Office for Nuclear Regulation
Band 3 Mechanical Engineering Inspector
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Bootle, Cheltenham, London
Job Summary
ONR is not a Civil Service department, however, we are an arms length body of Department of Work and Pensions.
Job Purpose
As the UK’s independent nuclear regulator, our mission is to ensure safe nuclear for a secure and sustainable future. ONR is changing with the sector: nuclear is set to play a central role in economic growth, energy security, national defence, decommissioning and the development of new technologies. Our role is to enable innovation and growth through proportionate, enabling regulation, while maintaining public confidence that the highest standards of nuclear safety, civil nuclear security, safeguards, and conventional health and safety are met across nuclear facilities in Great Britain.
This is an exciting role at a pivotal time for the UK nuclear sector. You will help regulate work that supports decarbonisation, energy security, national defence, new reactor technologies, fuel manufacture, decommissioning and waste management. A career with ONR offers the opportunity to shape how nuclear technology is used safely and securely, while contributing to a regulator that is becoming more modern, agile and productive.
Job Description
Principle Responsibilities
As a Mechanical Engineering Inspector your work will be varied and strategically important. You are likely to undertake a range of roles across the sector, from assessing new reactor designs and advanced nuclear technologies to regulating construction, operational and decommissioning sites. Some inspectors undertake planned and reactive inspections at operational facilities, while others assess submissions, manage discrete intervention projects, conduct investigations, commission research, or mentor and develop the next generation of inspectors. Across these activities, you will help ONR deliver proportionate, enabling regulation that supports safe innovation and maintains public confidence.
ONR Mechanical Engineering Inspectors assess and inspect systems that are comprised of a wide range of mechanical engineering equipment, we focus on those systems that are important to safety. Many of the systems that operate within the nuclear industry use proven techniques, such as applying redundancy, diversity, and segregation. These systems require a range of through life tasks to be undertaken, such as design analysis and equipment qualification etc.
We are looking for people with in-depth technical knowledge of nuclear safety significant mechanical systems. This includes their design, installation, commissioning, maintenance, operation and decommissioning. The type of systems you will be expected to show a knowledge of includes the following: ventilation and containment (in particular Alpha containment), lifting, fuel handling, power reactor, chemical and process plant, heat transfer, pressure, and transport package systems. Applicants should be experienced in asset and maintenance management processes. A working knowledge of automation techniques such as, robotics, digitisation or artificial intelligence would be an advantage.
As well as providing guidance and advice in your specialism, you would need to be able to take the lead on the technical assessment of Mechanical Engineering aspects of safety cases and in making judgements on the adequacy of the safety case and site-based interventions.
Extensive training will be provided on the legal and regulatory aspects of the role, along with opportunities to continue to develop the expand and deepen knowledge in the specialist area and on a range of nuclear technologies.
Line Management Responsibilities
None currently, however, there could be an expectation to manage staff in the future.
Location / Travel
This post may be undertaken from the closest ONR office (Bootle, Cheltenham, or London).
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You may be eligible for relocation package up to £15,000. This post requires some travel including overnight stays predominantly across the United Kingdom and occasionally abroad. The successful applicant requires a full driving licence which permits the holder to drive in the UK unless reasonable adjustments can be made under the Equality Act 2010.
ONR operates hybrid working (working in the office and or at home) as part of our flexible working policy. There is an expectation that everyone will spend time in the office on a regular basis, recognising that some work is better done face to face. Managers will work with their teams on what works best to meet individual, team, business and organisational needs to enable collaboration, as well as balancing personal choice and wellbeing.
Work with Us
Our colleagues are from all walks of life with varied personal experiences and career journeys into ONR. We want the best people for our roles. As an inclusive employer we value individuals’ contributions, regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, social background, religion, or belief. Our values ‘supportive, open-mindedness, fairness and accountability’ are central to this. We invest in our people to build capability, resilience, and promote wellbeing in our great teams, underpinned by our inherent focus on inclusion and excellence.
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must hold or can achieve and retain National Security Vetting clearance at SC level.
