Principal Mechanical Engineer - ANZ

Babcock International; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering company in Plymouth is looking for a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead critical engineering work packages for the Royal Navy’s submarine capability. This role offers hybrid working and a chance to work on high-profile national defence projects. The ideal candidate will have a strong mechanical engineering background, relevant qualifications, and an understanding of engineering regulations. A generous benefits package is included.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Matched contribution pension scheme

Access to health consultations

Employee share scheme

Special leave for reservists

'Be Kind Day' for volunteering

Qualifications

• Experience in substantiation of process equipment for Nuclear Safety Functions (desirable).
• Experience supporting design for construction, operation, or refit of submarines (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of mechanical engineering work packages.
• Apply systems engineering principles to develop design requirements.
• Ensure compliance with client specifications and standards.

Skills

Strong mechanical engineering background (Defence, Nuclear, Oil and Gas)

Knowledge of engineering principles for mechanical systems design

Understanding of regulations, legislation, and standards

Education

Degree in an appropriate engineering discipline

Chartered Engineer status (or working towards)

Job description

Job Title: Principal Mechanical Engineer

Location: Plymouth, Devon + Hybrid Working Arrangements

Compensation: £59,110 + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Shape the Future of Defence Engineering

At Babcock we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as a Principal Mechanical Engineer at our Devonport Royal Dockyard site.

The role

As a, you’ll have a role that’s out of the ordinary. This is an opportunity to work on complex, high-profile projects that make a real difference to the security of the UK. You’ll be at the forefront of engineering innovation, applying your expertise to design and integrate systems that support the Royal Navy’s submarine capability.

Day-to-day, you’ll lead the delivery of mechanical engineering work packages that are critical to national defence.

• Apply systems engineering principles to develop and validate design requirements
• Ensure compliance with client specifications, technical regulations, and standards
• Collaborate across engineering teams and stakeholders to integrate designs within facility layouts
• Manage technical aspects of specialist sub-contract designers
• Maintain engineering configuration and design intent through change control processes

This role is full time, 35 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements.

Essential experience of the Principal Mechanical Engineer

• Strong mechanical engineering background, ideally within Defence, Nuclear, Oil and Gas, or other highly regulated industries
• Knowledge of engineering principles for mechanical systems design
• Understanding of regulations, legislation, and standards applicable to mechanical system design and construction (including CDM responsibilities)
• Experience in substantiation of process equipment for Nuclear Safety Functions (desirable)
• Experience supporting design for construction, operation, or refit of submarines or facilities (desirable)

Qualifications for the Principal Mechanical Engineer

• Degree, degree apprenticeship, or demonstrable time served in an appropriate engineering discipline
• Chartered Engineer status (or actively working towards)

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be a sole UK national who is able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.

Many of the positions within our company 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)

What we offer

• Generous holiday allowance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee share scheme
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually.
• ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

Babcock International

For over a century Babcock has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal.

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: 07/12/2025

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