Senior / Principal Process Engineer - Nuclear (Contract)

Location: Warrington or Preston (3 days on site / 2 days remote)
Rate:

Senior: ~£60 per hour (Umbrella PAYE)
Principal: ~£75 per hour (Umbrella PAYE)
Contract: 12 months (strong likelihood of extension)
Start: ASAP

The Opportunity

We are recruiting for a Senior or Principal Process Engineer to support a key nuclear programme focused on Reprocessed Uranium (RepU).
RepU is uranium recovered from spent nuclear fuel, historically reprocessed at Sellafield and reused in fuel cycles. While the UK has shifted toward once-through fuel strategies, significant RepU inventories remain in storage-creating a critical opportunity to develop safe, effective strategies for its management, reuse, or disposal.
This role offers the chance to work at the forefront of fuel cycle strategy and nuclear process engineering, contributing to complex challenges with long-term national importance.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and deliver process engineering design and analysis for RepU-related projects
Develop and review process flows, mass balances, and system design documentation
Support optioneering, feasibility studies, and safety case inputs
Interface with multidisciplinary teams across engineering, safety, and operations
Ensure designs comply with nuclear regulatory and safety requirements
Provide technical leadership and guidance (particularly at Principal level)
Support stakeholder engagement across the wider nuclear enterprise

Essential Requirements (Must-Have)

Degree-qualified in Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, or similar
Demonstrable experience in nuclear process engineering
Strong background in:
Process design and engineering calculations
Developing process flow diagrams (PFDs) and P&IDs
Safety case support and hazard awareness
Experience working on complex, highly regulated projects
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

Senior Level (Additional Expectations)

Proven ability to deliver process engineering packages independently
Experience supporting design development and project delivery
Strong technical problem-solving capability

Principal Level (Additional Expectations)

Extensive experience leading process engineering workstreams or teams
Ability to provide strategic technical direction and decision-making
Strong track record in optioneering, concept development, and complex project delivery
Experience influencing stakeholders at senior level

Desirable (Highly Advantageous)

Experience with fuel reprocessing, uranium chemistry, or fuel cycle technologies
Previous work relating to Sellafield operations or legacy materials (RepU)
Familiarity with UK nuclear regulatory frameworks and safety case development

Working Arrangements

3 days per week on site in Warrington or Preston
2 days remote working
Flexible, collaborative team environment

Why Apply?

Work on a strategically important nuclear programme
Competitive contract rates with long-term potential
Opportunity to shape solutions for legacy nuclear materials management
Hybrid working with strong technical challenge and impact
If you're a Process Engineer with nuclear experience looking to step into a high-impact project, we'd like to hear from you