Principal Manufacturing Engineer - Function

ZipRecruiter; Barrow-in-Furness; On-site; GBP 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Barrow-in-Furness is seeking a Principal Manufacturing Engineer to lead a skilled team in delivering complex engineering projects. The ideal candidate will have a relevant degree and project management experience, along with a strong commitment to safety. This role offers professional growth and a competitive salary of circa £50,000, depending on experience. The company also provides a comprehensive benefits package including employee share plans and health benefits.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Flexible discounted health benefits

Private health plans

Shopping discounts

Qualifications

• Strong track record of delivering results on time and within budget.
• Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status (CEng/Ieng) is desirable.
• Project management experience required.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team to ensure delivery against business objectives.
• Oversee project delivery, managing schedules and budgets.
• Act as technical lead and support audits and peer reviews.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Project management

Safety focus

Education

Relevant degree or HNC

Tools

Engineering tools/software

Job description

Job Description

Job title: Principal Manufacturing Engineer – Function Location: Barrow-in-Furness. On-site Salary: Circa £50,000 depending on experience

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead and coordinate a team, ensuring delivery against business objectives, including training, development, and support toward professional accreditation (CEng/Ieng/EngTech)
• Provide expert technical guidance, leveraging product/process knowledge and innovation to resolve issues and drive continuous improvement
• Oversee project delivery, managing schedules, budgets, performance, configuration control, and governance prior to release
• Chair technical meetings and reviews, ensuring alignment with Manufacturing Engineering deliverables and quality standard
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders, applying agreed tools and systems (e.g. Life Cycle Management, production tools) to meet project goals
• Act as technical lead and signatory, supporting audits, peer reviews, resource planning, and technology business cases

Your skills and experiences:

• Relevant degree with some industry experience, or HNC with significant Manufacturing experience
• Strong track record of delivering results on time and within budget, with a focus on safety
• Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status (CEng/Ieng) is desirable, or actively working towards accreditation
• Leadership or management training/qualifications, or a willingness to undertake them
• Project management experience, with the ability to lead and deliver small-scale projects
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to solve complex problems and proficiency in relevant engineering tools and software

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 Manufacturing Engineering Function team:

This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal leadership role in shaping the future of manufacturing within a highly complex, cutting-edge engineering environment. As a Principal Manufacturing Engineering – Function, you’ll head up a skilled team delivering cross-discipline projects that directly impact the build performance of world-class products.

With significant scope to influence operations, manage resources, and ensure alignment between engineering design and manufacturing execution, this role offers both strategic impact and professional growth in a dynamic and critical area of the business.

We offer relocation support across all Submarine roles, subject to meeting eligibility criteria

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you will be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values 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 nationality 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 achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard as a minimum. Many roles also require higher levels of Security Vetting where applicants must typically live 5 to 10 years of continuous residence in the UK, depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 8th October 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.