Principal Engineer

Babcock International; West Devon; Hybrid; GBP 66,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Babcock International in Plymouth is seeking a Principal Engineer to lead the assessment, design, and refurbishment of existing subway infrastructure, developing remediation strategies based on condition surveys and delivering integrated solutions. You will ensure compliant, safe designs aligned with project requirements.

The role requires leading multidisciplinary design activities across full lifecycle, with a focus on integration with utilities and regulatory standards, while operating in a

Qualifications

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage civil/structural design packages, ensuring requirements are delivered throughout the design lifecycle.
• Develop refurbishment, remediation, and alternative design solutions for existing subway infrastructure.
• Assess condition survey findings and define appropriate engineering strategies and interventions.
• Provide technical oversight of subcontractor designs, ensuring compliance with relevant standards, specifications, and regulations.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders to integrate designs, manage interfaces, and maintain configuration and change control.

Job description

Job Title: Principal Engineer
Location: Plymouth - Hybrid

Vacancies: 1

Compensation: Up to £80 Per Hour PAYE
Role Type: Full time / Contract Role

Contract Length: 1 Year
Job ID: SF75633

At Babcock, our purpose is to create a safe and secure world, together. As a Principal Engineer, you'll play an important role in supporting this mission and contributing to work of national importance at our Devonport Royal Dockyard site.

The role

You will lead the assessment, design, and refurbishment of existing subway infrastructure, developing remediation strategies based on condition survey findings and producing new or alternative design solutions. Working closely with stakeholders, you will ensure designs are fully integrated with existing and proposed utilities while meeting all technical and operational requirements.

Day-to-day, you'll be required to:

• Lead and manage civil/structural design packages, ensuring requirements are delivered throughout the design lifecycle.
• Develop refurbishment, remediation, and alternative design solutions for existing subway infrastructure.
• Assess condition survey findings and define appropriate engineering strategies and interventions.
• Provide technical oversight of subcontractor designs, ensuring compliance with relevant standards, specifications, and regulations.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders to integrate designs, manage interfaces, and maintain configuration and change control.

This role is full time, 35 hours per week, and is based in Plymouth with hybrid working arrangements available.

Essential experience of the Principal Engineer:

• Proven experience delivering complex civil, mechanical, and electrical infrastructure projects, including the design, installation, modification, and integration of utility subways, service corridors, or similar asset systems.
• Strong understanding of electrical subways and buried service routes, with experience connecting new infrastructure into existing networks while managing operational, safety, and interface requirements.
• Demonstrable experience leading multidisciplinary engineering design activities throughout the full project lifecycle within highly regulated environments such as marine, defence, nuclear, power generation, rail, or airport sectors.
• Sound knowledge of relevant engineering standards, legislation, and safety requirements, including CDM regulations, technical assurance, and design governance processes.
• Experience working within collaborative BIM and stakeholder environments, providing technical leadership to internal teams and external design partners to deliver safe, compliant, and integrated engineering solutions.

Qualifications for the Principal Engineer:

• Degree qualified in Civil Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Chartered Engineer with membership of an accredited body (i.e. ICE) or working towards chartered status. Or significant experience.

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 Babcock 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) .

About Babcock

Babcock is a global FTSE 100 organisation delivering critical services and programmes across the UK and internationally. From initial design to final decommissioning, the organisation supports products and services that are essential to national security and public infrastructure.

Together, you'll be helping to build a future that lasts.

This vacancy is being managed through Babcock's contingent recruitment partner. If you require reasonable adjustments at any stage of the application, assessment, or selection process, please contact the recruitment team managing your application so that appropriate support can be arranged.

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: 10/09/2026

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