Assistant Project Leader – Designers

BAE Systems; Barrow-in-Furness; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense contractor in Barrow-in-Furness is looking for an Assistant Project Leader - Designers to lead a team in resolving complex engineering challenges. The ideal candidate will have a strong engineering background, leadership experience, and a firm command of design toolsets. This position offers flexible working arrangements and competitive benefits. Candidates must be eligible for security vetting in the UK.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Flexible health and lifestyle benefits

Qualifications

• Strong technical understanding in engineering or design.
• Experience in leading and mentoring design teams.
• Knowledge of design phases including concept and detailed design.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team of designers.
• Resolve complex design challenges.
• Deliver multiple programmes according to schedules and budgets.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to balance design requirements.
• Manage team member performance and development.

Skills

Engineering background

Design toolsets understanding

Leadership experience

Tools

CAD modelling techniques

Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools

Job description

Job Title: Assistant Project Leader - Designers

Location: Barrow-in-Furness. We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements - please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role

Salary: Competitive

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team of designers with varying levels of experience and expertise across the submarine programme, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Apply broad and in-depth design knowledge of systems and processes to resolve complex design challenges using established analytical methods; provide expert support in addressing specialist issues related to operations, repairs, installation, and commissioning.
• Assist the Project Leader in successfully delivering multiple programmes in line with agreed schedules, budgets, safety standards, and quality requirements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholder groups to resolve issues, balancing design requirements with spatial constraints, buildability, and operational considerations.
• Support the Project Leader in the development and performance management of team members within your reporting line, including conducting performance reviews (PDRs), personal development planning (PDPs), addressing training needs, and upholding quality and conduct standards.

Your skills and experiences

Essential:

• Background in engineering or as a designer/draughtsperson, with strong technical understanding.
• Solid understanding of design toolsets and associated processes.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including previous roles in principal or lead positions and mentoring or guiding team members.

Desirable:

• Experience across multiple design phases, including concept and detailed design, as well as exposure to build and manufacturing stages.
• Knowledge of CAD modelling techniques and familiarity with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tools such as Teamcenter.

Benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts - you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Design Management team

We are seeking an Assistant Project Leader – Designer who brings a broad and in-depth understanding of design systems and processes to effectively resolve complex engineering challenges using proven analytical techniques. This role involves diagnosing and addressing specialist issues related to operations, repairs, installations, and commissioning activities. With a strong grasp of both technical design and wider business processes, you will support and, when required, lead a multi-disciplinary team of design engineers in the absence of the Lead Project Professional. You will also contribute to expanding the team’s design capabilities while effectively communicating technical matters to various stakeholders. This is a dynamic role supporting multiple high-profile programmes, including Astute, Dreadnought, and SSNA/AUKUS. We offer relocation support packages across all Submarines roles, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 22nd October 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.