Job Description

Job Title: Principal Mechanical Engineer
Location: Plymouth, Devon + Hybrid Working Arrangements
Compensation: 43,935.00 + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Role ID: SF65218
Engineering the Future of National Defence
At Babcock, we're working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Principal Mechanical Engineer at Devonport, near Plymouth, Devon.
The role
As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you'll be at the heart of one of the UK's most significant infrastructure programmes, supporting the upgrade and development of facilities for the Royal Navy's submarine maintenance operations. This is a unique opportunity to apply your expertise to projects that directly contribute to national defence and security.
Day-to-day, you'll be part of our Major Infrastructure Projects (MIP) Business Unit, helping to deliver complex engineering solutions that shape the future of naval capability.

• Apply systems engineering approaches to develop and validate design requirements
• Ensure compliance with client specifications, technical regulations and standards
• Collaborate across engineering functions and stakeholders to integrate designs and manage interfaces
• Technically manage specialist sub-contract designers
• Maintain the engineering configuration of the design intent through change control

Essential experience of the Principal Mechanical Engineer:

• Proven background in mechanical engineering within Defence, Nuclear, Oil and Gas or other highly regulated industries
• Strong understanding of mechanical process systems and building services (e.g. water services, industrial gases)
• Knowledge of regulations and standards relevant to mechanical system design and construction, including CDM responsibilities
• Experience in substantiating process equipment for Nuclear Safety Functions (desirable)
• Experience supporting design for construction, operation, or refit of submarines or related facilities (desirable)

Qualifications for the Principal Mechanical Engineer:

• A degree, degree apprenticeship, or demonstrable time served in an appropriate engineering discipline
• Chartered Engineer status or actively working towards registration with the Engineering Council

This role is full time, 35 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with typically 2 days in the office/onsite and 3 days working from home.
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must be 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 .
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 is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually.
• 'Be Kind Day' enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

Babcock International
For over a century Babcock has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal.
We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email with the subject header 'Reasonable adjustments requirement'. We're committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone's free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working - please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.
Closing date: 21/10/2025
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Skills Required