Babcock International Group
RSE Principal Engineer

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Your Role
Applies Engineering concepts and theories to provide technical direction and leadership for the delivery of designs, calculations and technical solutions across a range of applications for Babcock products and services across the Engineering Product Lifecycle. Uses their experience to make decisions in complex situations. Able to work under own initiative to produce high quality outputs. Capable of managing others and/or delivery of engineering and technical activities, through the application of process, domain knowledge and experience. Can apply a broad and/or deep range of knowledge to complex situations whilst extending their business knowledge base in the subject area. Provides coaching, direction, assistance and mentoring to others.
Description
Job Title: Principal Mechanical Handling Engineer
Location: Plymouth, Devon + Hybrid Working Arrangements
Compensation: £57,300 - £71,600 Depending on Experience + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Role ID: SF74416
Lead the engineering solutions that help maintain the Royal Navy’s critical assets
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 Mechanical Handling Engineer at our Devonport Royal Dockyard site.
The role
As a Principal Mechanical Handling Engineer, you’ll play a key role in delivering complex engineering solutions that support submarine and warship refit programmes. Leading a team of engineers, you’ll provide technical leadership across the design, assurance and delivery of bespoke mechanical handling and lifting equipment in a highly regulated environment.
Day-to-day, you’ll have an exciting opportunity to apply your expertise to nationally important defence programmes while developing your career within one of the UK's leading engineering organisations. You’ll work on technically challenging projects, influence critical engineering decisions and help shape innovative solutions that contribute to the safety and effectiveness of the Royal Navy.
- Leading a team of engineers and providing technical oversight for the design and delivery of mechanical handling and lifting equipment.
- Overseeing technical reviews and approving engineering designs, calculations and technical documentation.
- Providing expert guidance and solutions to complex engineering challenges within regulated environments.
- Acting as an Intelligent Customer, assessing, challenging and verifying contractor and supplier engineering solutions.
- Supporting the successful delivery of submarine and warship refit programmes through technical leadership and engineering excellence.
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Only hits
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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 Mechanical Handling Engineer
- Experience designing high-integrity lifting equipment and accessories, ideally within a nuclear regulated environment.
- Strong understanding of relevant engineering regulations, legislation and standards applicable to mechanical handling design.
- Demonstrable experience managing complex engineering design development throughout the full design lifecycle.
- Experience acting in an Intelligent Customer capacity, with the ability to review and verify engineering solutions from external suppliers and contractors.
- Experience working within nuclear, defence or other highly regulated, high-hazard industries.
Qualifications For The Principal Mechanical Handling Engineer
- Degree in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Chartered Engineer status with a relevant professional institution, such as IMechE, IMarEST or IET, or actively working towards Chartered status.
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 United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK.


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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. There is an annual Window to request this benefit.
- ‘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
We’re Babcock — a global FTSE 100 organisation with over 26,000 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. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email careers@babcockinternational.com 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: dd/mm/yyyy
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