Principal Electrical Engineer

Manpower UK Ltd; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering and maritime organisation is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to support electrical systems delivery in Devonport. This role involves managing technical design packages and collaborating across functions to ensure compliance with specifications. Candidates should have a degree in Electrical Engineering and experience in the Defence, Nuclear, or Oil & Gas sectors. The position offers hybrid working with a focus on professional development within a structured environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in Defence, Nuclear, Oil & Gas or highly regulated industry.
• Ability to lead and manage technical design packages.
• Knowledge of regulations applicable to electrical design.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage technical design packages ensuring compliance.
• Provide technical guidance and review sub-contract designs.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to integrate designs in facility layout.

Skills

Electrical engineering (power distribution or EC&I)

Understanding of engineering design and safety practices

Collaboration across engineering functions

Education

Degree in Electrical Engineering

Chartered Engineer with membership of accredited body

Job description

Role: Principal Electrical Engineer

Location: Devonport (Hybrid 2 days in a month)

Duration: 2 years

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About our Client

Our client in Devonport is a leading engineering and maritime organisation specialising in the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of naval vessels. The site operates with a skilled workforce across mechanical, electrical, and technical disciplines, delivering high-quality and complex engineering projects. It offers a structured and collaborative working environment with opportunities for hands‑on experience and professional development.

The role

We are looking for a Principal Electrical Engineer to support delivery of electrical systems as part of the Electrical Engineering Team in Devonport.

Day-to-day, you'll be supporting the engineering capability of the new systems through the design lifecycle in accordance with the design process.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage one or more technical design packages ensuring requirements are met through the design process
• Provide technical design guidance and review of sub-contract design to ensure compliance with specifications, technical regulations and standards
• Collaboration across engineering functions and stakeholders to integrate designs within the overall facility layout and manage interfaces
• Maintaining the engineering configuration of the design intent (change control)

Essential experience

• Defence, Nuclear, Oil & Gas or other highly regulated industry
• Electrical engineering (preferably power distribution or EC&I) background
• Regulations, legislation and standards that are applicable to electrical design and construction (including CDM Principal Designer responsibilities)
• Solid understanding of engineering design and safety practices, tailored to the role, discipline and project needs

Desirable Experience

• Technical management of specialist sub‑contract designers
• Experience of working in BIM environments.
• Awareness of project planning, project management and budgeting.

Qualifications

• Degree in Electrical Engineering. Experience in lieu of formal education would be considered.
• Chartered Engineer with membership of an accredited body (i.e. IEEE, IMarEST or IET) or working towards chartered status