Person Specification
Inclusion
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We will consider reasonable adjustments to ensure the recruitment process is inclusive and barrier-free. If you require reasonable adjustments as part of your application, please contact ONR HR as soon as possible, preferably before the vacancy closes, by emailing ONR.Human-Resources@onr.gov.uk or Stephanie.Glen@onr.gov.uk to discuss further.
We will also offer an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for applicants who opt into the guaranteed interview scheme.
We recognise we have a role to play in helping those leaving the Armed Forces and have a Veterans guaranteed interview scheme. We offer an interview to Veterans who meet the minimum criteria for applicants who opt into the scheme. Please see eligibility criteria below.
- served for at least one year in His Majesty's Armed Forces (as a Regular or Reserve).
- be in transition from, or ceased to be a member of, His Majesty’s Armed Forces.
- not already be employed by ONR.
Line Management Responsibilities
None currently, however, there could be an expectation to manage staff in the future.
Location / Travel
This post may be undertaken from the closest ONR office (Bootle, Cheltenham, or London).
You may be eligible for relocation package up to £15,000. This post requires some travel including overnight stays predominantly across the United Kingdom and occasionally abroad. The successful applicant requires a full driving licence which permits the holder to drive in the UK unless reasonable adjustments can be made under the Equality Act 2010.
ONR operates hybrid working (working in the office and or at home) as part of our flexible working policy. There is an expectation that everyone will spend time in the office on a regular basis, recognising that some work is better done face to face. Managers will work with their teams on what works best to meet individual, team, business and organisational needs to enable collaboration, as well as balancing personal choice and wellbeing.
Our colleagues are from all walks of life with varied personal experiences and career journeys into ONR. We want the best people for our roles. As an inclusive employer we value individuals’ contributions, regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, social background, religion, or belief. Our values ‘supportive, open-mindedness, fairness and accountability’ are central to this. We invest in our people to build capability, resilience, and promote wellbeing in our great teams, underpinned by our inherent focus on inclusion and excellence.
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Security Clearance
The successful candidate must hold or can achieve and retain National Security Vetting clearance at SC level.
Person specification
Essential Skills / Experience
We are looking for people with a specialist knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Design, construction, commissioning, maintenance, operation and decommissioning of nuclear safety significant structures, systems, and components.
- Deterministic failure analysis of mechanical systems used at nuclear or high hazard facilities.
- The design and implementation of condition monitoring, risk-based inspection and the range of modern maintenance practices applied to mechanical structures, systems, and components, such as pressurised, rotating, high and low temperature mechanical plant and equipment used across the nuclear sector.
- An understanding of key tools and techniques in relation to effective asset management of ageing and obsolescence of mechanical equipment used in high availability demanded applications.
- Knowledge of the key safety engineering principles and their practical application associated with achieving and demonstrating specified categorisation and classification of nuclear safety significant structures.
- Experience in the application of techniques or analyses that provide the claims, arguments and evidence for safety cases in support of complex systems and components.
- Knowledge of national and international codes, standards, and relevant good practice applicable for the above topics.
Desirable Skills / Experience
You should have experience of working in responsible positions in the nuclear sector in design, construction, operation, decommissioning or safety appraisal in a safety case environment, with preference given to candidates who can demonstrate a sound understanding of the current nuclear industry context and understanding of relevant principles and practices.
In Addition To Technical Experience, Candidates Should Have:
- Proven effective judgement and decision-making skills, applying logical reasoning, and making effective and proportionate risk-based recommendations.
- Good team working and communication skills to help us deliver our strategy.
- Demonstrable strong influencing skills and an ability to persuade by working collaboratively and flexibly with all stakeholders, showing appropriate interpersonal sensitivity, self-awareness and assertiveness.
- Proven experience of balancing challenging and conflicting priorities, with resilience to flex in order to meet business needs.
- Evidence of effective and professional behaviours throughout delivery of roles.
- Confidence in the use of modern IT tools and applications.
ONR will consider applicants with a non-nuclear/non-high hazard background, who if appointed would undertake a structured nuclear equivalence process in order to reach Nuclear Safety Inspector level. Applicants should be aware that if individuals are appointed on this basis, they will be appointed on an alternative salary range whilst undergoing the equivalence process.
Qualifications
We expect Mechanical Engineering inspectors to have:
- A good honours degree, or
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