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Mechanical Engineer - Submarines - Job Opportunity at Rolls-Royce

Derby, United Kingdom
Full-time
Mid-level
Posted: July 12, 2025
Hybrid
£45,000 - £65,000 per year based on mid-level mechanical engineering roles in the UK defense sector, with Rolls-Royce typically offering competitive packages in the upper range due to specialized nuclear facility expertise requirements and security clearance premiums.

Benefits

Competitive salary package with performance-based bonus structure providing financial rewards aligned with individual and company performance
Comprehensive employee support assistance program offering mental health, financial counseling, and personal development resources
Exclusive employee discount program providing cost savings on Rolls-Royce products and partner services
Hybrid working arrangement offering flexibility to balance office collaboration with remote productivity, supporting work-life integration
Exceptional career development opportunities with access to diverse engineering disciplines and cutting-edge nuclear technology projects

Key Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end engineering design processes for critical nuclear facilities, from stakeholder requirement identification through operational handover, directly impacting national defense capabilities and submarine manufacturing excellence
Ensure engineering solutions meet stringent project, technical, safety, and regulatory requirements while acting as intelligent customer for supplier activities, maintaining Rolls-Royce's reputation for engineering excellence
Design and optimize manufacturing facilities including process pipework, extract ductwork, chemical process plant equipment, facility structures, gloveboxes, and safety barriers that enable submarine production
Create and manage through-life substantiation of technical requirements for nuclear facilities, ensuring long-term operational safety and regulatory compliance
Apply advanced engineering techniques including HAZOP, DFMEA, SIL, and LOPA methodologies to validate design solutions and mitigate operational risks
Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to integrate manufacturing engineering, service engineering, hydrodynamics, thermodynamics, and stress analysis concepts into cohesive solutions
Manage project delivery within cost, timeline, and quality targets while identifying and mitigating technical, financial, and schedule risks
Lead resolution of emergent technical issues during production, build, maintenance, and decommissioning phases, ensuring continuous operational capability

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's degree, Master's, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent technical capability based on practical knowledge and experience

Experience

Technical experience relevant to facility design and system engineering discipline with design engineer experience operating across product life cycle

Required Skills

3D modelling software experience such as NX and Inventor Commissioning and installation of chemical process plants Project handover into operations and troubleshooting background Strong technical knowledge in mechanical design methodologies Cross-discipline engineering concept integration Manufacturing engineering, service engineering, hydrodynamics, thermodynamics understanding Stress analysis (both static and dynamic), fracture and fatigue assessment Logical, analytical, and innovative thinking on technical problems Design safety justification activities Research and development, analytical and test verification activities System/sub-system requirements understanding and component requirement derivation Communication skills for collaboration and design solution information sharing Nuclear facilities engineering policies and relevant standards understanding Design solution checking for completeness and correctness Work management according to project cost, timescales, and quality targets Subject matter knowledge sharing across functions Continuous improvement support Risk identification and management Verification, Safety Justification, and qualification strategies definition Hardware requirements specification Emergent issue resolution and recovery leadership Test results analysis, interpretation, and presentation

Certifications

Membership of relevant professional body or working towards Security Check clearance required (UK national or MoD approved dual national) UK nationality or MoD approved dual nationality status
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The global submarine market is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by geopolitical tensions and naval modernization programs, with the UK's AUKUS partnership creating substantial long-term demand for advanced submarine capabilities and associated infrastructure development. Nuclear facility engineering is becoming increasingly critical as nations invest in sovereign defense capabilities, creating a specialized market for engineers with nuclear facility design and safety expertise, particularly in submarine manufacturing contexts. The integration of advanced manufacturing technologies, digital twin capabilities, and predictive maintenance systems is transforming traditional submarine manufacturing facilities, requiring mechanical engineers to understand both legacy systems and cutting-edge digital integration approaches.

Role Significance

Typically part of a 15-25 person multidisciplinary engineering team supporting major infrastructure programs, with direct interaction with project managers, nuclear safety specialists, regulatory compliance officers, and external contractor technical leads.
Mid-level individual contributor role with significant technical leadership responsibilities, requiring independent decision-making on complex engineering challenges while collaborating with senior stakeholders across multiple disciplines and external suppliers.

