Principal Process Engineer – Nuclear
Leading Consultancy | Manchester or Warrington based | Long-term Contract | Outside IR35 | Competitive Rate | Security Clearance Required
The Opportunity
We're recruiting an experienced Process Engineering Responsible Engineer on a long-term contract basis to lead the process design and engineering delivery on a major nuclear licensed facility project. This is a senior technical and management role where you'll have full authority as Lead Engineer for the discipline, managing both internal engineers and external consultants to deliver designs on time, within budget, and in full technical compliance.
You'll manage the process design and engineering aspects of the programme, ensuring all requirements for the nuclear licensed site are met. You'll lead a team of process engineers, own discipline quality and programme targets, and represent process engineering at the highest level with clients, stakeholders and vendors. This role demands both hands-on technical expertise and proven leadership -someone who can drive technical excellence whilst managing delivery and people effectively.
What You'll Be Doing
Technical Leadership & Delivery
- Support a team of process engineers on assigned engineering design projects
- Execute the process engineering scope of work according to contract requirements, in full compliance with company, client and nuclear regulatory standards
- Own discipline quality, programme and cost targets
- Perform own design work and check work by others in accordance with company procedures
- Approve project deliverables when authorised by the Technical Authority
Programme & Risk Management
- Ensure all designs are safe, sustainable, and efficient to construct
- Manage technical risk and ensure compliance with nuclear facility requirements
- Develop discipline programme activities and deliverables, plan for adequate resources
- Monitor and report design progress and man-hour usage to the project management team
- Ensure adherence to management systems and digital processes to provide stakeholder assurance
Stakeholder & Team Engagement
- Represent Process Engineering in client meetings, vendor discussions and third-party negotiations
- Work collaboratively within multi-disciplinary project delivery teams
- Ensure integration of Process Engineering design requirements into the overall engineering design
- Lead and mentor the process engineering team
- Develop and influence relationships with key stakeholders
Compliance & Safety
- Ensure personal and team compliance with company policy, relevant legislation, and Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental requirements
- Maintain and champion safety culture across all activities
- Support security clearance processes and compliance with nuclear site requirements
About You
Essential Experience & Qualifications
- Minimum 15 years' experience in technical delivery and management roles in an engineering or consultancy environment
- Experienced process engineering technical specialist with proven capability in complex project delivery
- Recent UK project experience with understanding of the full delivery process from work winning to scheme handover
- Extensive technical and leadership experience in the process discipline, including managing and leading multi-disciplinary projects and teams
- Proven track record in collaborative, innovative and agile working environments
- Customer-facing capability with the ability to develop and influence relationships at all levels
- Strong people skills with proven line management, mentoring and team development experience
- Excellent communicator (written and verbal) with strong technical writing ability
- Meticulous and methodical approach with strong attention to detail
- Ability to prioritise and meet tight deadlines
- UK driving license with willingness to travel across the UK and visit project sites and suppliers, occasionally at short notice
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience across a range of sectors including oil & gas, nuclear, water, chemical, and industrial
- Knowledge and understanding of UK technical and regulatory standards and global best practice
- Strong engineering and business system/software skills
- Previous experience working on nuclear or heavily regulated projects
Security Clearance
The successful candidate will need to obtain security clearance to work on this nuclear licensed facility project.
The Role in Practice
You'll be based in Manchester or Warrington, with desirability to travel to Cumbria up to two days per week. You'll report to the Process Discipline Manager and Project Engineering Manager, supported by the discipline Technical Authority.
You'll engage on a long-term contract basis working on a strategically important nuclear project. This role combines hands-on technical expertise with team leadership and programme management -ideal for someone who wants to drive technical excellence on a high-profile, complex facility.
Why This Role
We're recruiting on behalf of a leading engineering consultancy delivering critical infrastructure on a major UK nuclear facility. This is a significant technical and leadership opportunity on a well-resourced, strategically important project. You'll be working with a strong technical team and stakeholders across the nuclear sector, with the chance to shape how process engineering is delivered on one of the UK's priority infrastructure programmes.
