Marine Systems Principal Supportability Engineer

Babcock International; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 61,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering support firm in Plymouth seeks a Principal Supportability Engineer to ensure the Royal Navy’s fleet remains operational. The role entails delivering engineering oversight and mentoring, with a strong emphasis on mechanical systems and design processes. Candidates should possess significant experience in Royal Navy operations and relevant engineering qualifications. This is a full-time position offering a hybrid work model with competitive compensation and benefits.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Matched contribution pension

Access to Digital GP

Employee share scheme

Employee shopping savings portal

Payment of Professional Fees

Holiday Trading

Be Kind Day

Excellent development opportunities

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Royal Navy operations or support.
• Strong understanding of mechanical systems, standards, and engineering governance.
• Experience with CAD systems for design and modelling.
• Knowledge of materials, fluid dynamics, hydraulics, and pneumatics.
• Proven ability to assure engineering deliverables across teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversees design output of the Technical Support Team.
• Develops engineering solutions to improve equipment availability.
• Reviews obsolescence and plans innovations for supportability.
• Performs root cause analysis for improvements.
• Mentors junior engineers.

Skills

Significant experience in Royal Navy operations

Strong understanding of mechanical systems

Experience with CAD systems

Knowledge of materials and fluid dynamics

Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams

Education

Engineering qualification(s) in a relevant discipline

Professionally registered Engineer (CEng)

Tools

CAD Systems

Job description

Job Title: Principal Supportability Engineer

Location: Plymouth, Devon + Hybrid Working Arrangements

Compensation: Up to £72,337 + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF65721

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 Principal Supportability Engineer at our Devonport site.

The role

As a Principal Supportability Engineer, you’ll have a role that’s out of the ordinary – helping to ensure the Royal Navy’s fleet remains operational and future-ready.

Day-to-day, you’ll be part of the Marine Systems Technical Support Team, delivering engineering governance and oversight across a wide range of naval equipment. You’ll be responsible for:

• Overseeing and assuring the design output of the Technical Support Team, including drawings, reports, and technical queries.
• Developing design task proposals and engineering solutions to improve equipment availability, reliability, and maintainability.
• Reviewing obsolescence and planning innovations to ensure long-term supportability.
• Performing root cause analysis and identifying improvements in tooling, processes, and test equipment.
• Mentoring junior engineers and supporting their development.

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

Essential experience of the Principal Supportability Engineer

• Significant experience in Royal Navy operations or support, ideally with exposure to naval weapon systems.
• Strong understanding of mechanical systems, standards, and engineering governance.
• Experience with CAD systems for design, modelling, and analysis.
• Knowledge of materials (metals, alloys, plastics), fluid dynamics, hydraulics, and pneumatics.
• Proven ability to lead and assure engineering deliverables across multi-disciplinary teams.

Qualifications for the Principal Supportability Engineer

• Engineering qualification(s) in a relevant discipline, preferably degree-level.
• Professionally registered Engineer (CEng) with an approved engineering institution (highly desirable).

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

• 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 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: 18/09/2025

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