Senior Plant Engineer

Babcock International; West Devon; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday allowance

Pension with life assurance

Digital GP and health checks

Employee share scheme

Flexible volunteering leave (Be Kind)

Wellbeing and development programmes

Job summary

Babcock in Plymouth, Devon is seeking a Senior Plant Engineer to support safe operation and development of complex nuclear facilities underpinning the UK's defence capability. The role involves leading safety case implementations and coordinating cross-functional teams on site.

You will manage plant operations, maintenance, and risk controls while driving continuous safety improvements. A Level 5 qualification (HNC/HND) or equivalent, plus industry experience in high-hazard sectors, is expected;

Qualifications

• Experience in high-hazard industries such as nuclear, oil/gas, or chemicals.
• Experience managing work, change and risk in complex operations.
• Ability to lead teams and engage stakeholders to deliver safe solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of nuclear safety case requirements across plant and facilities.
• Support safe delivery of operational work with controls for high-hazard activities.
• Manage plant operations, maintenance activities and control of work processes.
• Collaborate with engineering, production and technical teams to deliver safe solutions.

Skills

High-hazard industry experience

Change and risk management

Team leadership

Problem solving

Education

Higher National Certificate or Diploma in engineering

Engineering degree (desirable)

Job description

Job Title: Senior Plant Engineer

Location: Plymouth, Devon + Hybrid Working Arrangements

Compensation: £44,600 to £55,800 Dependent upon Experience + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF73543

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 Senior Plant Engineer at our Plymouth, Devon site.

The role

As a Senior Plant Engineer, you'll have a role that's out of the ordinary. you'll play a pivotal role in supporting the safe operation and development of complex nuclear facilities that underpin the UK's defence capability. From submarine berths and docks to radiological waste handling and nuclear infrastructure, your work will directly contribute to vital national programmes.

Day-to-day, you'll be required to:

• Lead the implementation of nuclear safety case requirements across plant and facilities
• Support the safe delivery of operational work, ensuring controls are in place for high-hazard activities
• Manage plant operations, maintenance activities and control of work processes
• Collaborate with engineering, production and technical teams to deliver safe and effective solutions
• Conduct site walkdowns, identifying defects and driving continuous safety improvements

This is a full-time role, working 35 hours per week based on site at Devonport Royal Dockyard. You will be working a minimum of three days on site.

Essential experience of the Senior Plant Engineer:

• Demonstrable experience within high-hazard industries such as nuclear, oil and gas, chemicals or similar
• Experience managing work, change and risk in complex operational environments
• Experience leading or supporting teams and managing key stakeholders
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to implement safety controls or risk assessments

Qualifications for the Senior Plant Engineer:

• Level 5 qualification such as Higher National Certificate or Higher National Diploma (or equivalent experience) in an engineering discipline
• Degree-level qualification in engineering or a related subject is desirable

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be a sole UK National who is able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) / Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information (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. 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: 18/08/2026