Job Title: Principal Mechanical Engineer
Location: Plymouth, Devon + Hybrid Working Arrangements
Compensation: Starting Salary from £59, dependent upon experience + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Role ID: SF
Lead the Future of Engineering Excellence
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 Mechanical Engineer at our Devonport Royal Dockyard site.
The role
As a Principal Engineer, you’ll have a role that’s out of the ordinary. Join us as a Principal Mechanical Engineer in a forward-thinking, agile environment where your technical expertise and leadership will drive innovation and support national defence. You’ll oversee the design and delivery of bespoke mechanical handling and lifting equipment for refit support operations, making a tangible impact on engineering excellence.
Day-to-day, you’ll Provide technical support and design consultancy for non-nuclear and nuclear mechanical, you’ll lead a team of engineers designing and delivering bespoke mechanical handling and lifting equipment for submarine and warship refit programmes. You’ll oversee technical reviews, sign off designs and calculations, and provide expert guidance on complex engineering challenges.
1. Leading and managing a team of engineers working on refit support equipment
2. Reviewing and signing off technical designs, calculations, and documentation
3. Attending authorisation group meetings and supporting fault diagnosis
4. Conducting asset condition surveys and preparing health reports
5. Responding to technical queries and reviewing industry standards
This role is full time, 35 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements.
Essential experience of the Principal Mechanical Engineer
6. Extensive industry experience in mechanical engineering environments, as a Principal Engineer, Engineering Manager, or Senior Engineer
7. Skilled in Inventor (preferred), SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or other 3D design tools
8. Experienced in hand calculations
9. Proficiency in FEA (Finite Element Analysis) - Desirable
Qualifications for the Principal Mechanical Engineer
10. Mechanical Engineering degree or CEng accreditation or qualified by experience
11. Chartered Engineer status (support provided) – Desirable
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must be a sole UK national who is able to achieve and maintain 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 .
What we offer
12. Generous holiday allowance
13. Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
14. Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
15. Employee share scheme
16. Employee shopping savings portal
17. Payment of Professional Fees
18. Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
19. Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows the majority of employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement
20. ‘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
21. Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing