“The uniqueness of every project has glued me to the work”: Remya on nuclear design, multi-disciplinary problem solving, and why no two days look the same

Remya describes herself as someone who’s glued to the work and it’s easy to see why. As an Electrical, Control & Instrumentation engineer in AtkinsRéalis’ nuclear team, no two projects look the same.

Based in Bristol, Remya leads, reviews, and originates EC&I design solutions across new build and refurbishment projects for markets in the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. In her 11 and a half years as an engineer, she’s worked across AGR, EPR, CANDU technology, and nuclear fusion, a range that most engineers in the sector would struggle to match.

“I am excited by the uniqueness of the scope of work in every project we do,” she says. “Concepts that I learned and issues that I could resolve with my EC&I skills have glued me to the work. While there are risks and seriousness associated with what we deliver, the experience we gain is also tremendous.”

The part of the day she looks forward to most

Ask Remya about her favourite part of the job and it’s not the design work itself, it’s the moment the design meets the room.

“I enjoy the technical review workshops the most. This is a stage that helps me gain clarity from the client or reviewer. It occurs at a point when I’ve worked considerably on the project, so attending and actively participating gives me a sense of the timeline required to complete a task.”

It’s also where she has the most influence. “It gives me opportunities to propose modifications and improvements to the client and is usually quicker than communicating the same through email.”
 

Learning to think beyond your discipline

One of the experiences that’s shaped Remya most has been confronting problems that don’t sit neatly within her own discipline.

“I can quickly recall scenarios related to multi-disciplinary coordination that made me feel I need to be ready to confront problems irrespective of which discipline they depend on. Initially, I faced these with stress and inhibition, they don’t primarily get designed by my discipline.”

But the fundamental engineering knowledge was there, and working alongside colleagues from other disciplines changed her perspective. “Those experiences helped me get a better sense of my contributions from the overall project perspective. They help my experience stand out from others without multi-disciplinary exposure.”
 

Flexibility that fuels better work

When asked what helps her do her best work, Remya is clear.

“I feel relieved primarily because of the flexibility the company offers. It has been helping me manage my personal responsibilities alongside my profession. This gratitude has always helped me push my work limits and bring out the best from me.”

Beyond flexibility, the technical communities matter. “There are strong technical and non-technical communities within the company that have always been helpful during technical challenges and for sharing interests as individuals.”
 

Her pitch to anyone considering nuclear

“Joining the nuclear team at AtkinsRéalis will be beneficial for anyone who is intelligent, ready to unlearn and relearn, and concerned about the sustainability and energy sector in the UK and the rest of the world.”

“You will be able to work on projects of different categories and technologies, and constantly feel like you are doing different things rather than sedentary, similar work.”

As for what’s next, Remya has her sights set on becoming an EC&I design expert in functional safety, cybersecurity, and networked control of equipment, areas at the cutting edge of nuclear engineering.

Your next team could be here. Join our nuclear team at AtkinsRéalis and explore opportunities.