Principal Submarine Systems Engineer

weServed; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday allowance

Matched pension scheme

Digital GP and health check

Employee share scheme

Wellbeing and development programs

Job summary

Babcock in Helensburgh or Devonport seeks a Principal Submarine Systems Engineer to safeguard submarine capability and provide technical oversight across design and testing. You will work with Design Authorities and MOD stakeholders to drive safe, available systems.

Role requires an engineering degree and Chartered status or near to achieving it, with hands-on submarine engineering experience and strong communication skills. On-site work at Clyde Faslane or Devonport is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent.
• Chartered Engineer status or close to achieving it.
• Desirable naval/marine/mechanical or electrical specialization.
• Experience in submarine engineering.
• Strong communication with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Safeguard the operational capability of the UK’s submarines.
• Provide technical oversight and interface with Design and Technical Authorities.
• Participate in engineering change assessments and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with internal project teams and MOD stakeholders.
• Ensure design intent from work package creation through testing and acceptance.

Skills

Submarine engineering

Communication

Systems engineering

Technical audits

Risk management

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Chartered Engineer status

Naval/marine/mechanical/electrical specialization desirable

Job description

Job Title: Principal Submarine Systems Engineer

Location: Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute or Plymouth, Devon

Compensation: Up to £70,000 Depending on Experience + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF71041

Shape the Future of Submarine 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 Submarine Systems Engineer at our HMNB Clyde Faslane or Devonport Royal Dockyard sites.

The role

As a Principal Submarine Systems Engineer, you’ll have a unique opportunity to join a high‑impact engineering environment where you’ll grow professionally, build specialist expertise, and contribute to work that truly matters.

Day-to-day, you’ll help safeguard the operational capability of the UK’s most advanced Royal Navy submarines. Your work will span deep maintenance periods, ensuring every system meets the required safety, performance and availability standards.

• Hold full technical delegations and serve as a key interface with Design and Technical Authorities.
• Act on behalf of the Chief Engineer, providing technical oversight and guidance across Platform Systems.
• Participate in working groups to assess engineering change, address technical issues and support continuous improvement.
• Work closely with internal project teams and external MOD stakeholders, contributing to long‑term engineering solutions.
• Understand and uphold design intent from work package creation through execution, testing and acceptance.

This role is full time, 35 hours per week and is based on site at HMNB Clyde Faslane or Devonport Royal Dockyard. The successful candidate will be flexible to work onsite in line with business requirements, ranging from a minimum of 3 days per week up to full‑time onsite attendance.

Essential experience of the Principal Submarine Systems Engineer

• Demonstrable experience in submarine engineering.
• Strong communication skills, with experience engaging a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong awareness of system engineering within mechanical or electrical engineering disciplines.
• Practical experience conducting technical audits and navigating associated processes.
• Experience identifying, managing and prioritising technical risks and associated mitigations.

Qualifications for the Principal Submarine Systems Engineer

• Engineering degree or equivalent relevant experience.
• Chartered Engineer status, or close to achieving it.
• Additional technical qualifications or professional development related to naval, marine, systems or mechanical/electrical engineering - Desirable

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. There is an annual Window to request this benefit. ‘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

We’re Babcock — a global FTSE 100 organisation with over 26,000 people working together to make a difference.

Here, you’ll be part of something bigger. From initial design to final decommissioning, your work will contribute to products and services that are essential to national security and public infrastructure. Together, we’re building a future that lasts — not just through the impact we make, but through meaningful careers that respect your work-life balance.

We call that lifetime engineering.

Join us and see how far we can go, together.

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: 08/10/2026

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