and reviewer, ensuring analysis outputs are robust, proportionate and aligned with programme governance and quality requirements. You will work closely with design, performance and safety teams, define analysis requirements, and scope appropriate levels of analysis. You will also contribute to method development, benchmarking, and validation of analysis tools, and may provide technical supervision, coaching and mentoring to junior engineers and supply‑chain partners.
Key responsibilities
- Lead and deliver high‑quality CFD and thermo‑fluid analysis across plant and system design
- Apply advanced 2D/3D CFD methods to assess internal flows, pressure drops, heat transfer and transient behaviour
- Use 1D fluid‑systems modelling to support system performance, sizing and operating philosophy
- Define, plan and review analysis work packages, ensuring proportionate and robust delivery
- Develop and apply new analysis methods, including VVUQ techniques
- Support validation and benchmarking of analysis tools using experimental and test‑rig data
- Generate clear, well‑documented analysis outputs and technical reports
- Develop and maintain automated analysis workflows, including pre‑ and post‑processing scripts
- Apply rigorous quality‑management and governance processes
- Provide technical oversight, coaching and review to support team capability development
- Communicate complex analysis clearly to technical and non‑technical stakeholders
Key skills and qualifications
- Strong understanding of applied fluid mechanics and heat‑transfer principles
- Demonstrated experience leading complex CFD analysis using ANSYS Fluent, CFX or Star‑CCM+
- Experience with pre‑ and post‑processing tools (e.g. SpaceClaim, MATLAB, Python)
- Experience with 1D system analysis tools such as Siemens Flomaster
- Experience developing or reviewing thermal‑hydraulic analysis methods
- Strong understanding of analysis QA, verification, validation and uncertainty quantification
- Experience scoping analysis to support design or safety‑case requirements
- Ability to plan and deliver analysis programmes, managing milestones, risks and interfaces
- Strong technical communication and report‑writing skills
- Knowledge of nuclear or other high‑integrity industries (beneficial but not essential)
- Degree‑qualified to Master’s level (or equivalent) in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or related discipline
- Chartered Engineer (or equivalent), or working towards chartership
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 and £66,500, dependent on the skills, values and knowledge you bring.
Benefits
- 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
Applicant background
We welcome applicants from nuclear and non‑nuclear backgrounds, including aerospace, energy, defence, oil & gas and research environments.
Equal opportunity statement
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.
