Senior / Principal HVAC Engineer - Nuclear

Job Description

Overview

We’re looking for a Senior / Principal HVAC Engineer to join our Nuclear team, bringing technical expertise and thoughtful leadership to the delivery of complex HVAC solutions across safety-critical projects.

You’ll work collaboratively with clients and multidisciplinary teams to solve challenging engineering problems and develop solutions that are safe, robust, compliant and practical to deliver.

This is an opportunity to contribute across the full project lifecycle, from feasibility and concept through FEED and detailed design to construction and commissioning. Alongside your technical contribution, you’ll have opportunities to guide others, share your knowledge and help develop capability across the team.

Your initial focus will be supporting a major project in Canada, with opportunities to travel and work alongside the client team when required.

Your role

As a Senior / Principal HVAC Engineer, you’ll bring together technical expertise, collaboration and engineering leadership to deliver high-quality solutions across nuclear and power projects.

You’ll:

• Apply your HVAC expertise, particularly across ventilation and chilled water systems, to support technically complex and safety-critical projects.
• Lead and contribute to HVAC design across the project lifecycle, including feasibility, concept design, FEED, detailed design, construction and commissioning.
• Work closely with clients and multidisciplinary teams to develop effective engineering solutions across major nuclear projects and emerging areas such as Small Modular Reactors and Nuclear Fusion.
• Provide technical leadership, supporting design reviews, technical decision-making, risk management and change control.
• Lead and coordinate design teams, including engineers and BIM modellers with different levels of experience.
• Manage interfaces between HVAC and disciplines including piping, process engineering, civil, structural, architectural, fire, electrical and C&I.
• Support engineering delivery across different building types, particularly within complex industrial or power environments.
• Build trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders, bringing people together to resolve technical challenges and achieve positive project outcomes.
• Contribute to bids, proposals and safety initiatives while helping us identify opportunities to improve how we deliver.
• Share your experience and support the development of early career engineers, helping build capability and confidence across the wider team.

About You

We take a strengths-based approach, focusing on what you bring and how you can continue to grow and thrive with us. You don’t need to match every point perfectly, and we’d encourage you to apply if you believe your experience could add value to the team.

You may recognise yourself in some of the following:

• You bring strong experience in HVAC engineering, particularly ventilation and chilled water design, within complex, safety-regulated or multidisciplinary environments.
• You hold Chartered or Incorporated status with a recognised professional institution, or bring comparable relevant experience.
• You enjoy applying your technical knowledge to solve problems, guide decisions and support successful project outcomes.
• You’re comfortable contributing at Senior or Principal level and taking responsibility for aspects of technical design and delivery.
• You value collaboration and bring a thoughtful and inclusive approach to working with multidisciplinary teams.
• You communicate clearly and enjoy building positive relationships with colleagues, clients and stakeholders.
• You may have experience supporting construction activities and responding to technical queries from live construction sites, alongside an understanding of civil and structural interfaces with HVAC systems.
• Experience with CFD analysis, heating and cooling load modelling, atmospheric dispersion analysis or exhaust stack design would be valuable.
• You’re comfortable learning and applying different codes and standards. Experience with international requirements such as ASME, NFPA or Canadian building codes would be beneficial.
• You’re comfortable with our hybrid working approach, which involves office/project-based working approximately 3 days per week in Bristol.
• As the initial assignment supports a project in Canada, a willingness to travel to Canada and co-locate with the client team when required would be advantageous.

Above all, we’re looking for someone who combines strong HVAC engineering capability with collaborative leadership, curiosity and a commitment to delivering safe, high-quality engineering solutions.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Rewards and benefits – Careers at AtkinsRéalis

About AtkinsRéalis

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage.

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Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.