Principal Mechanical Engineer
New Malden
** Please note SC Clearance must be held for this role**
As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will play a senior leadership role within a highly advanced engineering environment, supporting the development of innovative electro-mechanical products for complex defence applications. Acting as a technical authority, you will provide guidance and mentorship to engineering teams while ensuring designs are robust, manufacturable and fully compliant with industry and regulatory standards.
This role will see you leading technically challenging projects across the full product lifecycle, applying expertise in mechanical design, materials and manufacturing processes to deliver high-quality engineering solutions. You will also contribute to technical strategy, continuous improvement initiatives and the ongoing development of engineering capability across the organisation.
Role Responsibilities
* Lead the design, development and delivery of mechanical products, ensuring they are optimised for manufacture and aligned to safety, security, maintainability and quality requirements.
* Provide technical leadership as the subject matter expert across mechanical engineering, materials and manufacturing processes.
* Independently deliver hardware artefacts, review complex technical documentation and drive solutions to highly technical challenges.
* Lead planning activities, estimate effort, monitor progress and ensure successful delivery against cost, time and quality targets.
* Review and assure the quality of mechanical deliverables across prototyping, testing and validation phases.
* Liaise with customers and suppliers, communicating complex issues and building trusted relationships.
* Mentor, coach and develop engineers across the operating unit to strengthen capability.
Drive root‑cause analysis, risk mitigation, corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.
* Apply up‑to‑date knowledge of standards, regulations, materials and manufacturing methods across aerospace and defence environments.
* Promote engineering excellence internally and externally through presentations, technical talks and engagement with industry.
Qualification and experience
Essential
* Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline, or extensive relevant experience.
Significant experience in the defence, maritime or aerospace sector.
* Strong knowledge of defence mechanical design standards and regulations.
* Experience leading and developing high‑performing engineering teams.
* Ability to lead design from concept through manufacture and into in‑service support.
* Expertise in structural, thermal or dynamic analysis, including experience with finite element analysis.
* Proficiency in engineering drawings, 3D modelling and product documentation.
* Experience with DFMEA, DFA, DFM and continuous improvement methodologies.
* Experience specifying metallic materials and manufacturing processes, including REACH‑ and RoHS‑compliant materials.
* Experience with prototyping, design qualification, production techniques and supply chain engagement.
Preferred
* Chartered Engineer status.
* Experience using CREO or similar CAD tools.
* Experience using Windchill or similar PLM systems.
* Experience using AutoCAD Electrical or similar design tools.
If you feel you have the right skills and experience for this role, please apply now and we will be in touch for a further conversation