Role Title: Senior Manager – C&I Protection Systems

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 Electrical, Control & Instrumentation (EC&I) function is responsible for delivering the systems that protect and control the power station under all operating conditions. Protection and Safety Systems are among the most safety-significant systems within the plant and form a fundamental part of the nuclear safety case.

About the Role:

As a Senior Manager – C&I (Protection & Safety Systems), you will provide strategic and technical leadership for the specification, design, integration, verification and delivery of plant protection systems across the SMR programme.

You will lead the development of safety-related architectures, ensuring that protection systems satisfy nuclear safety requirements, regulatory expectations and operational objectives. This includes oversight of protection logic, reactor protection systems, safety automation and supporting safety system integration.

You will work closely with safety case teams, regulators, system architects and engineering leadership to ensure that protection systems remain compliant, verifiable and fully integrated within the overall plant design.

This is a senior technical leadership role with responsibility for organisational capability, programme delivery and strategic direction across one of the most important engineering domains within the power station.

We’ll Need You To:

Lead the specification, design and delivery of nuclear protection and safety systems
Define and maintain protection system architectures and safety functions
Ensure alignment with nuclear safety requirements, safety cases and regulatory expectations
Lead system verification, validation and qualification strategies
Coordinate multidisciplinary engineering teams delivering safety-related system functionality
Support regulatory engagement and independent assessment activities
Drive technical governance and safety assurance across all protection systems
Develop strategic supplier relationships and oversee delivery of safety-significant solutions
Lead programme planning, risk management and organisation capability development
Mentor, coach and develop engineering leaders and specialists within the function

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:

Extensive experience delivering safety-related C&I systems within nuclear or other highly regulated sectors
Strong understanding of functional safety principles and protection system design
Experience with safety classification, safety case development and regulatory assurance
Knowledge of protection architectures, reactor protection systems and safety automation
Experience leading verification, validation and qualification activities
Strong systems engineering and requirements management capability
Proven leadership of large multidisciplinary engineering organisations
Experience managing technical suppliers and strategic delivery partners
Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
Ability to influence engineering and programme decisions at a strategic level

Qualifications:

Degree qualified in Control Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, Systems Engineering or another relevant STEM discipline
Chartered Engineer (CEng) or equivalent professional registration
Significant experience delivering protection and safety systems within a safety-critical environment

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 £71,000 – £93,200 dependent on the skills, values and knowledge you bring. There may be flexibility in exceptional cases.

Benefits include:

Bonus – Performance‑related target opportunity up to 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 the ability to buy or sell up to 5 days
Private Medical Insurance – BUPA single cover
Life Assurance – 6× pensionable pay
Home Office Support – £250 one‑off payment for new starters

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 growth in a rapidly scaling business, and a culture that values diversity, continuous learning and engineering excellence.

Selection Process:

The closing date for this role is 18th October 2026. The process will begin with an introductory call with the Talent Acquisition Partner, with interviews being able to take place straight away.

Pay Range:

£71,000.00

£93,187.50

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

#LI‑CE1 #LI‑Hybrid #WeAreSMR #destinationnuclear

About Us

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 about our inclusion pledge.
Rolls-Royce SMR is a place where everyone can grow, so whatever background you bring with you, please apply if this is a role that would make you excited to come into work every day and help shape our culture.

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 can thrive.

What we offer

At Rolls-Royce SMR, our reward offering is focused on recognising you for your efforts and motivate you to continue achieving. Our rewards and benefits scheme are designed for employees to have complete control. By providing complete autonomy, you can focus on what’s important to you. Whether it’s investments, insurances or wellbeing, it’s in your hands.
Work is an activity, not a place. We understand due to commitments and lifestyle; the world of work has evolved beyond the 9 - 5. Whether its varied hours or hybrid working, our flexible working arrangements make it possible for employees to achieve a true work life balance.

Your career journey

At Rolls-Royce SMR, we don’t just want you to contribute, we want you to grow. We have open dialogue with our employees to understand the ambitions for their career and set plans to achieve them. Whether it’s helping you obtain formal qualifications or pairing you with a mentor, Rolls-Royce SMR will provide you with a fulfilling career. Our Team | Rolls-Royce SMR

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Senior Manager - C&I Protection Systems