Rolls-Royce SMR
Head of Engineering Operating System
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Location:
Hybrid – Warrington, Derby or Manchester (with regular on-site collaboration)
Our Mission
At Rolls-Royce SMR, we are transforming the future of clean energy. By developing world-class Small Modular Reactors, we are delivering scalable, low-carbon power solutions that will support global energy security and net-zero ambitions. Our work is complex, highly regulated and impactful—offering a unique opportunity to shape a new era of nuclear innovation.
The Team
You will sit within the Engineering Directorate, working closely with the Head of Engineering Capability and a broad network of senior leaders across engineering, digital (DigIT), safety and programme delivery.
This is a pivotal leadership role that operates across the enterprise—connecting capability platforms, delivery teams and governance structures into a single, integrated system. You will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure the Engineering Operating System (EOS) enables consistent, high-quality delivery across a complex and rapidly evolving programme environment.
The Role
As Head of Engineering Operating System, you will provide operational leadership of the EOS—ensuring it functions as a coherent, integrated and regulator-credible system.
You will oversee the performance, integration and continuous improvement of the EOS, enabling predictable, controlled and auditable engineering delivery. Acting as the operational authority for capability systems, you will ensure governance frameworks, digital platforms and engineering processes work seamlessly together to support programme delivery at pace.
This role is critical in providing enterprise-level insight into capability, capacity and system health—helping identify risks early and ensuring the organisation remains resilient under delivery pressure.
What We’ll Need You To Do
- Lead and continuously evolve the Engineering Operating System so it operates as a single, integrated, high-performing enterprise system
- Provide clear operational oversight of engineering capability, capacity and resilience, ensuring teams can deliver predictably under pressure
- Turn governance frameworks into practical, system-enabled controls that drive consistent, compliant delivery
- Drive adoption of standard processes, tools and digital platforms, reducing fragmentation across engineering teams
- Partner with DigIT and platform owners to optimise system performance and resolve issues impacting delivery
- Identify and manage systemic risks, providing early visibility and ensuring effective mitigation across the organisation
- Deliver clear, data-led insight into EOS performance, trends and system health to inform leadership decision-making
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What You’ll Bring
- Strong senior leadership experience in enterprise-scale engineering environments, ideally within regulated or safety-critical industries
- A track record of operating and improving engineering systems, governance and assurance processes in live delivery environments
- Deep understanding of risk, controls and information integrity at an organisational level
- Experience working across engineering, digital and programme delivery functions, with a strong focus on integration
- Degree qualification in engineering (or equivalent experience) and professional recognition such as Chartered Engineer
- A collaborative, pragmatic leadership style, with the ability to influence and align diverse senior stakeholders
- The judgement and resilience to maintain control, pace and quality in complex, high-pressure delivery settings
Location
This role is hybrid, with flexibility built in to support work-life balance. You will be expected to regularly attend one of our key sites in Warrington, Derby or Manchester, with occasional travel as required to support collaboration and programme delivery.
What’s In It For You
We anticipate paying a salary of between £85,600.00 - £112,350.00 DOE plus:-
- Bonus - Performance related target opportunity 20%
- 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
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You’ll be joining a rapidly growing organisation at a critical stage of its development, offering excellent opportunities for learning, professional development, and long-term career progression within a purpose-driven and innovative environment.
Pay Range
£85,600.00
£112,350.00
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
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