Senior Design Engineer
// Role Summary
Join Babcock as a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer in Plymouth, playing a crucial role in designing and delivering mechanical systems for the UK's submarine fleet. Contribute to critical defence programmes and experience the full engineering lifecycle in a dynamic, regulated environment.
// Key Responsibilities
- Design and deliver complex mechanical systems for the UK submarine fleet.
- Involved in the full engineering lifecycle from concept to decommissioning.
- Lead technical activities and provide expert engineering guidance.
- Ensure compliance with rigorous safety and regulatory standards.
- Hybrid working arrangements with a minimum of 2 days onsite.
- Requires Security Check (SC) clearance.
// Role Specification
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - Plymouth
Help design the future of submarine infrastructure and national defence at Babcock's Devonport Royal Dockyard site.
About the Role:
As a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in delivering complex mechanical system designs that directly support the United Kingdom’s submarine fleet. From fluid systems and industrial gases to large-scale pipework infrastructure, your work will contribute to critical defence programmes with a clear, visible impact.
You will have the opportunity to be involved in the full engineering lifecycle—from concept design through to implementation, maintenance, and eventual decommissioning. You’ll lead technical activities, provide expert engineering guidance, and ensure compliance with rigorous safety and regulatory standards in a highly regulated environment. Working on major programmes, you’ll see your designs come to life on-site while developing your career across diverse, technically challenging projects.
Key Responsibilities:
- Leading the development and delivery of mechanical designs across the full project lifecycle.
- Providing expert advice on mechanical systems, compliance, and engineering standards.
- Conducting site visits, surveys and supporting through-life system performance.
- Managing and supporting engineers, coordinating work and driving technical progress.
- Producing and reviewing design, safety and substantiation documentation.
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:
- Strong mechanical engineering experience across design, operation or maintenance of fluid or pipework systems.
- Application of the full engineering design lifecycle within complex projects.
- Experience working within regulated industries such as defence, nuclear, utilities or similar.
- Understanding of fluid mechanics principles including water systems, valves and pipelines.
- Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders to deliver engineering solutions.
Qualifications:
- Level 6 qualification in a mechanical engineering discipline, or Level 5 with significant relevant experience (essential).
- Professionally registered with a recognised engineering institution such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers or Institution of Engineering and Technology (Desirable).
Security Clearance:
The successful candidate must be a sole UK National who can achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance.
Benefits:
Babcock offers a comprehensive benefits package including a generous holiday allowance, matched contribution pension scheme with life assurance, access to a Digital GP, employee share scheme, employee shopping savings portal, and payment of professional fees. Additional benefits include Reservist leave, Holiday Trading, and a 'Be Kind Day' for volunteering.
We are a disability confident committed employer and offer excellent development opportunities and an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.