Job Opportunities

Job Title: Design Engineer (Structural)

Location: Portsmouth Naval Base. We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role

Salary: Up to £42,500 depending on skills and experience

Who we are:

Join BAE Systems and you’ll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you’ll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You’ll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow, shaping a safer future, for all of us.

From the depths of the ocean, to the far reaches of space, there’s no limit to where a career at BAE Systems could take you.

Job Description:

In this role, you will undertake a defined range of detail design activities in line with all relevant processes and quality requirements, supplying advice and support to operations and other functions, ensuring defined objectives are achieved whilst continually maintaining quality and service requirement.

Core duties:

• Design Structural and Outfit arrangements using both 2D and 3D CAD packages
• Preparation of Production packages
• Liaise with Production
• Conduct ship visits to validate the current configuration of the structure, material state and layout
• Keep up to date in relevant technical areas to develop your skills and capabilities
• Work with our customers to help develop their design requirements
• Support apprentices and junior engineers in their session

Essential Skills:

• You will have previous experience designing using 2D and 3D CAD packages (Autodesk, Siemens NX)
• You will have experience working with manufacturing drawings
• You will have a minimum of NVQ Level 3 or equivalent working experience. A HND/HNC would be beneficial
• You will have experience within a structural/fabrication design and manufacturing environment
• You will have excellent interpersonal communication skills

The Design Services team:

The Design Services team is an exciting workplace with a broad range of experience from Apprentices to Principal Engineers, with approx. 45 engineers in total. We take pride within the team to encourage and fully support development and career progression of our engineers.

The team provides Design Solutions across the entire Royal Navy fleet, including the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers, Type 45 Destroyers, Type 23 Frigates, MCMV Hunt Class and Submarines.

As the department continues to grow its customer base, we are expanding into naval shipbuilding and submarine programmes, alongside supporting major projects essential to maintaining the operational readiness of the UK fleet.

Your role as a Design Engineer within the team will be to take ownership of a diverse range of design projects—from small, straightforward tasks to large, complex programmes that may span over a year—seeing them through the full project lifecycle from concept to completion.

Why BAE Systems?

Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.

A place where everyone can thrive:

We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role , to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 1st June 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role . Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

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