Design/Development Engineer (Special Purpose Machines) - Submarines

Rolls-Royce; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering company is seeking a Design/Development Engineer in Derby. The role involves designing and developing innovative engineering solutions for special purpose machines supporting the Submarines business. Candidates should have a Mechanical Engineering degree, practical machining experience, and familiarity with design tools like Siemens-NX. This opportunity offers a competitive salary, exceptional benefits, and a hybrid working arrangement, enabling you to balance your time effectively between the office and home.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus

Employee support assistance

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Understanding of sound engineering principles including safety and maintenance.
• Practical application experience with machining processes and tools.
• Previous machine design and development experience for special purpose machines.

Responsibilities

• Develop engineering solutions from concept to implementation.
• Produce design solutions and engineering drawings for reviews.
• Provide technical support and conduct equipment build/assembly activities.

Skills

Design for manufacture

Design for assembly

Health and safety

Machine design experience

Familiarity with CAD

Education

Mechanical Engineering degree

Tools

Siemens-NX CAD

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 develops 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 an 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 individuals who are a UK national or, in MoD approved cases, a dual national.

As part of our selection process, candidates in certain locations may be asked to complete an online assessment, which can include cognitive and behavioural aptitude testing relevant to the role. If required, full instructions for the next steps will be provided.

Job Category Mechanical Systems

Posting Date 09 Dec 2025; 00:12

Posting End Date 16 Dec 2025