Senior Engineer - Control & Instrumentation (C&I) Functional Design

We are Rolls‑Royce SMR and we’re doing something that’s never been done before. We’re revolutionising an industry. That’s a once‑in‑a‑career opportunity for those excited by such a challenge. This is more than just a job; this is a legacy.

The Control & Instrumentation (C&I) capability at Rolls‑Royce SMR is responsible for defining, designing and delivering the control, protection and automation architecture that underpins the safe and efficient operation of the power station.

The Functions Control and Automation team sits at the heart of this capability, defining plant functional behaviour, control philosophies and system‑level requirements that drive the design of C&I systems across the entire SMR power station.

As a Senior Engineer – C&I Functional Design, you will act as the technical focal point for C&I engineering activities associated with the design and delivery of process plant systems.

This role focuses on requirements elicitation, control strategy development and the production of high‑quality C&I design documentation that will be used to develop and implement the plant’s control and automation systems.

Working closely with Process, Mechanical, Electrical, Operations, Human Factors and Safety teams, you will translate operational requirements into robust, safe and compliant control system designs. You will play a key role in defining how the plant behaves, operates and responds under both normal and abnormal conditions, helping to shape the overall automation philosophy of the SMR power station.

• Act as the C&I engineering focal point for assigned process plant systems and automation packages
• Engage with process, operations and safety stakeholders to capture and manage control system requirements
• Develop and maintain Control Philosophies, Functional Design Specifications (FDS) and associated C&I design documentation
• Produce and maintain Cause & Effect matrices, interlock documentation and functional logic specifications
• Review and contribute to the development of Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs)
• Select and develop appropriate control strategies, including:
  • PID control
  • Cascade control
  • Split range control
  • Advanced process control approaches
• Develop, review and interpret control logic diagrams
• Support development of alarm schedules, instrument indexes and equipment lists
• Work closely with specialist Instrument Engineers to support instrument and field device selection
• Define instrument setpoints, engineering tolerances and calibration requirements
• Support Human Factors assessments and operator interface design activities
• Coordinate C&I activities across multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Participate in HAZOPs, design reviews and technical assurance activities
• Identify technical risks and develop suitable mitigation strategies
• Mentor and support the development of junior C&I engineers

We know there’s no such thing as the ‘perfect’ candidate. If you meet around 75% of the criteria below, we’d love to hear from you:

• Experience delivering C&I system design within Nuclear, Power Generation or other highly regulated process industries
• Experience translating operational requirements into functional control system designs
• Strong understanding of process automation and control system development
• Experience producing:
  • Control Philosophies
  • Functional Design Specifications (FDS)
  • Cause & Effect matrices
  • Logic diagrams
  • Instrument indexes
  • Alarm schedules
• Experience developing and reviewing P&IDs
• Understanding of industrial instrumentation, including:
  • Field sensors
  • Transmitters
  • Switches
  • Analysers
  • Control valves
  • Pumps
  • Pneumatic and electric actuators
• Knowledge of process control strategies and automation methodologies
• Familiarity with ISA‑88 and ISA‑106 principles
• Awareness of relevant standards including:
  • IEC 61508
  • IEC 61511
  • IEC 61513
• Strong technical writing and engineering documentation skills
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and multidisciplinary teamwork skills
• Ability to work independently and deliver complex engineering work packages

• Proactive, organised and capable of balancing multiple priorities
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capability
• Committed to high standards of nuclear safety, quality and engineering excellence
• Excellent attention to detail
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and incomplete information
• Able to make sound technical decisions while balancing project, safety and regulatory requirements
• Strong communicator, capable of explaining complex C&I concepts to non‑specialists
• Confident influencing multidisciplinary engineering teams and stakeholders

• Degree‑qualified in Control & Instrumentation Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering or a related engineering discipline
• Equivalent experience will also be considered
• Chartered Engineer status, or working towards Chartered status, is desirable

Hybrid working with one of the following as your primary site:

Derby, Manchester or Warrington.

The salary band for this role will be between £53,700 - £70,500 dependent on the skills, values and knowledge you bring. There may be flexibility in exceptional cases.

Benefits include:

• Bonus – Performance‑related target opportunity up to 12.5%
• Benefits Allowance – £2,200 per annum for a bespoke package
• Pension – 12% employer and 6% employee contributions
• Holidays – 28 days (+ public holidays) with the ability to buy or sell up to 5 days
• Private Medical Insurance – BUPA single cover
• Life Assurance – 6× pensionable pay
• Home Office Support – £250 one‑off payment for new starters

The closing date for this role is 30th October 2026. The process will begin with an introductory call with the Talent Acquisition Partner, with interviews being able to take place straight away.

Pay Range:

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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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