Orkora

About the Company

The world is realising it needs a lot more energy, there are many diverse ideas about how to achieve this and everyone has their own hypothesis. At Orkora we are developing floating nuclear power stations. Each asset will be large enough to deliver gigawatt scale power generation, and be developed around a philosophy of inherent safety. This is not science fiction, two generations of North Sea development have taught us how to build large offshore structures that can withstand the most violent sea conditions on Earth. All of the necessary technical elements already exist across various industries and already exist at the necessary scale, someone just needs to put it all together in a coherent design, take it through the licensing and classification process and build it. That's a big challenge, but if you're the sort of person who likes big challenges maybe you should get in touch.

Listed Jobs

Company Name

Orkora

Job Title

Principal Engineer (R&D)

Job Description

Job Title Principal Engineer (R&D) Role Summary Lead the end‑to‑end design, construction, and testing of early‑stage prototype rigs (≤20 kW, ≤5 t) to validate fluid, structural, and thermal models for a new offshore nuclear platform. Work in a fast‑paced, hands‑on environment balancing detailed CAD/FEA work with workshop execution, and report directly to senior leadership. Expectations - Deliver complete 3‑D designs, manufacturing drawings, and P&IDs for the first test rigs. - Establish workshop workflows and supplier interfaces to enable rapid design‑build‑test cycles. - Produce validated data sets and technical reports that inform core reactor design. Key Responsibilities - Own conceptual design, fabrication, and testing of electrically heated thermal rigs, coolant loops, mock reactor vessels, and sCO₂ power trains. - Create detailed 3‑D CAD models and manufacturing drawings; generate P&IDs for mechanical and hydraulic systems. - Conduct structural and thermal finite‑element analysis to validate components and assemblies. - Lead workshop activities with technicians and fabricators; oversee fabrication, machining, and pressure‑vessel construction. - Define, execute, and document test procedures; capture data, perform performance analysis, and iterate designs. - Maintain design documentation, QA records, and technical reports in alignment with engineering standards. - Collaborate with thermal‑hydraulics, electrical, and controls leads to integrate prototype insights into the overall reactor design. - Drive continuous improvement of design and build methods within the R&D workshop. Required Skills - 10+ years’ experience designing and testing heavy prototype or process systems (thermal, hydraulic, pressure vessels, rotating equipment). - Advanced proficiency in 3‑D CAD (SolidWorks or Inventor) and FEA (ANSYS, Abaqus, or equivalent). - Practical knowledge of fabrication, machining, pressure‑vessel construction, instrumentation, and commissioning. - Ability to produce manufacturing drawings, P&IDs, and concise technical reports. - Comfortable transitioning between office design work and hands‑on workshop execution. Required Education & Certifications - Degree‑qualified Mechanical Engineer (BEng/MEng or equivalent). - No specific certifications required; familiarity with pressure‑system design codes and safety documentation is preferred.

Aberdeen, United kingdom

On site

Senior

10-11-2025