At Amentum UK and International, we are at the forefront of shaping the future, not just solving problems. Our expertise in engineering, project management, and solutions integration has positioned us as a key collaborator with government entities, delivering intricate and impactful programs around the world. With a strong presence in Saudi Arabia, we are actively involved in critical projects throughout the region. We are spearheading several exciting initiatives, taking on technical responsibilities for programme management, engineering oversight, and construction assurance.

People are our greatest asset, and we offer a competitive package to retain and attract the best talent. In addition to the benefits you would expect, UK employees also receive free single medical cover and digital GP service, family-friendly benefits such as enhanced parental leave pay and free membership of employee assistance and parental programmes, plus reimbursement towards relevant professional development and memberships. We also give back to our communities through our programmes which incorporate matched-funding, paid volunteering time and charitable donations.

About The Opportunity:

The Nuclear Engineering Director will report to the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and will lead the Owner’s engineering oversight for a new nuclear power plant project during pre-EPC Contract phase and EPC Contractor delivery phase, acting as the focal point for all technical deliverables and interfaces.

This role ensures that the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Contractor’s engineering outputs meet project requirements, nuclear safety standards, and regulatory expectations throughout the project lifecycle. The Director coordinates closely with Owner licensing function to align design deliverables with License Applications, and manages all technical interfaces between the Owner, EPC contractor, and external infrastructure.

A key part of the role is supporting the technical evaluation of the EPC bidder’s proposals, including compliance with the Bid Invitation Specification (BIS) and latest draft EPC Contract requirements, to help select a Preferred Bidder. This leads, after contract execution, to oversight of the EPC contractor’s nuclear and conventional engineering activities. Thereafter, the role requires preparation for a smooth transition from project delivery into operations, guaranteeing that all engineering documentation and systems are ready for operator training, licensing, and eventual plant operation under a Chief Nuclear Officer (CNO) structure.

This position requires both deep technical expertise in nuclear engineering and strong leadership to enforce informed customer principles, vendor oversight, and regulatory compliance on behalf of the Owner.

Key Responsibilities:

• Technical Evaluation of the EPC Bids and Negotiation of Contractual Obligations: Supporting the technical evaluation of the EPC bidder’s proposals from an engineering integrity and design delivery perspective, in accordance with the Bid Evaluation Manual (BEM), including compliance with the BIS and the draft Proposal Version EPC Contract requirements. Coordination of Technical Queries opposite bidders to obtain a clear understanding of their proposals where not adequately described in the initial bid documentation. Solicit sufficient information from the Preferred Bidder’s proposals and through negotiations to create a robust set of contractual obligations for the engineering and design throughout the full EPC lifecycle process. Establish a clear understanding with the Preferred Bidder of Owner expectations in performing the ‘Informed Customer’ role as part of EPC Contractor Audit and Surveillance.

• Engineering Deliverables Oversight: Lead the Owner’s verification and oversight of engineering deliverables produced by the EPC Contractor across the full project lifecycle – from Reference Plant definition, KSA adaptations, early licensing and Unit Design Basis, through detailed design maturity stages, as well as procurement, manufacturing, construction, commissioning, and final as-built documentation. Start by preparing and implementing a technical oversight strategy; validate opposite EPC Preferred Bidder ensuring the EPC Contract includes all the necessary deliverables and associated obligations, listed, characterised and sequenced, and that the Owner creates an oversight organisation suitable to perform the role. Ensure that each deliverable, or a representative subset dependent on the oversight strategy, is reviewed for adequacy, accuracy, and compliance with contract requirements and nuclear industry standards, with the Owner’s team confirming the completeness and quality of the EPC Contractor’s work.

• Licensing Interface Management: Maintain a formal interface with the Owner’s Licensing function to guarantee that engineering outputs from the EPC Contractor support the nuclear licensing process opposite the national nuclear regulator. Coordinate engineering activities so that designs, analyses, and technical documents provide the necessary input for licensing submissions (e.g. Safety Analysis Reports, regulatory filings) enabling the licensing team to submit high quality, approved-first-time regulatory submissions. Ensure design changes or updates are strictly controlled and communicated to the licensing team, supporting a licensing strategy that remains up-to-date and compliant with national regulatory requirements.

• Owner’s Scope Definition & Technical Interfaces: Define and manage all technical interfaces between the Owner’s scope of work and the LNPP EPC Contract. Establish clear battery limits and terminal points between the Owner’s scope (such as site infrastructure, off-site utilities, and external systems) and the EPC Contractor’s plant scope. Oversee the integration of these interfaces into the overall plant design, verifying those external systems (power, water, communications, etc.) are properly incorporated in a timely manner to minimise the prospect of contractual disputes with the EPC Contractor. Manage technical interface control throughout the project, chairing interface meetings with the EPC and other stakeholders, and enforce strict change control processes to handle interface changes or scope adjustments over the project lifecycle.

• Operations Readiness & Capability Development: Ensure that engineering deliverables are suitable for the eventual transition from a project delivery model under the Chief Technical Office (CTO) to an operations readiness model under the Chief Nuclear Officer (CNO). Work closely with the operations capability development team to confirm that design outputs (system descriptions, drawings, equipment specs, etc.) will support operator licensing and training, the development of operating procedures, maintenance schedules, and surveillance/testing programs. This includes verifying that maintainability and operability are built into the design, and that final documentation (as-builts, manuals, etc.) will enable a smooth commissioning, fuel loading, and operational ramp-up for the new nuclear facility.

