Job Description

Title:

Nuclear Generic Design Assessment (GDA) Specialist

Title: Nuclear GDA Specialist

Salary range: £90,000 to £100,000

Location: Bristol, Gloucester, Burton, Glasgow, Manchester or Leatherhead.

Working Pattern: We operate a flexible hybrid working pattern at Frazer-Nash, with time split between the office and working from home.

Closing date is 11th May 2026 but we encourage early applications

Do you want to play a key role in advancing new nuclear technology, applying your GDA experience within a leading nuclear company that values your insight and impact?

At Frazer-Nash, we deliver innovative engineering and regulatory solutions that help ensure nuclear technologies are safe, secure, and ready to support a sustainable future. With the nuclear industry accelerating towards Net Zero 2050, we are playing a key role across the full lifecycle of reactor development — including supporting clients through the demanding General Design Assessment (GDA) process.

We’re seeking a GDA specialist who is committed to advancing new nuclear technologies to join our diverse team and help guide reactor designs through robust regulatory scrutiny. Your expertise will be pivotal in shaping the next generation of nuclear facilities.

Role Purpose

The GDA Specialist provides strategic and technical leadership to the delivery of Generic Design Assessment (GDA) programmes and packages of work.

You will act as the principal interface for the GDA topic between clients and internal teams, supporting them with the implementation of GDA arrangements and production of safety, security, environmental, and waste cases.

The types of GDA activities you could be involved with include:

Leadership & Strategy

• Supporting our clients with technical and regulatory delivery of GDA phases (initiation, fundamental assessment, detailed assessment).
• Defining and implementing our clients’ GDA strategy and roadmap in line with ONR/EA/NRW guidance.
• Supporting regulator engagement during the GDA process.
• Managing and mentoring GDA engineers, specialists, and analysts within the delivery team.

Technical & Regulatory

• Oversee and/or contribute to the preparation and submission of key documentation:
• Pre-Construction Safety Report (PCSR)
• Security and Safeguards Cases
• Environmental Permits & Waste Management Cases
• Design Safety and Justification Reports
• Manage resolution of Regulatory Issues (RIs), Regulatory Observations (ROs), and Assessment Findings (AFs) raised during assessment.
• Conduct high-level review of vendor design documentation to ensure compliance with UK legal and regulatory frameworks (NIA65, REPPIR, EPR, and ONR Safety Assessment Principles).
• Coordinate internal and external technical reviews, safety assessments, and design integration studies.
• Provide authoritative advice on the regulatory implications of design changes, risk management, and schedule impacts.

Programme & Governance

• Support GDA programme governance: reporting, scheduling, cost control, risk management, and document traceability.
• Track and manage GDA issues, assumptions, and dependencies using formal systems (e.g., IRIS/Assurance registers).
• Provide regular updates to the Project Steering Committee and senior leadership on regulatory progress, risks, and mitigation strategies.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Degree (BEng/BSc) in Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, or a related technical discipline.
• Chartered Member of an Engineering Institution e.g. (IMechE, IET) or equivalent professional registration.
• Experience leading nuclear regulatory submissions or design licensing processes (GDA, Site Licensing, Environmental Permitting, etc.).
• Solid understanding of the UK GDA framework and expectations of ONR, EA, and NRW.
• Can demonstrate ability to interpret Safety Assessment Principles (SAPs), Technical Assessment Guides (TAGs), and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards.
• Demonstrated stakeholder-management and communication skills — able to interface effectively with regulators, government, and vendor organisations.
• Experience in technical leadership of multi-disciplinary engineering teams.
• Eligible for UK Security Clearance

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• Chartered Fellow of an Engineering Institution e.g. (IMechE, IET) or equivalent professional registration.
• Experience working on advanced nuclear technologies (SMRs, AMRs, or fusion).
• Experience managing interfaces between UK and international regulatory frameworks.
• Familiarity with ALARP principles, probabilistic safety assessment, and safety justification methodologies.
• Experience leading or contributing to public consultation and transparency activities in regulated environments.
• Experience of new nuclear power plant application in other territories e.g. USA NRC
• Project management qualification (e.g., APM PMQ or PMP).

Behavioural Competencies

• Strategic thinker with effective leadership and influencing skills.
• High integrity, attention to detail, and a rigorous approach to technical assurance.
• Experienced under pressure with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset.
• Skilled communicator, able to explain complex regulatory and technical issues to diverse audiences.
• Collaborative and able to work across teams, with a commitment to mentoring and knowledge-sharing.

Working at Frazer-Nash

One of our core values at Frazer-Nash is that we value our people. We help them to find work that they enjoy and that allows then to continuously grow and develop, whilst maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Where possible we encourage cross-sector and cross-discipline working to allow skill sets to be transferred and to encourage sharing of best practice from different sectors.

We empower experienced leaders to broaden their impact — whether that’s shaping strategic direction, driving high-value client programmes, or supporting the growth of emerging sectors. We offer the freedom to steer your career in the direction that excites you most: deepening your standing as a recognised technical authority, leading and developing high-performing teams, or accelerating business growth through sector leadership. You’ll have the autonomy to make meaningful decisions, backed by a supportive environment that enables you to excel.

Benefits:

We provide our people with an excellent benefit and offering package that comprises:

• Competitive salary with yearly reviews
• 25 days holiday + the opportunity to buy 5 days.
• A company that has its heart in the right place and a welcoming work culture.
• Happy to talk flexible working
• Enhanced parental benefits
• Company pension scheme
• Targeted professional development
• Life assurance
• Private healthcare membership
• Bonus scheme linked into company performance
• Paid membership fees to a professional institution
• Support in attaining professional membership
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season rail ticket loan
• And further optional benefits you can tailor to your personal requirements

Due to the nature of the work that Frazer-Nash Consultancy undertake, candidates will be required to undergo pre-employment screening and must be able to satisfy clearance criteria for UK National Security Vetting.