Job Specifications
Principal Engineer (R&D Prototyping)
Location: Aberdeen (Bridge of Don)
Organisation: Orkora Limited
Type: Full time
Reports to: Founder / CEO
Clearance: Right to work in UK; ability to obtain UK national security clearances
About Us
Orkora is developing a new class of offshore nuclear power station. Designed to operate offshore and connect to transmission grids via subsea cables.
This is a high-integrity, results oriented environment. The work is challenging, fast and deeply rewarding.
Our Aberdeen site is focused on building the first physical subsystems: electrically-heated test rigs that demonstrate circulation, heat transfer, and dynamic metocean behaviour.
Role Overview
We’re hiring a Principal Engineer (R&D) to lead the design, build, and testing of early-stage prototype rigs sub 20 kW thermal, sub-5 tonne systems used to validate fluid, structural, and thermal models.
The role is fast-paced and hands-on: design → build → test → iterate.
You’ll have technical autonomy of scope and report directly to company leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Own concept, design, and build of electrically heated thermal test rigs (coolant loops, mock reactor vessels, sCO₂ power trains).
Produce 3D CAD models, manufacturing drawings, and P&IDs.
Perform structural and thermal FEA to validate components and assemblies.
Lead workshop activities with local technicians and fabricators.
Define and execute test procedures, capture data, and analyse performance.
Maintain design documentation, QA records, and technical reports.
Interface with system leads (thermal-hydraulics, electrical, controls) to integrate learnings into core reactor design.
Support continuous improvement of design and build methods within the R&D workshop.
Qualifications
Essential
Degree-qualified Mechanical Engineer (BEng/MEng or equivalent).
~10+ years’ experience designing and testing heavy prototype or process systems (e.g. thermal, hydraulic, pressure, or rotating-equipment rigs).
Strong CAD and FEA proficiency (SolidWorks/Inventor + ANSYS/Abaqus or similar).
Practical understanding of fabrication, machining, pressure vessels, instrumentation, and commissioning.
Competence in producing manufacturing drawings and P&IDs.
Capable of writing clear test procedures and technical reports.
Comfortable alternating between design office and workshop.
Preferred
Experience with high-temperature fluids, sCO₂ systems, or heat-transfer rigs.
Familiarity with pressure system design codes and test instrumentation.
Prior involvement in early-stage or high-intensity R&D environments.
Exposure to design for safety and regulatory documentation.
What We Offer
Career-defining opportunity to build and test the first physical prototypes of a new nuclear platform.
Autonomy, pace, and meaningful technical ownership.
Competitive salary + equity options (EMI) for early staff.
Work alongside a compact, multidisciplinary team tackling frontier-scale engineering problems.
90-Day Outcomes
Produce 3D models, drawings, and documentation for the first test rigs.
Establish workshop workflow and supplier interfaces for rapid design-build-test cycles.
Generate validated data supporting Orkora’s design, simulation and engineering models.
How to Apply
Apply directly via LinkedIn with your CV and (optionally) a brief note describing a physical prototype or test rig you designed and built.
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...
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