Firefighting / SMERAS Systems Engineer

BAE Systems; Ulverston; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence company in the UK is seeking a Firefighting / SMERAS Systems Engineer to manage the design of critical systems for Royal Navy submarines. You will lead design activities, collaborate with suppliers, and ensure safety compliance in complex environments. The role requires proven experience in designing firefighting systems and a collaborative approach with cross-functional teams. Flexible working arrangements are available, providing an inclusive culture that values diversity and encourages professional growth.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Flexible health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in the design of fixed firefighting systems, ideally in safety-critical environments.
• Familiarity with firefighting equipment and systems.
• Experience in high-pressure systems or life-support technologies.

Responsibilities

• Design Firefighting and SMERAS systems for Royal Navy submarines.
• Undertake functional design activities and produce design documentation.
• Support specification qualification and procurement with suppliers.

Skills

Experience in design of fixed firefighting systems

Familiarity with firefighting hose reels/nozzles

Experience in high-pressure systems

Proven capability in system lifecycle delivery

Demonstrated leadership

Chartered engineer or working towards accreditation

Job description

Job Title:

Firefighting / SMERAS Systems Engineer

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

What you’ll be doing:

• Design of Firefighting, and/or Submarine Escape, Rescue, Abandonment, and Survival (SMERAS) systems, sub-systems and equipment for the next generation Royal Navy submarines
• Undertake functional design activities, modelling and analysis
• Produce design documentation, Verification & Validation evidence and safety justifications
• Support specification qualification and procurement of components, working collaboratively with suppliers
• Engaging with stakeholders across the cross-functional project team
• Driving engineering governance through peer reviews and design reviews

Your skills and experiences:

Essential:

• Experience in the design of fixed firefighting systems – ideally in complex, safety-critical environments (e.g. maritime, aerospace, defence, nuclear, oil & gas and sub-sea)
• Familiarity with systems and equipment involving firefighting hose reels/nozzles, pumps, water mist systems, Aqueous Film Forming Foam, etc.
• Experience in high-pressure systems, or life-support technologies
• Proven capability in system lifecycle delivery – from concept through to commissioning
• Demonstrated leadership – either through technical direction, mentoring, or project ownership
• Chartered engineer or working towards professional accreditation

Desirable:

• Knowledge of platform-level constraints such as noise, shock, or survivability
• Previous experience with Submarine Escape, Rescue, Abandonment, and Survival (SMERAS) systems, hyperbaric chambers/sub-sea pressure environments

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 Firefighting / SMERAS Systems Engineering team:

As a Firefighting / SMERAS Systems Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in the design and development of submarine of Firefighting, and/or Submarine Escape, Rescue, Abandonment, and Survival (SMERAS) systems. This includes system-level design, technical leadership, supplier engagement, and the opportunity to steer design architecture across a major submarine programme. 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:

10th December 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.