Principal Engineer - Mechanical Engineering (Secondary Propulsion)

BAE Systems; Barrow-in-Furness; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defence contractor in Barrow-in-Furness is seeking a Principal Mechanical Secondary Propulsion Engineer to lead the design of systems for next-generation Royal Navy submarines. The ideal candidate will have experience with fluid systems design and pressure vessel standards. This role offers hybrid working arrangements and a competitive benefits package.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Flexible health and wellbeing benefits

Relocation support packages

Qualifications

• Experience with fluid systems design, including compressible/incompressible systems.
• Experience with pressure vessel design to international standards.
• Familiarity with the engineering lifecycle from concept to disposal.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of systems for Royal Navy submarines.
• Undertake functional design activities and modelling.
• Produce design documentation and safety justifications.
• Support specification qualification and procurement of components.
• Conduct peer reviews to support engineering governance.

Skills

Fluid systems design

Thermodynamics

Pressure vessel design

Engineering lifecycle

Chartered engineer or equivalent

Job description

Job Title

Principal Mechanical Secondary Propulsion 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

Circa £55,000

What you’ll be doing

• Lead the design of 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
• Undertake peer reviews / checking to support engineering governance activities

Your skills and experiences

• Experience with fluid systems design Compressible and/or Incompressible Fluid Systems, Thermo-dynamics, Heat Transfer, Pumps and Control Valves
• Experience with pressure vessel design – pressure piping and vessels to internationally recognised standards (ASME BPVC, PD 5500, EN 13445 etc.)
• Familiarity with engineering lifecycle through concept design, detailed design, manufacture, test & commissioning, operation and disposal
• Chartered engineer or working towards professional accreditation

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 Secondary Propulsion team

As part of the Propulsion Team, you will be involved in the design and development of the propulsion plant across all major systems and equipment alongside specifying and supporting the procurement of all propulsion equipment. This will be an opportunity to be part of a brand new Submarine programme where you will take ownership and shape the designs throughout this exciting project. Experience in industries such as Maritime, Defence, Aerospace, Oil and Gas or Nuclear could be beneficial for this role. 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

7th November 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.