Job Title: Principal Licensing Engineer
Location: Flexible, UK + Hybrid Working Arrangement
Compensation: Attractive Salary + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Role ID: SF
Shape The Future Of Nuclear Innovation And Regulation
At Cavendish Nuclear, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Principal Licensing Engineer at any of our main UK locations, near Bristol, Warrington, Leicester, Newbury, or Preston.
The role
The UK’s small and advanced modular reactor sector is entering a pivotal phase, with major programmes progressing and strong government backing.
Join us as aPrincipal Licensing Engineer at the centre of this momentum and build your career across the nuclear and defence sector.
We’re seeking a Principal Licensing Engineer to join our Advanced Nuclear Technologies team, working in a fast‑moving, innovation‑led environment with real national impact. You’ll help shape the next generation of nuclear power through cutting‑edge design, accelerated deployment and projects that strengthen the UK’s long‑term energy resilience. If you want your work to matter at scale, this is the role for you.
This is a full-time role, based across any of our main UK locations. Flexible working patterns are available, and travel to other customer sites will be expected.
Day-to-day, you’ll be required to:
1. Leading licensing and regulatory activities across nuclear projects
2. Ensuring compliance with UK nuclear safety, environmental, and legal requirements
3. Building and maintaining strong relationships with regulators and key stakeholders
4. Supporting the development of licensing strategies and organisational readiness for approvals
5. Representing projects in meetings with regulators and external partners
Essential experience of the Principal Licensing Engineer:
6. Demonstrating deep knowledge of UK nuclear regulatory frameworks and site licensing requirements
7. Applying strong experience in nuclear safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance
8. Working across complex, high-value engineering or infrastructure projects
9. Engaging and influencing a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
10. Communicating complex regulatory concepts clearly and effectively
Qualifications for the Principal Licensing Engineer:
11. Degree or equivalent experience in engineering, physics, or a related discipline
12. Chartered status or working towards professional registration is desirable
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Standard (BPSS) security clearance for this role. Further details are available at
What we offer
13. Generous holiday allowance
14. Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
15. Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
16. Employee share scheme
17. Employee shopping savings portal
18. Payment of Professional Fees
19. Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
20. Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Cavendish employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually.
21. ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
22. Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
Cavendish
We’re Cavendish Nuclear — a team of c5, specialists and a core part of