Senior Geotechnical Engineer

Closing Date:  05/01/2025

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:

Due to continued expansion, we are looking to speak with Senior Geotechnical Engineers to join our UK team!

This role is an exciting opportunity to join newcleo’s Reactor Civil Structure (RCS) design team and apply their expertise to the development of our Lead Fast Reactor (LFR) civil programme.

You will take the lead in building newcleo’s geotechnical engineering capabilities, levering your experience in solving complex problems in an innovative and pragmatic way, in close collaboration with newcleo’s Global Engineering team of international experts. 

Reporting to the Head of Civil & Structural (C&S)Design, the key duties of the role include:

• Prepare and deliver technical reports and method statements, to support the substantiation of the civil engineering structures, site infrastructure and earthworks of the LFR nuclear plant 
• Act as Subject Matter Expert on Geotechnical Engineering for Nuclear applications, as directed by the Head of Unit across the business 
• Initiate and lead the delivery of technical specifications for the geotechnical analysis and design packages to be subcontracted to the LFR Global Engineering supply chain 
• Act as Peer Reviewer of the engineering work packages delivered internally by the RCS unit or externally by the supply chain, fulfilling newcleo Intelligent Customer’s role 
• Actively contribute to the LFR Site Selection, Evaluation and Characterisation Programmes, authoring and reviewing specifications for the geotechnical and geophysical site investigation campaigns 
• Interpret ground investigations factual reports and develop interpretative reports 
• Support the LFR Global Engineering team towards the optimisation of the overall plant life-cycle design and construction 

This role will offer opportunities for development & progression towards management or expert activities depending on your career motivations. But don’t just take our word for it, below is a testimonial from one of our employees around their experience since joining newcleo:

“Two things attracted me to newcleo – I was excited to get involved with a new nuclear development from its early stages and to use my previous experience to help shape the culture and direction of the organisation, and having spent my career working on Pressurised Water Reactor designs I was intrigued by the LFR technology and the opportunity to work on something truly novel in the nuclear energy sector. Since joining, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some really talented people on a range of technical challenges associated with making our LFR technology a reality and also bringing it to market. I’ve also had the opportunity to learn a huge amount from the vast range of experience that newcleo has brought together to deliver its LFR and MOX projects. For me, I really believe newcleo offers a fantastic opportunity for experienced nuclear professionals to build their existing skills on a project which is unique in the UK nuclear industry and to be at the forefront of the design and licensing of Generation IV nuclear technology in the UK.”

The role can be based in our Manchester or Gloucester offices, where we have a hybrid & flexible working policy of 3 days per week in the office. There is also travel opportunities to our offices in Turin (Italy) and Lyon (France), in order to collaborate and build strong working relationships across our Global Engineering Team.

Is this role right for you?

We would like to speak to people who have:

• Proven geotechnical analysis and design experience on complex nuclear projects (or other highly regulated environments)  
• Chartered engineering status (CEng) as well as  a degree typically in Geotechnical Engineering, Engineering Geology, Civil/Structural Engineering or equivalent 
• Experience in design of shallow and deep foundation systems, including seismic design and assessment of soil-structure interaction effects 
• Proven knowledge of numerical modelling software to perform geotechnical analysis and design (FLAC, PLAXIS etc) 
• Experience in soil column, site-wide consolidation and settlement analysis 
• Ability to undertake stability evaluation of earthworks 
• Extensive subject-specific knowledge of UK, US or European codes, standards, regulations, and operational requirements 
• Excellent communication and technical report writing skills 
• A willingness to travel both within the UK and overseas to support the LFR Global Engineering team 
• Right to work full time in the UK & can achieve a national security clearance equivalent to a BPSS standard, or higher, within a reasonable period.

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.