Principal Design Engineer Mechanical

Location: Portsmouth Naval Base. We offer a variety of hybrid and flexible working arrangements—talk to your recruiter about the options available for this role!

Salary: Up to £54,000, depending on skills and experience, plus a bonus!

As a Principal Design Engineer Mechanical, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of naval engineering. Your responsibilities will include:

• Design Reviews: Actively participate in design reviews, either presenting information or serving as an assessor or chair.
• Technical Analyses: Conduct complex technical analyses and investigations, evaluate options, and prepare reports with recommendations to enhance engineering capabilities.
• Specifications & Designs: Prepare specifications and develop designs that meet quality and technical standards, ensuring all standards are upheld.
• Problem-Solving: Investigate operational problems and develop solutions, either independently or as part of a project team.
• Business Opportunities: Support the identification of business opportunities and prepare high-quality bids in your area of expertise.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure compliance with quality plans, contract specifications, and regulatory requirements.

We’re looking for someone with:

• Expert Knowledge: Deep understanding of mechanical engineering design principles, with the ability to tackle diverse design challenges.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Proficiency in mechanical piping systems and a solid grasp of adjacent trades.
• Industry Tools: Familiarity with tools like Vault, SAP, AutoCAD, Inventor, and JIRA for effective task management.
• Technical Drawing Skills: Strong abilities in technical drawing and writing, with a solid understanding of the engineering life cycle.
• Mentoring Experience: Proven ability to mentor and train others, including developing training programs.
• Qualifications: HNC (or equivalent) in an engineering discipline, or equivalent experience, ideally working towards Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status.

At BAE Systems, we value our employees and offer a competitive benefits package, including:

• Comprehensive pension scheme
• Employee share plans
• Flexible health, wellbeing, and lifestyle benefits
• Green car scheme and private health plans
• Shopping discounts and potential annual incentives

Join a dynamic group of 31 engineers at Portsmouth Naval Base, delivering expert mechanical design integration for current naval platforms. Your contributions will have a direct impact on the vessels that are vital to UK defence. Together, we can make a real difference in supporting those who serve and protect our nation.

As a Principal Design Engineer Mechanical Lead, you’ll provide expert engineering input across projects, conduct research, and develop new technologies to enhance BAE Systems’ knowledge base. You’ll also track external innovations and drive the adoption of new technologies within the business.

This is your opportunity to make a meaningful impact in an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought and rewards integrity. We empower our employees to reach their full potential and welcome individuals from all backgrounds. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance, we encourage you to discuss potential reasonable adjustments with your recruiter.

Important Note: Many roles at BAE Systems are subject to security and export control restrictions. Factors such as nationality and residency may affect your eligibility for certain roles. All applicants must meet the Baseline Personnel Security Standard, with many roles requiring higher levels of National Security Vetting.

Closing Date: 4th February 2026

We may close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications, so don’t wait—submit your application as soon as possible!

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