Contract Principal Mechanical Engineer – Thermal Location: Cowes / Great Baddow (Scope for hybrid) Duration : 6 Months - Scope for extension or permanent offer Contract Role – Starting Soon Rate: Hourly rate: £51.68 PAYE / £70 Umbrella Are you an experienced Mechanical Engineer with a focus on thermal systems? Join BAE Systems Naval Radar as a Principal Thermal Mechanical Engineer, delivering cutting-edge radar solutions to the Royal Navy. This is a fantastic opportunity to bring your expertise to a dynamic team, influence product performance and mentor engineering talent. What you'll do: Conduct peer reviews and verify engineering tasks to ensure compliance with standards Identify and resolve product lifecycle issues, leading change activities to maintain compliance Establish and manage qualification requirements during build, test, and commissioning Serve as a subject matter expert, coaching and mentoring team members Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and systems engineers to optimise thermal design of radar components Lead development and validation of thermal models to predict system performance under varied conditions What we're looking for: Master's or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field, or proven equivalent experience Expertise in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, or thermodynamics Experience designing and testing thermal systems for electronic components and assemblies Strong leadership skills with experience coaching and mentoring engineering teams Why join BAE: Competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave, and Share Incentive Plan Flexible working, employee assistance programme, Cycle2Work, and employee discounts Exposure to the full engineering lifecycle using state-of-the-art technology Opportunities to develop and progress into senior positions within a global organisation About the team: The Mechanical Engineering Radar team delivers capability upgrades to the Royal Navy over the next 10 years. As part of this team, you will work across multiple engineering functions and gain exposure to a wide range of technical challenges and cutting-edge systems. Diversity and inclusion: BAE Systems values diversity, integrity, and merit. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds, including women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals. Reasonable adjustments are available during the recruitment process for those who need them. Security requirements: Many roles at BAE Systems require security and export control clearance. Applicants must achieve at least Baseline Personnel Security Standard, with higher levels potentially requiring 5–10 years of continuous UK residency.