Hybrid Methods Development Engineer

at Rolls-Royce SMR

• Job title: Methods Development Engineer
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Mid level, Senior
• Salary: £42,000 - £55,150 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Tech skills: Python
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Derby, United Kingdom

About the role

• Methods Development Engineer at Rolls-Royce SMR developing advanced fluid and thermal analysis methods. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to ensure safety-case substantiation with high quality.

Responsibilities

• Support the development, verification and application of advanced fluid and thermal analysis methods used to substantiate the SMR design and safety case
• Work closely with analysts and system designers to ensure analysis tools and methodologies accurately represent plant behaviour
• Interpret systems design data and faithfully implement it within fluid‑thermal models
• Develop and maintain analysis methods and tooling using modern, object‑oriented Python
• Use Git‑based workflows for configuration control and collaboration
• Contribute to automated testing frameworks and CI/CD pipelines that support continuous integration and deployment of analysis methods
• Engage directly with analysts as primary customers while also interfacing with systems designers
• Produce high‑quality technical outputs suitable for nuclear safety‑case substantiation
• Plan and manage work to meet programme milestones and quality requirements

Requirements

• Experience in fluids or thermal‑hydraulic analysis using a structured, methodical approach
• Strong understanding of fluid dynamics and thermal processes
• Experience writing analysis reports or contributing to safety‑case documentation
• Experience using industry‑standard fluids or thermal‑analysis tools
• Experience developing analysis methods, models or tools in Python
• Familiarity with software‑engineering best practice, testing and quality assurance
• Experience verifying and validating analysis tools and models
• Understanding of uncertainty quantification and benchmarking methods
• Knowledge of power‑generation or other safety‑critical industries
• Nuclear thermal‑hydraulics experience (RELAP, FLOMASTER, VIPRE, CTF, GOTHIC) desirable but not essential
• Strong communication skills and ability to work across multidisciplinary teams
• Degree‑qualified in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science or a related discipline.

Benefits

• Bonus – Performance‑related target opportunity
• 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 ability to buy or sell up to 4 days
• Private Medical Insurance – BUPA single cover
• Life Assurance – 6× pensionable pay
• Home Office Support – £250 one‑off payment for new starters