Caisson Operative

Babcock International; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday allowance

Pension with life assurance

Digital GP & health check

Employee share scheme

Leave for Reservists

Holiday trading

Be Kind Day

Wellbeing programme

Job summary

Babcock is seeking a Caisson Operative at the Devonport Royal Dockyard site in Plymouth. The role involves operating and maintaining dockyard infrastructure to enable naval vessels to enter, dock, depart and operate safely.

You will gain highly specialised operational skills within defence, engineering and maritime sectors, with comprehensive training and development opportunities. The position is full-time (35 hours/week) on site, with a strong emphasis on safety and teamwork.

Qualifications

• Working within operational, industrial, maritime, engineering or maintenance environments.
• Using hand tools, battery-powered tools or mechanical equipment safely and effectively.
• Following safe systems of work and health and safety procedures.
• Working collaboratively within a team environment whilst also taking responsibility for tasks when required.
• Operating in physically active roles, including outdoor working and challenging environments.

Responsibilities

• Operating pump houses, penstocks, caissons and control systems to support docking and undocking activities.
• Monitoring dock and basin water levels, dock conditions and safety systems to ensure safe operations.
• Leading and supporting ship, caisson and gate movements across the dockyard infrastructure.
• Assisting with structural surveys, dock preparations, maintenance activities and refurbishment work on dockyard assets.
• Working safely in confined spaces, at height, around water and in operational dockyard environments.

Skills

Operational environment

Hand/Power tools

Safety procedures

Teamwork

Physically active work

Education

Role-specific training

Job description

Job Title: Caisson Operative

Location: Plymouth, Devon

Compensation: £28,200 - £32,200 Depending on Experience + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF76800

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

The role

As a Caisson Operative, you’ll be part of a specialist team responsible for the operation and maintenance of critical dockyard infrastructure that enables vessels to safely enter, leave and operate within the dockyard. This is a unique opportunity to develop highly specialised operational skills while working within the defence, engineering and maritime sectors.

Day-to-day, you’ll directly support naval operations, dockyard activities and national defence capabilities. No two days are the same, and you'll gain exposure to a wide range of technical activities, equipment and environments while building a rewarding long‑term career with excellent training and development opportunities.

• Operating pump houses, penstocks, caissons and control systems to support docking and undocking activities.
• Monitoring dock and basin water levels, dock conditions and safety systems to ensure safe operations.
• Leading and supporting ship, caisson and gate movements across the dockyard infrastructure.
• Assisting with structural surveys, dock preparations, maintenance activities and refurbishment work on dockyard assets.
• Working safely in confined spaces, at height, around water and in operational dockyard environments.

This role is full time, 35 hours per week and is based on site at Devonport Royal Dockyard.

Essential Experience Of The Caisson Operative

• Working within operational, industrial, maritime, engineering or maintenance environments.
• Using hand tools, battery‑powered tools or mechanical equipment safely and effectively.
• Following safe systems of work and health and safety procedures.
• Working collaboratively within a team environment whilst also taking responsibility for tasks when required.
• Operating in physically active roles, including outdoor working and challenging environments.

Qualifications for the Caisson Operative

• A willingness and ability to successfully complete all required role‑specific training.

Desirable

• Slinging or lifting operations experience.
• Forklift Truck Operator certification.
• Powerboat qualifications.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be a sole UK National who is able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) 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).

What We Offer

• Generous holiday allowance
• 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 UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. There is an annual Window to request this benefit. ‘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.

Babcock

We’re Babcock — a global FTSE 100 organisation with over 29,000 people working together to make a difference.

Here, you’ll be part of something bigger. From initial design to final decommissioning, your work will contribute to products and services that are essential to national security and public infrastructure. Together, we’re building a future that lasts — not just through the impact we make, but through meaningful careers that respect your work‑life balance.

We call that lifetime engineering.

Join us and see how far we can go, together.

We are a disability confident, committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email [e-mail] 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.

Closing date: 03/11/2026

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