Job Title: Head of Welding and Development
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Compensation: £75,000 - £85,000
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Role ID: SF73086
Lead welding excellence. Shape the future of advanced engineering.
At Babcock, we're working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Head of Welding and Development at Rosyth, near Dunfermline, Fife. This is your opportunity to lead a highly specialised technical function that directly underpins national capability, safety and security.
The role
As the Head of Welding and Development, you'll provide strategic, technical and operational leadership for welding capability across the organisation. This rare and influential leadership role will shape welding standards, technologies and workforce capability across complex, safety‑critical programmes.
You’ll act as Babcock’s senior welding authority, driving innovation, quality and compliance while developing future‑ready welding processes and people. Your work will enable efficient, compliant production and directly contribute to long‑term programme success – positioning you as a recognised technical leader within the defence and engineering sector.
Day‑to‑day, you’ll have the following responsibilities:
* Developing and delivering the organisational welding strategy aligned to production and business objectives
* Leading and managing the Welding and Development team, setting direction, standards and performance expectations
* Owning and governing all welding standards, procedures and technical specifications across the business
* Driving innovation and continuous improvement through research, development and adoption of emerging technologies
* Partnering with stakeholders across Engineering, Production, Quality, Safety and Supply Chain, while acting as the principal welding subject‑matter expert for customers and auditors
This 36‑hour per week role is based at Rosyth. Hybrid working patterns are available.
Essential experience of the Head of Welding and Development
* Proven leadership experience delivering welding strategy in a complex manufacturing or fabrication environment
* Deep technical expertise in welding standards, procedures, defect investigation and root cause analysis
* Experience developing workforce capability through training, upskilling and professional development programmes
* Demonstrated leadership of innovation, research and continuous improvement within welding or fabrication
* Strong stakeholder management skills across multidisciplinary teams and external bodies
Qualifications for the Head of Welding and Development
* Expert knowledge of major welding processes including MIG, MAG, TIG, MMA, FCAW and SAW
* Strong understanding of metallurgy, weld design, heat treatment and material behaviour
* Advanced competence in welding inspection, non‑destructive testing methods and quality systems
* Experience with robotic or automated welding systems (highly desirable)
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must be a sole UK National who can achieve and maintain a 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 eligibility may be affected by place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency 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 allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or sell up to one working week of annual leave from their entitlement
* Be Kind Day enables employees to take one working day’s paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering with a chosen organisation or registered charity
* Excellent development opportunities and a comprehensive wellbeing programme, including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing
We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please contact us. We are also happy to discuss flexible working arrangements.
Closing date: 24/04/2026
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