Principal Mechanical Engineer (Enact)

KBS Maritime Ltd; England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading maritime services company in the UK is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer to oversee technical governance for mechanical and saltwater systems at Portsmouth Naval Base. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Mechanical Engineering, experience managing asset conditions, and strong communication skills. This position offers a competitive salary, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Enhanced pension scheme

Life assurance

Internal benefits and discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Group income protection

Flexible parental benefits

Career development

Occupational Health & Wellbeing Services

50% off entry into the Historic Dockyard

Qualifications

• Proven ability to maintain a systems viewpoint while understanding component level design.
• Experience in creating and implementing maintenance strategies.
• Membership of related technical professional body preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical governance and assurance for mechanical systems.
• Manage and present asset condition status to asset owners.
• Develop and support strategic plans for infrastructure.

Skills

Experienced senior mechanical engineer

Good working knowledge of saltwater systems

Excellent communication skills

Ability to engage with stakeholders

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering

Chartered Engineer or working towards chartership

Job description

What You’ll be doing:

As a key role within the Engineering, Assurance and Compliance Team (EnACT), you’ll provide technical governance, legislative, regulatory and safe to operate assurance for mechanical and saltwater systems and equipment at Portsmouth Naval Base. By taking Ownership of complex technical problems, you’ll produce and manage safety management systems for your responsible asset groups and communicate proactively with other team members to provide encouragement, identify problems, create solutions and unblock technical issues.

Additionally, as Principal Mechanical Engineer, you’ll manage and present asset condition status to asset owner, provide technical support with updating Asset Management Plans, and be accountable for development, and support the strategic plans for infrastructure and business improvement.

You’ll Have:

You’ll be an experienced senior mechanical engineer, educated to degree level and having gained substantial knowledge in a mechanical engineering role. You’ll be a chartered engineer or working towards chartership. You’ll have the proven ability to maintain a systems viewpoint while understanding component level design and investigation rationale when required.

With a good working knowledge of saltwater systems associated with the locking and docking of ships / rotating machinery / hydraulic systems, you’ll have experience/knowledge of creating and implementing maintenance strategies including but not limited to Condition and Risk Based Maintenance.

About you:

As Principal Mechanical Engineer, you’ll have membership of related technical professional body (preferably CEng, or equivalent technical accreditation / membership or working towards qualification) and possess a high-level knowledge of mechanical engineering. With excellent communication and influencing ability, you’ll also be highly organised, be able to present and engage with stakeholders of all levels, and live and endorse KBS Maritime’s core values.

You’ll get:

• A competitive salary
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Access to our internal benefits and discounts programme for all colleagues
• Cycle to work scheme
• Group income protection
• Flexible parental benefits (if applicable)
• Access to our Internal employee assistance network, giving you the opportunity to reach the heights of success within your new position.
• Continued professional career development
• Kudos reward opportunities (internal achievements scheme)
• Occupational Health & Wellbeing Services
• 50% off entry into the Historic Dockyard

Application process:

Applications are urged to apply prior to the advertising closing date of Friday 31st October 2025, with a view of interviews scheduled to commence week commencing Monday 3rd November 2025. For all queries, please contact the Recruitment Team in the first instance who will advise accordingly.

About Us:

At KBS Maritime, we’re not just another company - we’re an exciting and dynamic joint venture between industry leaders BAE Systems and KBR. Our team is dedicated to providing Asset Management, Infrastructure Management, Energy Solutions and Alongside Services at His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth (HMNBP), the beating heart of the Royal Navy.

With almost two-thirds of the Royal Navy’s surface ships stationed at HMNBP, working with KBS Maritime means being at the forefront of innovation and progress. We operate in a unique and fascinating environment, with a mix of historic dockyards and cutting-edge infrastructure that’s unlike any other.

By delivering state of the art solutions to the Royal Navy, KBS Maritime offers the chance to work on projects that make a real difference to the safety, security, and sustainability of the UK’s National Defence and Security. But it’s not just about the work - at KBS Maritime, we believe in the value of our people. We have the ethos of a small business, which means we value and empower our team members to succeed.