Principal Designer - Structural Discipline

Babcock International; Kirkcaldy; Hybrid; GBP 56,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering contractor is seeking a Principal Designer – Structural Discipline to join their team. The role involves leading structural design activities for critical naval projects, with responsibilities including task allocation, advising on methods, and collaborating with technical teams. Essential qualifications include an HNC/HND in Naval Architecture and experience in a marine design environment. This position offers a competitive salary, generous benefits, and opportunities for development.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Matched contribution pension scheme

Access to a Digital GP

Employee share scheme

Reservists special paid leave

‘Be Kind Day’ for volunteering

Excellent development opportunities

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in a design environment.
• Sound understanding of Naval Architecture and Marine Structures.

Responsibilities

• Allocate discipline tasks to your team and ensure coordination.
• Advise on methods and provide technical guidance.
• Produce and review drawings in line with ISO standards.
• Act as a key point of contact for engineering colleagues.
• Assist in resolving production and technical issues.

Skills

Strong CAD skills

Excellent communication abilities

Ability to build relationships across teams

Education

Minimum HNC/HND in Naval Architecture

Experience in a naval marine design environment

Job description

Job Title: Principal Designer – Structural Discipline

Location: Rosyth, Fife, Devonport, Plymouth or Bristol

Compensation: £56,570 - £66,229

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF69689

Shape the Future of Naval Engineering

At Babcock, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Principal Designer – Structural Discipline at one of our various sites.

The role

As a Principal Designer, you’ll be at the heart of our Marine business, leading structural design activities that support critical projects for the Royal Navy and international clients. This is your chance to make a tangible impact on national security while advancing your career in a dynamic and innovative environment.

Day-to-day, you’ll have the following responsibilities:

• Allocate discipline tasks to your team, check outputs, and ensure coordination across disciplines.
• Advise on methods and tools, providing technical guidance to Senior Designers and Designers.
• Produce and review drawings for basic, detail, and production design in line with ISO standards.
• Act as a key point of contact for engineering colleagues and stakeholders, contributing to design reviews.
• Assist in resolving production and technical issues throughout the design lifecycle.

You’ll work 36 hours per week, with hybrid working patterns available (typically 2–3 days onsite). Travel to other Babcock sites may be required.

Essential experience of the Principal Designer – Structural Discipline

• Demonstrable experience in a design environment.
• Strong CAD skills and excellent communication abilities.
• Sound understanding of Naval Architecture and Marine Structures design processes.
• Ability to build close working relationships across technical teams and stakeholders.

Qualifications for the Principal Designer – Structural Discipline

• Minimum HNC/HND (or equivalent experience) in Naval Architecture Design Discipline.
• Experience in a naval marine design environment is essential.

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 UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually.
• ‘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: 19/01/2026