Principal Mechanical Engineer

Location: Devonport, Plymouth, GB, PL1 4SG

Onsite or Hybrid: Hybrid

Job Title: Principal Mechanical Engineer

Compensation: Starting Salary from £59,110 dependent upon experience + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Lead the Future of Engineering Excellence

Babcock we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as a Principal Mechanical Engineer at our Devonport Royal Dockyard site.

As a Principal Engineer, you’ll have a role that’s out of the ordinary. Join us as a Principal Mechanical Engineer in a forward-thinking, agile environment where your technical expertise and leadership will drive innovation and support national defence. You’ll oversee the design and delivery of bespoke mechanical handling and lifting equipment for refit support operations, making a tangible impact on engineering excellence.

Day-to-day, you’ll provide technical support and design consultancy for non-nuclear and nuclear mechanical, you’ll lead a team of engineers designing and delivering bespoke mechanical handling and lifting equipment for submarine and warship refit programmes. You’ll oversee technical reviews, sign off designs and calculations, and provide expert guidance on complex engineering challenges.

• 
  
• Leading and managing a team of engineers working on refit support equipment
  
• Reviewing and signing off technical designs, calculations, and documentation
  
• Attending authorisation group meetings and supporting fault diagnosis
  
• Conducting asset condition surveys and preparing health reports
  
• Responding to technical queries and reviewing industry standards
  

This role is full time, 35 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements.

• 
  
• Experience as a Principal Engineer, Engineering Manager, or Senior Engineer
  
• Background in bespoke machinery, automation, or special purpose engineering
  
• Proficiency in FEA (Finite Element Analysis)
  
• Skilled in Inventor (preferred), SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or other 3D design tools
  
• Extensive industry experience, ideally gained over a significant period in mechanical engineering environments.
  

• 
  
• A minimum of an engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering or CEng accreditation with relevant experience
  
• Chartered Engineer status (support provided) - Desirable
  

The successful candidate must be a sole UK national who is able to achieve and maintain Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information (NNPPI) security clearance for this role.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

• 
  
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
  
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
  
• Employee share scheme
  
• Employee shopping savings portal
  
• Payment of Professional Fees
  
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
  
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows the majority of employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement
  
• ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
  
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing
  

For over a century Babcock has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal.

We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.