Design/Development Engineer (Special Purpose Machines) - Submarines

Rolls-Royce; Derby; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering company is seeking a Design/Development Engineer in Derby to join their Special Purpose Machines Team. In this role, you will develop innovative engineering solutions for the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine fleet, working from concept to implementation. The ideal candidate has a Mechanical Engineering degree and experience with machining processes. Hybrid working is available, offering flexibility with office and remote work.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus

Employee support assistance

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Sound understanding of design for manufacture and assembly.
• Previous hands-on experience with machining tools.
• Production of technical documentation related to machine development.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative engineering solutions from concept to implementation.
• Manage day-to-day activities and risks in SPM solutions.
• Produce and present design solutions and engineering drawings.

Skills

Understanding of engineering principles

Experience with machining processes

Previous machine design experience

Familiarity with CAD tools

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Siemens-NX

Job description

Job Description

Design/Development Engineer (Special Purpose Machines) - Submarines

Full Time

Derby

We have an exciting opportunity for a Design/Development Engineer to join the Special Purpose Machines Team within the Rolls-Royce Submarines business.

This is a great opportunity for you to get involved in all stages of product development,from feasibility and concept, through design, build, development, training and implementation, as necessary. You will have the chance to see your ideas become reality in a fast-paced environment, where your problem solving, and engineering skills will be challenged and developed.

As part of the Services Delivery Business Unit, the Special Purpose Machines (SPM) Team develop bespoke repair, inspection and maintenance capabilities, against challenging constraints, in support of the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine fleet. SPM has developed a particular expertise in the design of portable cutting/dressing machines, compact material sampling equipment and inspection manipulators. This is an excellent opportunity to make an impact within an interesting and exciting area of the business.

Why Rolls-Royce?

Rolls-Royce is one of the most enduring and iconic brands in the world and has been at the forefront of innovation for over a century. We design, build and service systems that provide critical power to customers where safety and reliability are paramount.

Join us and we’ll provide an environment where you can be yourself. An inclusive, digital-first culture that invests in you, gives you a platform for continuous learning, and access to an incredible breadth and depth of opportunities to grow your career.

What we offer:

We offer excellent development, a competitive salary and exceptional benefits. These include bonus, employee support assistance and employee discounts.

Your needs are as unique as you are. Hybrid working is a way in which our people can balance their time between the office, home or another remote location. It’s a locally managed and flexed informal discretionary arrangement. As a minimum we’re all expected to attend the workplace for collaboration and other specific reasons, on average three days per week.

What you will be doing:

You’ll be developing fit-for-purpose, innovative engineering solutions, from concept to implementation, against customer and governance requirements, whilst adhering to stringent time, cost and quality constraints.

• Delivering SPM solutions through management of own day-to-day activities and risks.
• Producing design solutions and engineering drawings, then presenting at gated design reviews to demonstrate all key requirements have been met.
• Providing technical support to sub-contract manufacturers and then undertaking equipment build/assembly activities.
• Producing development test plans, then performing trials and demonstrations to fully validate and commission capabilities.
• Producing operating procedures, training personnel, and supporting initial on-site implementation activities.

Who we’re looking for:

At Rolls-Royce we embrace agility, are bold, pursue collaboration and seek simplicity in everything we do. These principles form our values and behaviours and are an essential component of our assessment process and are fundamental qualities that we seek for all roles.

In addition, as an SPM Design/Development Engineer, we are looking for you to have:

• An understanding of sound engineering principles, including: design for manufacture, design for assembly and maintenance, health and safety, concurrent engineering, and ideally and appreciation of the protocols associated with nuclear applications.
• Experience of the practical application, and ideally ‘hands-on’ experience, of a broad range of machining processes and tools, for example: cutting machines, dressing machines, manipulators and mechanisms.
• Previous machine design and development experience, preferably bespoke special purpose machines, and the production of the associated technical documentation.
• Familiarity with design tools/techniques and proficient in the use of CAD, ideally Siemens‑NX.
• A Mechanical Engineering related degree, or equivalent experience.

We are an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive working environment. We believe that people from different backgrounds and cultures give us different perspectives which are crucial to innovation and problem solving.

We believe the more diverse perspectives we have, the more successful we’ll be. By building a culture of caring and belonging, we give everyone who works here the opportunity to realise their full potential.

You can learn more about our global Inclusion strategy at Our people | Rolls-Royce

To work for the Rolls-Royce Submarines business an individual has to hold a Security Check clearance. Rolls-Royce will support the application for Security Clearance if you do not currently already have this in place.Due to the nature of work the business conducts and the protection of certain assets we can only progress applications from individualswho are a UK national or, in MoD approved cases, a dual national.

Job Category Mechanical Systems Posting Date 12 Aug 2025; 00:08 Posting End Date 19 Aug 2025