Principal Safety Engineer

Babcock International; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense contractor in the UK seeks a Principal Safety Engineer to lead a team ensuring radiological safety at a naval dockyard. The role combines strategic oversight with hands-on leadership in safety engineering, focusing on nuclear safety cases and mentoring engineers. Competitive salary and hybrid working arrangements are offered, with excellent benefits for career development.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Matched contribution pension scheme

Access to a Digital GP

Employee share scheme

Reservists paid leave

'Be Kind Day' for volunteering

Qualifications

• Experience as a Principal or Senior Safety Engineer with leadership responsibilities.
• Proven track record in nuclear safety case development.
• Understanding of nuclear facility licensing and regulatory engagement.
• Experience leading technical teams.
• Radiological safety experience in nuclear facilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Safety Engineers providing strategic oversight.
• Engage with stakeholders to meet operational safety needs.
• Support Engineers with problem solving and technical guidance.
• Oversee the development and delivery of nuclear safety cases.
• Drive continuous improvement in safety practices.

Skills

Leadership in Safety Engineering

Nuclear Safety Case Development

Stakeholder Engagement

Radiological Safety Experience

Education

Degree in engineering or science

Job description

Job Title: Principal Safety Engineer

Location: Plymouth, Devon + Hybrid Working Arrangements

Compensation: £59,110,00 - £66,000 dependent upon experience + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

At Babcock, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Principal Safety Engineer at Devonport Dockyard, near Plymouth, Devon.

The role

As a Principal Safety Engineer, you’ll lead a team of Safety Engineers supporting the maintenance of Vanguard‑class submarines and operations within 9 Dock. This is a unique opportunity to work at the heart of the UK’s naval nuclear programme, ensuring radiological safety and compliance across one of the most complex engineering environments in the country.

You’ll play a vital role in shaping safety strategy, engaging with stakeholders, and mentoring Engineers making a meaningful impact on national defence and your own career development.

Day‑to‑day, you’ll lead a team of Safety Engineers working on nuclear submarines and facilities, ensuring radiological safety across the dockyard. You’ll engage with stakeholders to align safety activities with operational needs, provide strategic oversight of safety onsite, and support your team in problem solving and delivering high quality safety case work. You’ll also play a key role in mentoring Engineers and preparing for progression into leadership roles.

• Leading a team of Safety Engineers and providing strategic oversight of safety onsite
• Engaging with stakeholders to ensure safety activities meet operational needs
• Supporting Engineers with problem solving and technical guidance
• Overseeing the development and delivery of nuclear safety cases
• Driving continuous improvement and preparing for progression into leadership roles

This role is full time, 35 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with 1 day in the office/onsite and 4 days working from home.

Essential experience of the Principal Safety Engineer

• Experience as a Principal or Senior Safety Engineer with leadership responsibilities
• Proven track record in nuclear safety case development
• Understanding of nuclear facility licensing and regulatory engagement (e.g. ONR, DNSR)
• Experience leading technical teams
• Radiological safety experience in nuclear facilities (submarine experience not essential)

Qualifications for the Principal Safety Engineer

• Degree in engineering or science
• Chartered status desirable

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be a sole UK national who is able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) and NNPPI) 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: 11/11/2025