Mechanical Construction SME

Mechanical Construction SME

Are you experienced in interpreting and applying welding and fabrication standards in a highly regulated environment? Are you confident in providing technical leadership and guidance on fabrication challenges across multidisciplinary teams? Are you proactive in identifying and driving innovation within fabrication processes to improve efficiency and quality?

If this all sounds like the role for you, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join us as our next Mechanical Construction SME here at Hinkley Point C!

The Opportunity

As a Mechanical Construction SME (Known as Fabrication SME Internally) at HPC, you will be a key technical authority, providing expertise in welding, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), metallurgy, heat treatment, and mechanical component assembly. Your role will be essential in supporting the successful construction, installation, and compliance of equipment and systems on-site. With a focus on stainless steel surface integrity, pressure testing, and mechanical code compliance (RCC-M), you will help maintain the highest technical standards across HPC.

Collaboration will be at the heart of your work, as you build strong connections with engineering teams across HPC and design teams in the UK and France. Your insights will help bridge the gap between design, fabrication, and on-site assembly, ensuring all processes align with project requirements and industry best practices.

Beyond your technical expertise, you will play a critical role in ensuring compliance across fabrication-related activities. You will review and verify procedures, method statements, and technical documentation, making sure every requirement is properly captured. Additionally, you will provide support and oversight to your team, reinforcing best practices and upholding the integrity of HPC’s construction and installation standards.

What you’ll be doing

As a Fabrication SME, you will play a pivotal role in nuclear governance, overseeing the work performed within the team and approving technical guidance on construction changes, including non-conformances and field modifications. You will act as the key authority for code interpretation, ensuring construction teams and contractors correctly understand and implement requirements. Additionally, you will appoint technical leads within your team to review fabrication documentation, coordinating efforts to ensure all aspects are thoroughly addressed.

Beyond this, you will contribute to developing NNB’s strategy, guidelines, and surveillance programs for welding and related activities. Your responsibilities will include reviewing surveillance outcomes, identifying technical trends, sentencing Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs), providing or approving technical advice on Requests for Information (RFIs), and assessing Field Change Requests (FCRs) to maintain compliance and quality standards across HPC. Additional roles and responsibilities include:

• Attend workshops, meetings, and Steering Committees, providing balanced, risk-based advice with a strong focus on nuclear safety while supporting the Construction Technical Manager.
• Collaborate with the Construction Integration team to ensure work is delivered safely and meets quality, time, and cost expectations.
• Capture and coordinate technical learning and best practices related to fabrication activities at HPC and across the wider industry.
• Work closely with project teams, multi-disciplinary groups, and contractors to resolve challenges and keep the programme on track for safe, high-quality, and timely delivery.
• Identify and drive innovation that brings real value to HPC, engaging with the supply chain and industry partners to explore and implement new approaches.
• Mentor and coach team members, fostering an environment where high performers can thrive and knowledge is effectively transferred.
• Lead as a line manager, conducting performance reviews, holding quality conversations, planning resources, recruiting, and managing budgets to build a strong and capable team.

Who you are

To excel in this role, you’ll need a deep understanding of British and European standards, as well as construction and design codes like RCC-M or ASME, with a strong preference for expertise in RCC-M. Your experience should include reviewing critical documentation for safety-critical construction and fabrication, such as Inspection and Test Plans, Welding Books, and NDT procedures. A degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Metallurgy, or Weld Engineering is essential, along with significant hands-on experience in joining and testing both thin and thick-walled carbon and stainless steel pressure equipment and pipework. Additional requirements for this role include:

• Strong decision-making skills with the ability to resolve complex technical issues.
• Deep understanding of Quality Assurance within highly regulated environments.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with internal teams, external customers, and suppliers.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ensuring clear and effective collaboration.
• Strong organisational skills and proficiency in IT tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDFs.
• Experience working in highly regulated industries such as nuclear, aerospace, or petrochemical.
• Expertise in interpreting and applying welding codes and standards.

Applications for this role close: Sunday 13th April

Join us and together we can help Britain achieve Net Zero.

#HinkleyPointCJobs #LI-Hybrid #DestinationNuclear #EDFNuclearJobs