• Regulatory Compliance & Quality Assurance: Oversee engineering activities with a constant focus on nuclear safety and regulatory compliance. Ensure all engineering work adheres to national nuclear regulations and international standards (IAEA guidelines and WANO good practices), and that the design conforms to the licensing basis and safety analysis. Coordinate with nuclear safety, quality assurance, and independent review teams to conduct design reviews, audits, and technical assessments. Address any findings to maintain compliance and to uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety culture and quality throughout the project.

• Vendor Oversight & Stakeholder Coordination: Act, in harmony with owner project and contract management teams, as the lead technical liaison between the Owner and the EPC contractor (and other vendors or consultants). Assist project and contract management in assessing EPC Contractor engineering earned value and technical milestone achievements, thus verifying the veracity of invoicing and payments. Implement an “informed customer” approach on behalf of the Owner – maintaining sufficient technical knowledge and oversight to intelligently monitor and challenge the contractor’s engineering decisions when necessary. Manage technical discussions and resolve issues with the EPC contractor’s engineering lead and team, ensuring that contractual technical requirements are met. Collaborate with external stakeholders such as grid operators, fuel suppliers, and regulatory bodies on technical matters, representing the Owner’s interests and ensuring all stakeholder requirements are integrated into the design and execution of the project. Coordinate with the owner procurement function to prepare and implement a make/buy strategy for appointing and integrating Owner’s Engineer resources.

• Team Leadership & Reporting: Provide leadership and guidance to the Owner’s engineering team (including any discipline leads, specialists, and Owner’s Engineers on the project). Assign tasks, monitor progress, and mentor team members to build the organization’s capability as an intelligent owner. Prepare and deliver regular engineering status reports, technical presentations, and decision papers to senior management and governance committees. Ensure that any technical risks or issues are clearly communicated and that decision-makers have the information needed to support project objectives while maintaining safety and compliance.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

Minimum education qualification level:

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field. An advanced degree (MSc or PhD) in a relevant discipline is highly preferred. Professional engineering licensure Educational Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field. An advanced degree (MSc or PhD) in a relevant discipline is highly preferred. Professional engineering licensure or chartered status, and additional training in nuclear safety or project management (e.g. PMP, APM, ISO21500:2021), would be an advantage.

• Familiarity with some or all of the following would be advantageous:

- IAEA safety standards (SSR/SSG/GSR series);

- IAEA project management/engineering guidance (NG-G/NG- T/NP-T series);

- International regulatory frameworks (e.g. NRC 10 CFR 52, NRC RG 1.70, UK ONR GDA Guides);

- International utility/vendor standards (EUR, ASME, IEEE, ACI);

- Systems-engineering frameworks/Configuration Management (INCOSE, ISO) and;

- Quality & Oversight (IAEA GS-G-3.1/3.5, WANO PO&Cs, IAEA TECDOC-1740).

​Minimum Experience & Skills:

• Experience: Extensive experience (ideally 20+ years direct experience) in nuclear power plant engineering and project delivery. This should include significant involvement in nuclear new-build projects, ideally with at least one full project lifecycle (from design through commissioning) preferably on the owner’s side. Prior experience in an Owner’s Engineer or oversight role is essential, giving the candidate a deep understanding of how to set and implement the strategy to manage and review EPC Contractor deliverables and performance.

• Technical Expertise: In-depth knowledge of nuclear power plant systems, engineering design processes, and project lifecycle stages. The candidate should be highly familiar with nuclear plant design documentation, systems engineering, and the integration of multi-disciplinary engineering work (civil, process, mechanical, electrical, I&C, nuclear safety analysis). Experience overseeing design maturity progress (e.g. system design bases from DB0 to DBn) and ensuring design coherence and safety case alignment through construction and commissioning is crucial.

• Industry Standards & Compliance: Strong understanding of nuclear industry regulations and standards, both national and international. The candidate must have knowledge aligned with IAEA and WANO guidelines, demonstrating the ability to apply nuclear safety standards, quality assurance requirements, and best practices throughout the project. Familiarity with the concept of an “informed customer” or “intelligent customer” is required – the candidate should be able to maintain technical oversight of vendors in line with these principles, ensuring the Owner’s responsibilities under the regulatory framework are fully met.

• Leadership & Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing engineering teams in a matrix, multicultural project environment. The candidate should possess excellent leadership and interpersonal skills to effectively coordinate between the Owner’s internal departments (licensing, safety, operations, etc.), the EPC contractor’s team, regulatory authorities, and other stakeholders. Experience in managing complex technical interfaces and facilitating problem-solving among diverse teams is essential.

• Project Management & Communication: Demonstrated project and contract management skills, including developing contract specifications, planning and prioritizing engineering work scopes, managing technical risks, and supporting project controls with engineering inputs (schedule, deliverables tracking, etc.). The candidate should be adept at technical communication – capable of producing clear technical reports, review comments, and presentations for senior management and regulatory audiences. Excellent communication skills in English are required, with the ability to articulate complex engineering issues to non-specialist stakeholders and to represent the project in meetings with high-level officials and international experts.

Our Culture:

Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion, and diversity. We put people at the heart of our business, and we genuinely believe that we all succeed by supporting one another through our culture of caring. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees. 

We aim to embed inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we are more connected, and if we are diverse, we’re more creative. We accept people for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, mental health, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. This is reflected in our wide range of Global Employee Networks centred on inclusion and diversity.

We partner with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain diverse talent. For greater online accessibility, please visit  Promoting Equality & Diversity in Jobs and Career - VERCIDA  to view and access our roles. As a Disability Confident employer, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role. 

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. We welcome feedback on our recruitment process and if you need more from us before deciding to join us then contact Andrew Duckworth.