Principal Manufacturing Engineer - Infrastructure

BAE Systems; Sutton-in-Ashfield; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense manufacturer is seeking a Principal Manufacturing Engineer in Barrow-in-Furness. You will oversee complex, cross-discipline manufacturing projects, ensuring methods meet safety, quality, and delivery targets. The ideal candidate will have strong project management skills and a background in engineering or facilities oversight. The role includes significant interaction with stakeholders and offers competitive benefits including a pension scheme and flexible health options.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Flexible health benefits

Employee share plans

Annual incentive eligibility

Qualifications

• Strong background in engineering or project oversight on major facilities.
• Experience managing complex projects, programmes or portfolios.
• Ability to translate engineering design into manufacturing outputs.

Responsibilities

• Convert industrial capability concepts into defined requirement strategies.
• Manage delivery of allocated scope including planning and scheduling.
• Build working relationships with key stakeholders.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Submarine operations knowledge

AutoCAD skills

SolidWorks skills

Project management

Education

HNC/D or equivalent in Construction, Engineering or Project Management

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Principal Manufacturing Engineer - Infrastructure
Location: Barrow-in-Furness (On-site)
Salary: Competitive

Responsibilities

• Convert industrial capability concepts, infrastructure needs and technology plans into defined requirement strategies and business cases
• Manage delivery of allocated scope, including planning and scheduling work packages in line with annual and quarterly milestones for future facility development
• Define and develop facility and infrastructure requirements in collaboration with the Senior Requirements Manager, supporting implementation of a new Production Line Operating Model using RIBA LCM
• Contribute to the development of future manufacturing processes by creating process maps, analysing data, resolving technical queries and providing measurable improvements
• Support the evolution of submarine build methods while maintaining an understanding of existing production practices
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with facility owners, senior leadership, subject matter experts and key stakeholders across internal and external organisations
• Translate engineering design intent into manufacturing engineering outputs to support facility capability development, ensuring documentation accuracy and compliance

Qualifications

• HNC/D or equivalent in Construction, Engineering or Project Management
• Knowledge of submarine operations/trade domains (Coatings, Build, Test & Commissioning), Engineering, or Infrastructure/Facility Management is advantageous
• Stakeholder management and submarine sector networking experience desirable
• Experience managing complex projects, programmes or portfolios; AutoCAD and SolidWorks skills beneficial
• Background in engineering or project oversight on major facilities, including configuration and systems management

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.

About the role

The Build & Test (SSNA Infrastructure) team: As a Principal Manufacturing Engineer, you will oversee a team delivering complex, cross-discipline manufacturing projects, ensuring methods of manufacture, assembly, and repair meet safety, quality, cost, and delivery targets throughout the product lifecycle. You\'ll apply your expertise to ensure design intent is achieved in operations, manage resources to support project delivery, and balance stakeholder demands across Manufacturing Operations and Programme teams. This is a key leadership role focused on driving capability, compliance, and operational excellence. We offer relocation support across all Submarine roles, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.

Compliance and recruitment notes

Why BAE Systems? We are committed to an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, integrity and merit. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about reasonable adjustments. Many roles are subject to security and export control restrictions. All applicants must meet baseline personnel security requirements. Some roles require higher levels of vetting which may include residency requirements.

Closing Date: 11 November 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications. If you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.