Principal Mechanical Engineer

Systems Engineering & Assessment (SEA); Gloucestershire Science & Technology Park; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology solutions firm in the UK seeks a skilled Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead a medium-sized team in delivering mechanical engineering solutions for both commercial and military applications. This role requires in-depth technical knowledge and management skills to ensure high-quality design and implementation. The position offers a salary of £62k and provides flexible working arrangements, including hybrid options. Candidates should have extensive experience in mechanical design and familiarity with relevant standards.

Benefits

25 days' annual leave

Private medical health insurance

Group Pension Plan

Cycle to work scheme

Employee Discounts portal

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of mechanical hardware design for commercial and military applications.
• Experience with military and commercial design standards.
• Significant hardware system-level design experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage mechanical engineering activities.
• Ensure on-time delivery of engineering solutions.
• Conduct detailed design and generate technical documentation.
• Support problem investigations with effective solutions.
• Perform line management duties for the team.

Skills

Knowledge of mechanical hardware design

Familiarity with military and commercial design standards

Experience in system-level design of hardware

Understanding of best practice mechanical design processes

Chartered Engineer or working towards chartered status

Job description

About the Role

Engineered to Protect, that's our promise, we protect what matters – our nations, our waters, our land, our cities, our people, our environment, our world.

As Principal Mechanical Engineer you'll lead mechanical activities ensuring effective task management and prioritization for a medium sized team of Mechanical specialists for a range of work of varying complexities. You'll play a critical role in ensuring the technical quality of design, testing, manufacturing and in‑service support of mechanical hardware for commercial and military applications. You'll provide support and guidance to the wider project team on tasking, risk management, estimates and progress reporting to ensure that key project milestones are met.

The Principal Mechanical Engineer can be based at any of our three sites – Barnstaple, Beckington or Bristol. This role allows for flexible working with a minimal expectation of 3 days per week in Barnstaple.

The salary for this role is £62k, depending on experience.

What you’ll be doing

• Ensure clear communication and collaboration within the Mechanical Engineering project team, other engineering functions and project stakeholders.
• Provide leadership and technical direction / task management to ensure delivery of mechanical engineering solutions on‑time, on‑cost and on‑quality.
• Conduct mechanical engineering detailed design, analysis, tolerance studies (including GD&T) and generation of technical documentation (design specifications, test specifications etc.) and manufacturing data packs (MDP) to relevant standards including BS8888.
• Support problem investigations and deliver effective solutions.
• Line management for your team, including development discussions and regular 1:1 meetings.

About our company

At SEA we develop and deliver advanced solutions to make our world safer, cleaner and more efficient. We provide state‑of‑the‑art applications for naval ship and fleet protection and undersea surveillance systems. Our systems are in‑service across the globe and deliver a rapid response to threats and system effectiveness and interoperation. Our systems support an ever‑growing number of navies worldwide, and we continue to bolster our specialist, on‑the‑ground knowledge of key overseas markets.

What we offer

• Work life balance
  • Hybrid/flexible working arrangements
  • 25 days’ annual leave, plus buy and sell
  • Up to 16 days flexi leave accrual
  • Half day Fridays
  • Reservists in the Armed Forces receive special paid leave
• Family & wellbeing
  • Private medical health insurance & Employee Assistance Program
  • All Staff Bonus
  • Group Pension Plan of up to 7% employer contribution
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Wellbeing Centre
  • Sports & Social activities
  • Employee Discounts portal – online and in‑store discounts, travel savings
  • Life assurance policy
  • Publication and recruitment bonus rewards
  • Development opportunities, including LinkedIn learning
• Facilities & resources
  • Electric vehicle charging points at all sites
  • Private seated lunch areas
  • Onsite bistro (Barnstaple office) and free hot and cold beverages
  • Onsite showers and toiletries provision
  • Free onsite parking

The skills you need

• In-depth knowledge of the design, test, manufacture and in‑service support of mechanical hardware in both the commercial and military environments.
• Thorough knowledge of military and commercial mechanical & environmental design standards including Def Stans, Mil Specs, CE/UKCA marking.
• Significant experience in the detailed and system‑level design of hardware.
• Detailed understanding of best practice mechanical design process and metrics.
• Chartered Engineer – or working towards chartered status is preferable.

Join us and be part of something smaller – with 500 people in the UK and Canada – doing something bigger: protecting what matters.

If you’d like to know more, please give Kelly from our Talent Acquisition Team a call or reach out to us.