WTA Mechanical Technical Lead

BAE Systems Taleo; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

BAE Systems in Portsmouth seeks a WTA Mechanical Technical Lead to provide engineering support to Warship Technical Authority projects, spanning Royal Navy surface ship and international contracts. You will lead mechanical consultancy, drive design change, and ensure safety and integration across multiple programmes.

The role requires Chartered Engineer status, leadership experience, and a deep understanding of mechanical sub-disciplines and governance frameworks within defence.

Qualifications

• Broad knowledge of mechanical architectures across platforms.
• Familiarity with UK MOD and international defence/maritime standards.
• Awareness of emerging mechanical technologies and their potential applications.
• Chartered Engineer status or equivalent is essential.
• Experience leading technical teams and mentoring peers.
• Experience across engineering lifecycle in defence/maritime industries.

Responsibilities

• Provide authoritative mechanical consultancy across all WTA projects and ensure engineering assurance.
• Cover broad mechanical sub-disciplines including fluid systems, structures, power, HVAC, and components.
• Lead safe integration of mechanical design changes with configuration control.
• Collate and present evidence for safety cases and certification submissions.
• Lead investigations, impact assessments and analyses across mechanical systems.
• Engage with MOD, international navies, OEMs and project teams to align requirements.
• Develop and validate mechanical competency frameworks within WTA Mechanical Hub.
• Provide independent technical judgement across the WTA portfolio and ensure coherence.
• Identify and communicate mechanical business growth opportunities to leadership.
• Provide independent assessments on design reviews and safety submissions.

Skills

Mechanical architectures

Defence standards

Emerging tech

CEng status

Team leadership

Lifecycle experience

Job description

WTA Mechanical Technical Lead-00138799
This vacancy is not currently eligible for the UK Employee Referral Scheme.

Description

This vacancy is open to permanent and fixed-term BAE Systems employees only. While agency workers have access to relevant permanent opportunities, this role has been designated as an internal opportunity and therefore only permanent and fixed-term employees of BAE Systems are eligible to apply.

You’re expected to have completed 12 months in role prior to applying for an advertised vacancy and you should also discuss the internal opportunity with your line manager to ensure sustained business continuity and to further support your career development.

We know there may be exceptional individual circumstances that impact this, in the first instance please discuss this with your line manager.

If you don’t feel you can talk to your Line Manager, you can contact your HRBP.

PLEASE NOTE: Should you be invited for interview; you acknowledge that the Recruitment team will contact you and your line manager regarding your application for this opportunity.

WTA Mechanical Technical Lead

We currently have an opportunity for a WTA Mechanical Technical Lead within the Warship Technical Authority (WTA) Service Hub. The WTA aims to deliver Naval whole ship, systems and equipment engineering support and change management.

As WTA Mechanical Technical Lead within the WTA you will provide engineering support to programmes and projects within Warship Support. Such programmes/projects include Royal Navy surface ship support contracts, International naval support contracts, and internal and external engineering consultancy projects. As WTA Mechanical Technical Lead you will support the delivery of one or more of the core WTA service elements; Design Change Management, Platform Technical Assurance, Material State Management, Obsolescence Management, Specialist Engineering Support, Future Support, and Transformation Planning.

As part of the WTA Mechanical Hub you will also provide expert engineering advice and consultancy across all WTA delivery projects, support the Hub Discipline Lead providing technical depth to underpin the hub’s engineering output, and proactively identify opportunities to expand WTA Mechanical scope through new engagements, capability gap analysis, and boundary expansion of existing contracts.

Your main responsibilities as WTA Mechanical Technical Lead

• Provide authoritative Mechanical engineering consultancy across all WTA delivery projects, delivering technical resolution, integration analysis and engineering assurance wherever Mechanical expertise is required.
• Cover a broad range of mechanical sub-disciplines including but not limited to: fluid & ancillary systems, structural engineering, power & propulsion, HVAC and mechanical components & assemblies.
• Lead safe, efficient integration of Mechanical design change, maintaining configuration control and ensuring holistic integration across affected domains.
• Collate, assess and present authoritative evidence for safety case maintenance and Naval Authority/Customer certification submissions.
• Lead structured investigations, impact assessments and integration analyses across all relevant mechanical systems.
• Engage with MOD, international navies, OEMs and project teams to ensure Mechanical requirements are understood, captured and addressed. Identify and develop opportunities to grow WTA Mechanical scope, including new consultancy engagements and expansion of existing contract boundaries.
• Enable and inform the development of Mechanical competency frameworks by validating technical content against operational requirements; drive the technical expertise of the Mechanical Hub.
• Responsible for providing consistent, authoritative Mechanical technical judgement across the full WTA project portfolio, ensuring engineering quality and coherence are maintained across programmes,
• Responsible for identifying and communicating Mechanical business growth opportunities to the Discipline Lead and wider WTA leadership.
• Provide independent technical assessment and assurance on engineering outputs, design reviews and safety submissions where required, acting as a trusted reference point for delivery teams and customers.
• Support the Discipline Lead in building and maintaining the hub’s technical reputation and credibility with internal and external stakeholders

Your skills and qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of Mechanical architectures including fluid & ancillary systems, structural engineering, power & propulsion, HVAC and mechanical components & assemblies across multiple platform types.
• Understanding of defence and maritime standards applicable to UK MOD and international customers. Ability to apply Mechanical expertise across diverse governance and assurance frameworks including the Common Support Model.
• Awareness of emerging Mechanical technologies and their potential application to in-service platform support
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or equivalent, registered with a relevant professional institution (Expected). § A demonstrable Mechanical engineering background is essential for this role
• Experience of technical team leadership and a desire to potentially lead and manage teams in the future
• Experience working across multiple phases of the engineering lifecycle, particularly within the defence or maritime industry

Location

Portsmouth

Grade

GG12

Maritime Defence Solutions

As part of Defence Solutions, our Warship Support and Products businesses play a vital role in ensuring naval forces remain equipped, ready, and capable across the full spectrum of operations, both at sea and on land.

In Warship Support, we sustain the Royal Navy’s surface fleet from HM Naval Base Portsmouth, from platform maintenance and system upgrades to deployed operational support, we work alongside the Royal Navy to ensure fleet availability and mission readiness. Our work ranges from routine dockyard tasks to complex engineering enhancements, keeping everything from T45 Destroyers to Type 23 Frigates and Aircraft Carriers modern, effective, and ready for operations.

Across our Maritime Products portfolio, we deliver advanced systems and equipment such as combat systems, sensors, propulsion technologies, and training solutions. From torpedoes like Sting Ray and Spearfish and mine neutraliser Archerfish to cutting-edge radar systems such as Sampson, Artisan and Commander Land our technology gives the Royal Navy and its allies superior detection, tracking, and engagement capability. These systems sit at the core of modern naval operations, ensuring platforms perform in the most demanding maritime environments.

We operate across the UK and are proud to employ skilled professionals across engineering, manufacturing, project management, logistics, and more. Join us, and you’ll contribute to critical defence programmes that protect national security and support front-line operations.

Please be aware that many roles working for BAE Systems will be subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors including your nationality, any previous nationalities you have held, and your place of birth may limit those roles you can perform for the organisation.

Job

Engineering

Primary Location

Portsmouth

Organisation

Maritime & Land Sector (GSF)

Closing Date

29/Oct/26, 11:59:00 PM