Job Title: Principal Safety Engineer – Weapons, Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives Specialist
Location: Various Sites + Hybrid Working
Compensation: Competitive + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Role ID: SF
Shape the future of naval defence by leading safety engineering on world‑class shipbuilding programmes.
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 – Weapons, Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives Specialist at Devonport, Bristol or Rosyth.
The role
As a Principal Safety Engineer – Weapons, Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives Specialist, you’ll play a pivotal role in ensuring the safe introduction, integration and operation of weapons, ordnance, munitions and explosive systems across complex naval shipbuilding programmes. It’s an exciting opportunity to influence the design and safety assurance of ships that protect national security — while growing your expertise across defence, aerospace and engineering.
You’ll be a key technical authority within a multi‑disciplinary engineering environment, making decisions that shape equipment safety, compliance with UK legislation and Ministry of Defence policy, and the safety and environmental performance of our platforms. This is work with purpose — supporting defence capability while developing specialist knowledge that will elevate your career.
Day-to-day, you’ll have the following responsibilities:
1. Leading the safe introduction into service of new weapons and ammunition, working with accreditation bodies such as WESCoE.
2. Overseeing Ship Explosives Threat Hazard Assessment (SETHA) activities in line with Maritime Acquisition Publication (MAP) 01‑.
3. Managing all aspects of WOME safety, including embarkation, storage, handling and operational use.
4. Producing and approving key technical documents such as SEMPs, SETHA Reports, Safety Case Reports, Hazard Logs, Ammunition Route plans and integration specifications.
5. Working as part of our Marine Systems Engineering (MSE) team, collaborating with engineering, naval architecture and project delivery specialists to support a variety of new build and refit programmes.
This role is full time and can be based at either Devonport, Bristol or Rosyth. Hybrid working patterns are available.
Essential experience of the Principal Safety Engineer – Weapons, Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives Specialist:
6. Developed technical expertise with accountability for design development and problem‑solving within WOME.
7. Experience chairing and facilitating customer‑facing engineering and safety meetings (PSECs, HLWGs, EWGs).
8. Principal‑level engineering experience with significant exposure to naval explosive safety.
9. Direct experience of UK naval programmes and relevant standards: ANEP 77, NATG Explosive Certification, Defence Standard 00‑, Naval Authority Notice (NAN) Exp 03 Parts 1 & 2, Defence Maritime and Ordnance Regulations.
10. Working knowledge of ANEP 77 and the IMO IMDG Code.
Qualifications for the Principal Safety Engineer – Weapons, Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives Specialist:
11. Chartered Engineer status in a relevant discipline.
12. Degree‑qualified (or HND/HNC with extensive and relevant engineering experience).
13. Appropriate explosive and maritime safety training.
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 Babcock
We’re Babcock — a global FTSE organisation with over 26, 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.