Head of Structural Engineering

Role: Head of Structural Engineering

Locations: Hybrid working with one of the following locations as primary: Derby, Warrington or Manchester

The Business

Our mission is to deliver clean, affordable energy for all. Our Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology provides a British solution to a global energy challenge. We are positioned to become a world leader in SMRs and the UK’s premier green export capability, shaping the future of low‑carbon power.

The Team

The Structural Engineering team delivers the high‑integrity structures that underpin our entire power station design. From reactor island structures capable of withstanding seismic and external hazards to complex conventional buildings, the team drives innovation, safety and integration across diverse programmes and site‑specific deployments.

Summary

We are seeking a Head of Structural Engineering to lead multiple specialist teams covering reactor island, conventional buildings and site‑specific structural design. This senior leader will define strategy, strengthen technical governance and ensure all structural solutions are safe, justified, compliant and fully integrated across our engineering programmes.

Key Responsibilities

We’ll need you to:

• Leading strategy, ways of working and technical governance across all structural engineering domains.
• Overseeing delivery of robust, justified and hazard‑resistant structural designs.
• Developing capability and resilience within a large multidisciplinary team of staff and secondees.
• Managing supply‑chain design contracts to ensure quality, integration and timely delivery.

Essential Skills / Qualifications

This is a pivotal, high‑profile leadership role requiring strategic influence, collaborative leadership and first‑class communication skills to guide our organisation through complex and ambitious engineering programmes, as well as:

• A degree (or equivalent experience) in Structural, Civil or a related engineering discipline.
• Extensive experience delivering structural design across the full lifecycle of complex nuclear or major infrastructure projects.
• Proven senior leadership of large technical teams within uncertain and fast‑changing environments.
• We’ll ask about your experience engaging regulators, clients and cross‑functional teams to align design, delivery and safety case development.

Location

We offer hybrid working, with regular attendance expected at our offices in Manchester, Warrington or Derby, plus occasional travel to partner, regulator and client sites.

Salary and Package

• We anticipate paying a salary in the range of £85,600 to £110,700
• Bonus - Performance related target opportunity 30%
• Benefits Allowance – £8,500 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