Overview
SubSea Craft is a fast growing, privately-funded, UK-based innovative maritime technology company specialising in next-generation, high-performance watercraft and systems. We operate at the intersection of advanced engineering, cutting-edge design, and user-centric innovation, delivering safe, effective, and enabling solutions for both commercial and defence applications.
Our flagship product, VICTA, is an optionally crewed diver and effects delivery unit - a surface submersible craft designed to operate at speed over range and capable of rapid transition beneath the surface to operate submerged, enabling the discreet insertion and recovery of combat swimmers or effectors. It is a unique, innovative British product for the global defence market. With modularity and open architecture at the heart of our technology, we have been able to transfer the foundational technology and rapidly innovate to develop new and complimentary product lines, with MARS, a compact modular Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV), and CADDIS, a sub-surface launched Uncrewed Air Vehicle (UAV) which form the SSC product portfolio.
What We Offer includes private healthcare with optional family cover, life assurance (4 x salary), critical illness cover, unlimited paid holiday, ongoing professional development and training, pension contribution, flexible working, and a culture of diversity and innovative thinking.
Job Summary
The Chief Engineer is accountable for the overall technical integrity, safety, and engineering delivery of the MARS programme. They act as the single point of engineering authority, ensuring progressive TRL development of our complex platform to enable operational deployment with reliability, safety, and user confidence. The role requires decisive leadership, technical vision, and the ability to balance innovation with safe, reliable, and timely delivery.
Key Responsibilities
* Technical Authority: making engineering decisions, managing technical risk, and owning the platform’s safety assurance.
* Delivery Leadership: ensuring engineering execution is aligned to programme milestones, production readiness, and customer outcomes.
* Lead and maintain the technology vision within the product; manage a clear, actionable roadmap that aligns innovation with product delivery and leverages modularity, scalability, and open architecture.
* Lead technical sign-offs and reviews and own final technical decisions.
* Coordinate with project and programme leads to maintain momentum and align activities with priorities.
* Cross-functional collaboration with engineering, operations, service, and commercial teams to ensure technology and delivery are inseparable.
Experience
* Proven track record as a Chief Engineer or equivalent in maritime, aerospace, or defence technology, capable of leading concurrent technology development across hardware, software, and integration for complex systems.
* Demonstrated authority and gravitas in technical decision making.
* Deep understanding of high-integrity systems, with a strong background in systems architecture and integration for high-performance platforms.
* Experience with safety-critical, high-integrity systems.
* Experience engaging with UK MoD or allied defence procurement organisations.
* Knowledge of MBSE and digital engineering practices and toolsets.
* Knowledge of global military doctrine and concepts for employment of advanced equipment.
Qualifications
* Degree in engineering or a relevant technical discipline, or equivalent experience.
* Chartered Engineer or equivalent professional standing.
Skills and Attributes
* Excellent communication (verbal and written); able to articulate engineering trade-offs and guide decision-making across technical and commercial boundaries.
* Strategic and delivery-focused with a bias for action, able to combine bold technical ambition with disciplined execution.
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to identify and address issues promptly.
* Strong leadership, motivational and mediation skills; proactive and decisive.
* Authority and confidence in technical decision-making; ownership of technical outcomes.
* Calculated risk-taker; experienced in making informed trade-offs to accelerate delivery and capability.
* Collaborative mindset.
Security and Eligibility Note: The selected candidate must be capable of meeting security requirements, including existing right to live and work in the UK, BPSS, with UK National security clearance required for certain roles.
What We Expect From You
* Teamwork, mutual respect and collaboration
* Initiative and independent working
* Honesty and integrity
* Business and commercial awareness
* Agility, adaptability and continuous development
We are committed to building an inclusive, diverse workplace where everyone can thrive. If you require any support or adjustments to interact with us, please let us know.
We regret that due to the high volume of applications we are unable to acknowledge every application. If you are selected for an interview, we will aim to contact you within 14 days of your application or the closing date. We may keep your details on our database for future opportunities; please let us know if you do not wish us to keep your details on file.
* Please note that DBS, Driving Licence and reference checks will be carried out and all offers of employment are subject to meeting our requirements.
Seniority level
* Executive
Employment type
* Full-time
Job function
* Engineering and Information Technology
* Industries: Defense and Space Manufacturing
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