PES Lead Engineer

RESPONSIBILITIES

Job Overview

The PES Lead Engineer is responsible for leading the design, development, and assurance of Programmable Electronic Systems (PES) within nuclear projects. This role ensures that control and safety-related systems meet the required nuclear safety, regulatory, and engineering standards throughout the project lifecycle.

Working within multidisciplinary teams, the PES Lead Engineer provides technical leadership, governance, and assurance for PES-based control systems, ensuring designs comply with nuclear industry standards and safety cases. The role also supports the delivery of projects from concept design through to commissioning and handover.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for the design and implementation of Programmable Electronic Systems (PES) within nuclear facilities.

• Lead the development of control and safety system architectures, ensuring compliance with relevant nuclear and functional safety standards.

• Manage and review PES design documentation, including specifications, functional design, software design, and verification documentation.

• Ensure PES systems align with nuclear safety cases, safety functional requirements, and regulatory expectations.

• Coordinate PES activities across multidisciplinary engineering teams, including EC&I, process, mechanical, and safety engineering.

• Oversee the verification and validation (V&V) of PES systems, including testing strategies and commissioning support.

• Provide technical assurance and governance for PES deliverables throughout the project lifecycle.

• Support hazard analysis activities such as HAZOP, HAZID, SIL assessments, and safety assessments where PES systems are involved.

• Interface with clients, regulators, and project stakeholders on PES-related technical matters.

• Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior and developing engineers.

Key Accountabilities

• Ensure PES designs comply with relevant nuclear industry standards, regulatory requirements, and company procedures.

• Deliver PES engineering outputs on schedule, within budget, and to the required quality standards.

• Maintain configuration control and governance of PES system designs and documentation.

• Promote and maintain high standards of nuclear safety, security, environmental protection, and quality.

• Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering processes, standards, and best practice within PES engineering.

Essential Requirements

• Degree or HNC/HND in Electrical, Electronic, Control Systems, or Instrumentation Engineering (or equivalent experience).

• Professional registration such as Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng), or working towards.

• Experience delivering PES or control system engineering within the nuclear industry or other highly regulated sectors.

• Strong understanding of programmable control systems including PLCs, DCS, or safety PLCs.

• Experience delivering engineering projects from concept design through to commissioning and handover.

• Knowledge of functional safety principles and safety-related control systems.

• Ability to lead technical teams and coordinate multidisciplinary engineering activities.

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience working on nuclear licensed sites or major nuclear programmes.

• Knowledge of IEC 61508 / IEC 61511 functional safety standards.

• Experience with safety PLC platforms (e.g., Siemens, Rockwell, Schneider, or similar).

• Experience supporting nuclear safety cases and safety justification documentation.

• Familiarity with cyber security requirements for industrial control systems.

• Experience leading PES design assurance and governance reviews.

Typical Systems Involved

• PLC and safety PLC-based control systems

• Distributed Control Systems (DCS)

• Instrumentation and process monitoring systems

• Safety interlocks and protection systems

• Plant control and monitoring systems