Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Babcock International; Cockburn; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mentorship program

Nuclear expertise access

Professional development opportunities

Employee wellbeing program

Job summary

H&B Defence Pty Ltd is seeking a Principal Manufacturing Engineer to uplift Australia’s defence manufacturing capability. You will lead supplier audits, assess maturity, and drive continuous improvement across welding, machining, forging and advanced manufacturing processes.

You will mentor teams, interpret technical standards, and support interstate and international engagements while upholding safety and integrity in high‑stakes environments.

Qualifications

• Experience in US Naval Nuclear industry in high-integrity environments.
• Proven expertise in weld engineering, machining, forging or advanced manufacturing.
• Auditing and supplier maturity assessment experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead supplier audits and corrective action programs.
• Plan and execute independent assurance activities with clear documentation.
• Mentor engineers and drive governance across manufacturing processes.

Skills

US Naval Nuclear

MILSPEC NAVSEA

Weld engineering

Machining

Forging/Casting

Advanced manufacturing

Supplier audits

Engineering governance

Safety culture

Communication

Travel willingness

Tools

ASQ Auditor

Job description

Location: Henderson, WA, AU, 6166

Onsite or Hybrid: OnSite

Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Drive the uplift of Australia’s defence manufacturing capability through high‑stakes supplier audits and maturity assessments. Influence program outcomes by applying deep technical judgement across investigations, risk assessments and assurance activities.

• Extensive experience within the US Naval Nuclear enterprise, applying technical or engineering expertise in high‑integrity, safety‑critical environments
• Deep working knowledge of MILSPECs and NAVSEA requirements, including SUBSAFE and nuclear‑classified component standards
• Proven subject‑matter expertise in nuclear‑related manufacturing disciplines such as weld engineering, machining, forging/casting and advanced manufacturing processes

About You

You are a seasoned manufacturing engineering professional who thrives in complex, high‑accountability environments where technical excellence and disciplined execution matter. You bring a deep understanding of manufacturing processes, supplier capability and engineering governance, and you know how to apply that knowledge to real‑world challenges with clarity, confidence and sound judgement.

You are comfortable leading supplier audits, guiding corrective action programs and shaping the maturity of supply chains through rigorous assessment, coaching and continuous improvement. You have a natural ability to mentor others, share knowledge and elevate the capability of the people around you. You take pride in being a trusted technical authority who can interpret standards, assess risk and make informed decisions across the engineering lifecycle.

You communicate with transparency and respect, building strong working relationships across teams, suppliers and stakeholders. You are motivated by purpose and aligned to values that emphasise integrity, accountability, safety and excellence. You understand the importance of a nuclear‑minded safety culture and bring a disciplined, detail‑driven approach to every task. You are proactive in identifying hazards, resolving issues and maintaining a safe working environment for yourself and others. You are adaptable and prepared for frequent interstate travel, with the flexibility to support overseas engagements when required. Above all, you are committed to continuous learning, professional growth and contributing to a culture where people support one another and deliver with pride.

About the Role

As a Manufacturing Engineer with H&B Defence Pty Ltd, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening supplier capability, ensuring compliance and embedding technical excellence across our programs. You will lead and support onboarding audits, conduct supplier assessments and guide the development of corrective actions that uplift manufacturing maturity and ensure suppliers meet contractual and technical requirements.

You will plan and execute independent assurance activities, maintain accurate audit records and contribute to program reviews with clear, evidence‑based engineering insight. Your work will directly influence procurement decisions, operational planning and the integration of technical requirements across the supply chain.

You will conduct complex investigations, apply engineering judgement to resolve issues and produce high‑quality technical documentation that supports through‑life knowledge capture. You will lead discussions with internal and external customers, provide expert advice across your discipline and contribute to the development of business artefacts that support successful bids. You will help shape engineering processes, drive continuous improvement and champion standardised manufacturing and supplier due‑diligence practices.

As a leader, you will guide and mentor engineering practitioners, support succession planning and foster a culture of clear communication, capability development and operational excellence. You will also contribute to trade control compliance, ensuring best‑practice behaviours are embedded across relevant activities. In every aspect of the role, you will uphold H&B Defence’s values—acting with integrity, respect and accountability, prioritising safety, striving for excellence and supporting your colleagues as part of a mission‑focused team.

• Experience working in a technical or engineering role within the US Naval Nuclear industry
• Experience in one or more of the following areas: maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), sustainment operations, infrastructure delivery from concept to commissioning, safety case definition/production/substantiation, environmental management
• Experience with MILSPECs and/or NAVSEA instructions, specifically relating to SUBSAFE or nuclear‑classified components
• Subject matter expertise in weld engineering, machining, forging/casting or advanced manufacturing techniques
• Working knowledge of Export/Trade Controls associated with defence products
• ASQ Certified Auditor or ISO 9001 Certified Auditor
• Demonstrated capability in leading supplier audits, corrective action programs and manufacturing maturity assessments
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, engineering governance and supplier capability development
• Proven ability to interpret technical standards, assess risk and apply engineering judgement across complex programsli>
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders and build trusted relationships
• Commitment to safety, integrity and disciplined engineering practice
• Ability to travel interstate frequently and support international engagements when required

About H&B Defence

H&B Defence was established in 2024 as a joint venture between HII and Babcock. Together, we bring world‑leading expertise from Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States to support the development of critical sovereign capability for Australia’s once‑in‑a‑generation AUKUS nuclear‑powered submarine program.

H&B Defence is positioned to support every stage of Australia’s optimal pathway under AUKUS Pillar 1, including workforce development, nuclear infrastructure, submarine defueling and decommissioning, nuclear waste management, and long‑term sustainment, ensuring Australia is ready for Virginia, Astute, and SSN-AUKUS class submarines.

We are committed to building Australian workforce sovereign capability. Come and join our team and work along‑side nuclear subject matter experts within H&B Defence in Australia, with significant knowledge of the UK and US Naval Nuclear Eco‑system.

Your future with us – what we offer you

• Our structured Naval Nuclear mentorship program where you can engage as either a Mentor or Mentee. Our mentors are Nuclear experienced professionals and mentees being new to the Naval Nuclear industry.
• Access to Nuclear expertise across UK, US, and embedded Nationally within H&B across Australia
• We will provide you with a supportive and engaging environment where you can grow your career, supported by our capability framework and undertake professional learning and development opportunities
• Your wellbeing is supported through our Employee Assistance Program to ensure your wellness includes mind, body and soul.

About HII

We build the world’s most powerful, survivable naval ships, submarines, and defence technology solutions that safeguard our seas, sky, land, space and cyber. Our workforce includes skilled tradespeople; artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML) experts; engineers; technologists; scientists; logistics experts; and business administration professionals.
We are a values and ethics driven organisation that puts people’s safety and well‑being first. Regardless of your role or where you serve, at HII, you’ll find a supportive and welcoming environment, competitive benefits, and valuable educational and training programs for continual career growth at every stage of your career.
Together we are working to ensure a future where everyone can be free and thrive.

We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds and experience however, due to the defence orientation of this role, the successful candidate must be eligible to obtain an appropriate level of Commonwealth Personnel Security Clearance, as defined in the AGSVA guidelines.
Please note, should your application progress you may be required to complete pre‑employment checks. These checks may include but not limited to, reference checks, police check, security check, qualifications and right to work.

The employer for this position is HII.

The H&B Defence Talent Engagement Services are provided by Babcock and they lead all Australian‑Based recruitment for H&B Defence, an HII and Babcock joint venture.

When you explore vacancies and register for job alerts you will be directed to a Babcock page