Design Authority

Babcock Mission Critical Services España SA.; West Devon; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering and defense firm in the UK is seeking a Design Authority to lead the engineering vision for a new submarine maintenance facility. This role requires significant experience in managing complex engineering programmes and nuclear engineering expertise. Candidates must hold a degree in engineering or a scientific discipline and maintain security clearance. The position is full-time with hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Private medical

Bonus

Matched contribution pension scheme

Employee share scheme

Holiday Trading

Be Kind Day

Qualifications

• Experience in design management of major multi-disciplined projects.
• Ability to achieve and maintain Security Check security clearance.
• Proven leadership in complex operations.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Design Authority team with eight direct reports.
• Define design intent and oversee safety artefacts.
• Approve manufacturing, installation, and commissioning activities.

Skills

Leading complex engineering programmes

Nuclear engineering expertise

Stakeholder management

Technical communication skills

Education

Degree in Engineering or Scientific discipline

Chartered Engineer status

Job description

Overview

Design Authority

Location: Plymouth, Devon + Hybrid Working Arrangements

Onsite or Hybrid: Hybrid

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF61019

Lead the Engineering Vision Behind the UK's Next-Generation Submarine Infrastructure

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 Design Authority at our Devonport Royal Dockyard site.

The role

As a Design Authority, you’ll have a role that’s out of the ordinary where you’ll be at the forefront of one of the UK’s most ambitious engineering programmes - leading the design integrity and safety of a new out-of-water submarine maintenance facility. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of defence infrastructure, influence national capability, and leave a legacy in engineering excellence.

Day-to-day, you’ll manage the Design Authority team (eight direct reports) in support of the provision of a new out of water submarine maintenance facility.

• Defining the design intent and providing the basis of design
• Overseeing and accepting design and safety artefacts to form the reference design
• Approving manufacture, installation, commissioning, operation and decommissioning activities
• Acting as Principal Designer under CDM Regulations and the Building Safety Act
• Leading a team of circa 60 Engineers, including 8 direct reports

This role is full time, 35-hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with 2 days (ideally more) in the office/onsite and 3 days working from home.

Essential experience of the Design Authority

• Leading complex engineering programmes with strong technical and communication skills
• Deep expertise in nuclear engineering and high integrity engineering outputs
• Extensive knowledge of submarine infrastructure, facilities and authorisation processes
• Proven leadership and stakeholder management across complex operations

Qualifications for the Design Authority

• Degree in Engineering or Scientific discipline
• Chartered Engineer status (Fellow of your institute preferred)
• Significant relevant experience in design management of major multi-disciplined projects

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be 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

• Private medical
• Bonus
• 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.

Babcock International
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 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

Closing Date: 08/10/2025

#BABDESTNUC

#IND-ENG