Job Title: Principal Safety Engineer
Location: Plymouth, Devon + Hybrid Working Arrangements
Compensation: £61, - £68, Depending on Experience + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Role ID: SF
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 Safety Engineer at our Devonport Royal Dockyard site.
The role
As a Principal Safety Engineer, you’ll play a vital role in the safe delivery of major infrastructure projects that support the Royal Navy’s ship and submarine sustainment programmes. Working within the Major Infrastructure Projects (MIP) directorate, you’ll support the design and upgrade of complex dock, berth and building facilities, ensuring these critical systems can be accepted into service and meet all regulatory and operational requirements.
Day-to-day, your expertise in safety engineering will influence design intent, validate safety claims and ensure that engineered solutions meet stringent technical and functional safety requirements.
1. Review safety engineering designs to assess compliance against relevant engineering and HSE standards.
2. Provide subject matter expertise to support technical problem‑solving across design and construction teams.
3. Guide and review safety design packages, ensuring integration with other engineering disciplines.
4. Ensure safety case claims can be substantiated through compliant, complete and accurate design documentation.
5. Provide onsite advice for design changes or defect rectification, ensuring quality assurance and adherence to engineering.
This role is full time, 35 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with a minimum of 2 days in the office/onsite.
Essential experience of the Principal Safety Engineer
6. Strong background in safety engineering within complex projects and high‑hazard industries (minimum Senior Safety Engineer level).
7. Experience reviewing or managing safety cases and assessing design intent.
8. Dockyard, defence, or nuclear industry experience (oil and gas, rail, aerospace also considered).
9. Experience as a Design Authority or supporting DA processes - Desirable
10. Ability to evaluate technical issues and guide engineering teams toward compliant solutions.
Qualifications for the Principal Safety Engineer
11. Degree in an Engineering or STEM discipline.
12. Additional qualifications or experience in nuclear or safety‑critical systems - Desirable
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.