Derby is the centre of UK submarine reactor work and small modular reactor design. Rolls-Royce is adding 1,170 jobs at Raynesway (The Manufacturer, July 2026), and Rolls-Royce SMR headcount rose from 684 in 2023 to 1,440 in 2026 (Revelio Labs, August 2026). Both businesses recruit the same Nuclear Engineers.
Key Takeaways
- Rolls-Royce is adding 1,170 jobs at Raynesway in Derby (The Manufacturer, July 2026).
- Rolls-Royce SMR headcount rose from 684 in 2023 to 1,440 in 2026 (Revelio Labs, August 2026).
- Rolls-Royce advertises Senior Reactor System Design Engineer roles at £50,650 to £66,500 and Human Factors Engineer roles at £42,000 to £55,150 in Derby (Indeed, October 2026).
- Rolls-Royce Submarines requires SC clearance and only progresses UK nationals or MoD-approved dual nationals (December 2025).
- The MoD forecasts defence nuclear workforce growth from 47,000 to 65,000 by 2030 (September 2026).
Where Nuclear Engineers Work in Derby
Derby’s nuclear market rests on two Rolls-Royce businesses, submarine propulsion and SMR design, plus the supply chain that serves them. Both recruit reactor, safety, C&I and human factors engineers, so they compete for the same shortlist.
What is Rolls-Royce building at Raynesway?
Raynesway is the Rolls-Royce site that designs and manufactures reactor plant for Royal Navy submarines, and it’s expanding. Rolls-Royce is adding 1,170 jobs there (The Manufacturer, July 2026), and the MoD forecasts defence nuclear workforce growth from 47,000 to 65,000 by 2030 (September 2026). That growth needs reactor, safety and C&I engineers.
Titles at Raynesway include EC&I Engineer (Nuclear Facilities) and Nuclear (Propulsion) Technical Engineer. Rolls-Royce Submarines is also recruiting nuclear safety engineering specialists (Destination Nuclear, December 2025).
How is Rolls-Royce SMR changing the Derby market?
Rolls-Royce SMR has more than doubled headcount, from 684 in 2023 to 1,440 in 2026 (Revelio Labs, August 2026), and it recruits the same reactor and systems engineers as the submarine business. Roles run hybrid across Derby, Manchester and Warrington (Glassdoor, October 2026), so Derby engineers get approached from three offices.
SMR deployment at Wylfa adds to the wider nuclear new build programme, so Derby reactor engineers hear from employers well beyond the city.
What Nuclear Engineers Earn in Derby
Derby pay is set by Rolls-Royce’s published bands, which sit above the UK average at senior grade. The figures below are the published benchmarks for the city.
| Role | Published pay | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Senior Reactor System Design Engineer, Rolls-Royce | £50,650 to £66,500 | Indeed, October 2026 |
| Human Factors Engineer, Rolls-Royce | £42,000 to £55,150 | Indeed, October 2026 |
| Senior Human Factors Engineer, Rolls-Royce | £50,600 to £66,500 | Indeed, October 2026 |
| Configuration Manager, Rolls-Royce SMR | £60,000 to £79,000 | Glassdoor, October 2026 |
| UK Nuclear Engineer average | £47,420 | Indeed, 128 postings, October 2026 |
The senior reactor band sits about 24% above the UK average. Nuclear contract rates typically sit 25% to 45% above equivalent staff salaries (defence-jobs.co.uk, 2026), and contractors and hirers both track IR35 changes before signing a Derby assignment.
Clearance and Nationality Rules in Derby
Defence propulsion roles carry tighter eligibility rules than civil nuclear work. Rolls-Royce Submarines requires SC clearance, supports the application and only progresses UK nationals or MoD-approved dual nationals (December 2025).
UKSV targets 25 net working days for SC and 95 for DV from a complete application, and real SC and DV clearance timings depend on how complete that application is. Applicants should also check the automatic disqualifiers before they apply.
How We Recruit Nuclear Engineers in Derby
- Step 1: We confirm nationality and residency before anything else, because Rolls-Royce Submarines only progresses UK nationals or MoD-approved dual nationals.
- Step 2: We separate submarine and SMR briefs, since the two businesses recruit the same skills under different eligibility rules.
- Step 3: We source from adjacent sectors, as Rolls-Royce Submarines is interested in candidates from civil nuclear, oil and gas, chemical process or rail.
- Step 4: We benchmark against Rolls-Royce’s published bands, from £42,000 for Human Factors Engineers to £66,500 for senior reactor design.
- Step 5: We plan the start date against UKSV’s 25 and 95 net working day targets and keep contact with the candidate until site access.
Our nuclear recruitment team covers Derby alongside Sellafield and Warrington.
Derby Nuclear Engineer FAQs
What does a nuclear engineer earn in Derby?
Rolls-Royce advertises Senior Reactor System Design Engineer roles at £50,650 to £66,500 and Human Factors Engineer roles at £42,000 to £55,150 in Derby (Indeed, October 2026). Rolls-Royce SMR Configuration Manager roles pay £60,000 to £79,000 (Glassdoor, October 2026), against a £47,420 UK average.
How many jobs is Rolls-Royce adding in Derby?
Rolls-Royce is adding 1,170 jobs at its Raynesway site (The Manufacturer, July 2026). Separately, Rolls-Royce SMR headcount rose from 684 in 2023 to 1,440 in 2026 (Revelio Labs, August 2026). Both businesses recruit reactor, safety, C&I and human factors engineers from the same Derby pool.
Do Derby nuclear roles need SC clearance?
Most defence propulsion roles do. Rolls-Royce Submarines requires SC clearance and supports the application (December 2025). UKSV targets 25 net working days for SC and 95 for DV from a complete application, so we gather BPSS evidence at the first call to keep that clock from starting late.
Can non-UK nationals work at Rolls-Royce Submarines?
Only in limited cases. Rolls-Royce Submarines only progresses UK nationals or MoD-approved dual nationals (December 2025). Non-UK nationals may find more open routes in civil nuclear or SMR design, but residency history still affects whether national security vetting can be completed for any cleared role.
Need a Nuclear Engineer in Derby in 2027?
Scantec recruits Nuclear Engineers for Derby’s submarine and SMR programmes on permanent and contract terms, so call our nuclear desk on +44 151 666 8999 to brief your role.