Key Projects

Major infrastructure upgrades to nuclear manufacturing facilities supporting next-generation submarine programs Legacy facility life-extension projects ensuring continued operational capability during transition periods New facility commissioning projects incorporating advanced safety systems and regulatory compliance frameworks Cross-functional integration projects connecting mechanical systems with electrical, nuclear, and digital infrastructure components

Success Factors

Deep understanding of nuclear facility regulatory requirements and safety protocols, as these form the foundation for all engineering decisions and directly impact project approval and operational licensing Strong stakeholder management capabilities to navigate complex organizational structures, external regulatory bodies, and supplier relationships while maintaining project momentum and technical integrity Adaptability to work across facility lifecycle stages from concept through disposal, requiring broad technical knowledge and the ability to switch between strategic planning and detailed technical execution Proactive risk identification and management skills, as nuclear facility projects have zero tolerance for safety failures and require comprehensive risk mitigation strategies throughout the engineering process

Market Demand

High demand driven by national defense priorities, limited pool of security-cleared engineers with nuclear facility experience, and Rolls-Royce's central role in UK submarine programs creating strong job security and career advancement opportunities.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Nuclear facility engineering policies and regulatory compliance understanding is absolutely essential as all engineering decisions must align with strict safety requirements and regulatory frameworks that govern nuclear facility operations and modifications Cross-disciplinary integration capabilities are crucial because submarine manufacturing facilities require seamless coordination between mechanical, electrical, nuclear, and digital systems, with mechanical engineers serving as key integrators in complex multi-system environments Risk management and safety justification expertise is fundamental as nuclear facility engineering operates in a zero-failure environment where comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation strategies are required for all design decisions and operational changes

Beneficial Skills

Digital twin and predictive maintenance technology understanding will become increasingly valuable as Rolls-Royce modernizes manufacturing facilities and integrates Industry 4.0 technologies into traditional nuclear facility operations International defense standards knowledge will enhance career prospects as the AUKUS partnership creates opportunities for engineers to work on multinational submarine programs and technology transfer initiatives Advanced materials and manufacturing process expertise will support career advancement as submarine technology evolves toward lighter, stronger, and more efficient designs requiring innovative manufacturing approaches and facility modifications

Unique Aspects

Opportunity to work on once-in-a-lifetime major infrastructure programs that directly support national defense capabilities and international strategic partnerships
Access to cutting-edge nuclear facility engineering challenges that exist in very few organizations globally, providing specialized expertise highly valued in the defense and nuclear industries
Integration of traditional mechanical engineering with nuclear safety requirements, creating a unique technical specialty that combines conventional engineering principles with highly specialized regulatory and safety frameworks
Direct contribution to submarine manufacturing capabilities that support national security objectives and international defense partnerships, providing meaningful work with clear strategic importance

Career Growth

Progression to senior technical roles typically occurs within 3-5 years given the specialized nature of nuclear facility engineering and the critical importance of experience in this highly regulated environment.

Potential Next Roles

Senior Mechanical Engineer with expanded facility portfolio responsibility and junior engineer mentoring duties Nuclear Facility Project Manager leading cross-functional teams on major infrastructure developments Technical Specialist in submarine systems integration focusing on mechanical-nuclear interface challenges Engineering Manager overseeing multiple facility engineering teams and strategic planning initiatives

Company Overview

Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce is a global aerospace, defense, and power systems company with over a century of engineering excellence, serving as the exclusive provider of nuclear propulsion systems for the UK Royal Navy and playing a central role in the AUKUS submarine partnership with the US and Australia.

Market leader in marine nuclear propulsion systems with an unparalleled reputation for safety and reliability, holding strategic importance to UK national defense capabilities and maintaining long-term government contracts providing exceptional business stability.
The Derby facility represents Rolls-Royce's primary submarine engineering and manufacturing hub, serving as the center of excellence for nuclear marine propulsion systems and employing thousands of specialized engineers and technicians in a purpose-built secure environment.
Highly collaborative environment emphasizing safety, precision, and continuous improvement, with strong emphasis on professional development and cross-functional knowledge sharing, operating within strict security protocols and regulatory frameworks that create a unique professional environment focused on national defense contributions.
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