Design Authority Secure by Design Engineer

Closing Date:  05/01/2024

Locations: Manchester / Gloucester / London

About newcleo 

Since launching in 2021 newcleo has quickly established itself as innovator in the field of nuclear energy. newcleo is working to design, build, and operate Gen-IV Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) that are cooled by liquid lead and fueled by reprocessed nuclear waste.

Through an innovative combination of existing and proven technologies, and by reviving a nuclear industry model based on the manufacture and multi-recycling of Mixed Oxide fuel, newcleo aims to close the nuclear fuel cycle while safely producing clean, affordable, and practically inexhaustible energy required for low carbon economies.  

With a EUR 50m group turnover in 2024, more than EUR 400m of private funding and over 70 partnerships and collaborations across the nuclear industry, the growth of the newcleo group is supported through the targeted acquisition of key companies with strong capabilities in nuclear engineering, manufacturing, and waste management.
 
Through its workforce of over 800 highly qualified employees across France, the UK, Italy, Switzerland, and Slovakia, newcleo is not only developing and delivering the skills and services required for the group’s own ambitious project timelines, but also supporting the development of Small Modular Reactor supply chains in Europe and beyond.

Overview of the role:

The Design Authority (DA) is responsible for ensuring that the developing design of newcleo’s 200MWe Lead-cooled Fast Reactor aligns with UK regulatory and legislative requirements, and will be responsible for the design of any units deployed in the UK as follows: Establishing design intent and maintaining design integrity of the Nuclear Power Plant (NPP);

• Developing the integrated Safety, Security and Environmental Cases;
• Leading UK regulator engagement on matters relating to design;
• Developing DA capability including the requisite knowledge to act as DA; and
• Supporting the successful delivery of all newcleo Programmes and Projects.

The DA Secure by Design (SbD) Engineer will be responsible for the following in relation to SbD:

• Provide technical advice and guidance for SbD to the UK Project Team and the Global Engineering Team to ensure the design is safe, affordable, and meets all UK security related regulatory requirements.
• Deputise and support the DA Security and Safeguards Lead for all aspects of SbD in establishing design requirements for physical and cyber security, approving design reference points and maintaining design integrity through configuration management.

Key Duties:

Deputise and Support the DA Security and Safeguards Lead in the following:

Design, Manage and Produce the Integrated Safety, Security, Safeguards and Environmental Case

• Develop the security case plan, working closely with the Project Leads to ensure the identification and production of all necessary information, evidence and working collaboratively to develop a suitable and fit for purpose security case.
• Produce, review and approve relevant security case deliverables and oversee the production of security case deliverables by our Global Engineering Team.
• Act as one of our Intelligent Customers for the delivery of technical security related work undertaken by specialist security contractors.

Lead Regulator Engagement

• Act as Topic Lead for SbD in the Generic Design Assessment and Site Licensing, engaging with regulators as required; producing and managing the necessary deliverables; and managing the identification and resolution of regulatory issues quickly and effectively.

Develop Design Authority Capability

• Define and develop the SbD skills and knowledge required by the DA and establish consultant and contractor support where appropriate.
• Develop the necessary SbD principles, processes, procedures and guidance that ensure best practice in security report development.
• Raise awareness of SbD throughout the business to ensure security exists inherently throughout the design.

Support Successful Programme and Project Delivery

• Support the preparation of an integrated plan for the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the FCU and subsequent UK Fleet, ensuring interfaces and key milestones are clearly identified and defined, work is broken down into unique work packages and resources are clearly identified.
• Applying best practices in security case development in line with newcleo processes and procedures, ensure deliverables are provided to time, cost, quality and without compromise to achieving security outcomes, balanced effectively with a commercially viable project that can help meet UK safety, security, safeguards and environmental goals for energy.
• Assist the newcleo GenCo’s Head of Security in other reasonable security taskings as required.

Safeguards and Safeguards by Design (SgbD) Project Development

• Develop the Safeguards and SgbD capability in newcleo.
• Engage with the Engineering and Design Team to exploit all opportunities to facilitate efficient and effective verification and to design in non-proliferation or counter diversion/withdrawal measures.

The role will also offer ongoing opportunities for growth & development depending on your career motivations, and is a key position for us to achieve our project success.

Is this role right for you?

We would like to speak to people who have:

• Essential: Clearly evidenced success and demonstrable technical knowledge and experience relevant to SbD of Civil NPP, providing DA capability and acting as an Intelligent Customer or in an equivalent type of role.
• Essential: Extensive knowledge and demonstrable previous application of UK Civil Nuclear’s Security Assessment Principles (SyAPs) using claims, arguments and evidence methodology.
• Essential: Experience in the structuring, preparation and review of security reports for licensed nuclear sites.
• Highly Desirable: Extensive subject specific knowledge of underlying security related to power plant design, UK and international (including IAEA) codes, standards, regulations and operational requirements.
• Highly Desirable: Previous experience in the delivery of GDA and UK Licensing, including related technical authorship.
• Highly Desirable: Experience in the development of security requirements to inform the design through the whole lifecycle including construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance.
• Desirable: An understanding of Nuclear Safeguards and UK obligations in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (the NPT) and the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) and its amendment
• Desirable: Strong project and contract management skills.

Please note if you meet some but not all of the requirements above, we would still been really keen to hear from you!

If you are not ready to apply just yet, or have a few questions? Contact Cameron Emerson at Cameron.emerson@newcleo.com

Please note, all applications will need to be made via our online portal.