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The job details
Senior Plant Inspector/Assessor
Category: Nuclear Operations
Salary: Salary starting at £57,854
Closing Date: 2026-09-02
Location: Sellafield, Cumbria
The salary range for this position is £57,854 to £63,248 (Grade 4A).
If you have any queries regarding the position itself please contact David Thomson.
Please be aware that all new appointments will be made in-line with the PLC ‘New’ terms & conditions. Therefore, if you are not already on PLC ‘New’ terms & conditions and you are selected and accept this role, there will be changes made to your contractual terms. The terms and conditions of the role will be made clear in the offer letter.
If you have any queries about the impact of applying for this role on your terms & conditions, pay, pension or benefits, please contact the HR Support Team.
Job Description for Senior Plant Inspector/Assessor:
This is where your skills play a critical role in keeping everyone safe. Working in Safety, Security & Safeguards gives you the chance to make your mark on some hugely interesting projects. UKNNL does work that nobody else in the sector is doing, and this means we need experts like you to make it possible, whilst keeping everyone safe. We’re committed to using nuclear science to benefit society for years to come. This means that you can build a long and successful career here whilst playing a meaningful role in delivering cleaner energy, reducing waste and keeping colleagues and the public out of harm’s way.
The Plant Inspection Team supports the statutory inspections for the Sellafield Site. The teams largest programme was renewed for Sellafield Statutory Plant Inspections in March 2025, worth circa £7m over 3 years and supports HALES WVP, LAEMG, and Magnox plants through planned and call-off services.
Staff requirement to support commitments to Sellafield Statutory Inspections. Primarily supporting the team through the deployment of visual inspection systems and NDE. Individuals required to service the current demand and additional call-off inspections which may be requested at short notice. The team develop, test and maintain bespoke inspection devices that have been designed or modified for specific plant. Support would be required mainly on the Sellafield site, but with also time spent at the Workington facility to support inspection device development or deployment system development and trials when required. The individual would work alongside other inspectors/assessors and be expected to safely deliver high quality plant inspection, condition monitoring and development support to chemical process and decommissioning plant on the Sellafield site.
This role can be based at Sellafield or Workington.
Main Responsibilities for Senior Plant Inspector/Assessor:
- Technically lead plant inspections/asset condition assessments using a variety of visual and NDT techniques.
- Produce quality technical reports of Inspections together with relevant conclusions and recommendations.Mentor less experienced team members to ensure they progress to the best of their abilities.
- Checking of technical reports and memoranda produced by the team.Help develop proposals for inspection and monitoring techniques and tooling to access difficult/harsh environments to address customer requirements.
- Develop innovative strategies and tools to address customer challenges.Work with suppliers and academia to take their new product ideas through design optimization, trials and ensure suitable for active deployment on customer plant.
- Provide expert advice on plant inspection tools and techniques, condition monitoring and lifetime assessment.
- Trouble shooting equipment issues as they arise during development trials and training activities.Willingness to train and develop SQEP requirements for the role.
Essential Criteria for Senior Plant Inspector/Assessor:
- A degree in a materials science, mechanical engineering or chemical engineering discipline or HND/HNC with significant experience.
- Demonstration of a positive attitude to safety and security and all other EHSS&Q requirements.
- Ability to understand and solve customer related technical issues and challenges with a proactive and flexible approach to customer support and project delivery to ensure requirements and expectations are met and exceeded.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Technical Lead, Task Supervisor and Sub-Contractor Supervisor.
- Proven experience of writing high quality technical reports, capturing results, drawing out conclusions and making appropriate recommendations.
- Ability to work effectively within and lead a team.
- Able to support technical analysis and reporting of NDE data.
- Access to C3+ controlled areas.
- Ability to obtain SC level security clearance (this includes but is not limited to identity, employment, financial and criminal record checks plus 5 years’ worth of UK residency).
Desirable Criteria for Senior Plant Inspector/Assessor:
- Chartership of a relevant professional body.
- A good understanding of the UKNNL business, its role in the Nuclear Industry and the challenges it is likely to face in the future.
- Existing knowledge of the Sellafield site, operations, waste treatment and decommissioning activities.