Nuclear Safety Lead

Company Description

Today, Assystem is among the top three independent nuclear engineering firms worldwide. With over 60 years of experience in highly regulated sectors, the group supports public and industrial stakeholders in the execution of complex and strategic infrastructure projects, subject to high safety and security requirements. 

Assystem mobilizes 8,000 experts in 13 countries and intervenes across the entire project lifecycle, in engineering, project management and digital solutions.

Job Description

Nuclear Safety Lead

📍 Location: Hybrid role requiring travel to various UK sites twice a month.

About this role

Reporting to the Head of Technical Services, you will be the Client’s principal adviser on nuclear safety and assurance.

You will guide programme teams in interpreting requirements, assessing safety implications and applying proportionate controls, strengthening submissions ahead of Authorisee, Design Authority and other key approvals.

Working closely with engineering, safety, environmental and quality leads, you will embed Fingleton Review principles through proportionate, risk-informed and evidence-led assurance.

Your Missions

Governance, Assurance and Compliance (40%)

🛡️ Act as the principal nuclear safety adviser, challenging and assuring programmes against Management Arrangements and Authorisee / Design Authority expectations.
⚖️ Apply proportionate, risk-informed assurance in line with Fingleton Review principles, determining safety significance and the appropriate decision route.
📄 Review safety strategies, specifications, submissions and supporting evidence, escalating material risks, gaps and uncertainties.
✅ Support gateways, design reviews and readiness assessments with clear, evidence-based recommendations.

Strategic Involvement (25%)

🏗️ Build nuclear safety and intelligent-client capability, shaping arrangements, assurance plans and engagement priorities.
🚦 Define proportionate controls, programme responsibilities, Technical Services review points and escalation routes.
📈 Assess capability and supply-chain risks, report emerging themes and mentor colleagues across programmes.

Customer Interaction (20%)

🤝 Advise programme teams, customers, suppliers and Authorisee / Design Authority representatives, translating nuclear safety and regulatory requirements into practical delivery outputs.
📐 Develop and interpret Safety and Operational Functional Requirements and support technical discussions, issue resolution and option assessments.
📋 Provide specialist input to tenders and supplier clarifications, strengthening confidence in internal assurance and submissions.

Wider Business and Improvements (15%)

💡 Share good practice and lessons learned, improving graded assurance, decision-making and programme support.
📘 Turn Fingleton Review findings into practical arrangements, behaviours and concise papers for governance and Design Authority engagement.
 

Why join the community of Switchers?

As one of the world’s top three nuclear engineering companies, Assystem offers a competitive benefits package:

💥 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays

💥 8% company pension contribution

💥 Healthcare cash plan covering dental, medical and physical care

💥 Employee assistance programme with 24/7 mental health support, virtual fitness classes and more

💥 Paid professional and industry membership fees

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE

Essential

☢️ Significant nuclear engineering, safety, infrastructure or defence experience, including safety-implicated plant, reactor, submarine or support systems.
🛡️ Strong knowledge of safety functions, hazard controls and lifecycle risks, with sound judgement on technical changes, deviations and outputs.
📄 Experienced in reviewing safety cases, technical and commissioning evidence, quality records and management systems.
🗣️ Credible communicator who can balance safety, performance, cost, schedule and deliverability with senior and multidisciplinary stakeholders.

Desirable

🏛️ Experience in an authorised or licensed nuclear environment, supporting an Authorisee, Licensee, Design Authority, Regulator or equivalent.
🔧 Nuclear build, commissioning, handover, operation, maintenance, repair or modification experience, including safety-case interfaces.
🔄 Governance improvement, organisational change or intelligent-client capability experience, with familiarity with the Fingleton Review.

TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

🎓 Relevant engineering, science or nuclear degree, with Chartered status or progress towards it.
☢️ Strong nuclear safety knowledge and ability to challenge evidence using proportionate, risk-informed assurance.

Desirable

🎓 Specialist nuclear safety training or relevant nuclear operations, reactor, submarine or safety-case experience.
✅ Regulatory, delegated-authority or assurance experience, with Lead Auditor or equivalent training desirable.

Additional Information

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES ON RECRUITMENT FRAUD - We are committed to safeguarding candidates from fraudulent activity associated with our recruitment process. Please note that we will never offer specialist CV writing services, request payment or ask for sensitive personal information during the recruitment process.

We are committed to equal treatment of candidates and promote, as well as foster all forms of diversity within our company. We believe that bringing together people with different backgrounds and perspectives is essential for creating innovative and impactful solutions. Skills, talent, and our people’s ability to dare are the only things that matter !. Bring your unique contributions and help us shape the future.