Principal Design Engineer Mechanical (Chichester)

Location: Portsmouth Naval Base. Enjoy the flexibility of hybrid working arrangements—talk to your recruiter about the options available for this role!

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

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

• Leading Design Reviews, either by presenting information or participating as an assessor or chair.
• Conducting complex technical analyses and investigations, evaluating options, and preparing insightful reports to resolve problems and enhance engineering capabilities.
• Developing designs in line with specifications and quality standards, ensuring all design appraisals meet the highest criteria.
• Investigating operational challenges and crafting innovative solutions, either independently or as part of a collaborative project team.
• Identifying business opportunities and preparing high-quality bids in your areas of expertise.
• Ensuring compliance with quality plans, contract specifications, and regulatory standards (e.g., Lloyd's Rules, Maritime Coastguard Agencies, Def Stan).

We are looking for candidates who possess:

• Expert-level knowledge of mechanical engineering design principles, with the ability to tackle diverse design challenges across various engineering disciplines in Ship Engineering.
• Subject Matter Expert (SME) experience in mechanical piping systems, including auxiliary cooling and routed systems, with a solid grasp of adjacent trades.
• Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Vault, SAP, AutoCAD, Inventor, and JIRA, focusing on tracking engineer availability and managing task performance.
• A strong understanding of the engineering life cycle, with exceptional technical drawing skills and technical writing ability.
• Experience in mentoring and training, including process derivation and the creation of training programs.
• A 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 range of benefits, including:

• A competitive pension scheme.
• Employee share plans.
• Flexible discounted health, wellbeing, and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme and private health plans.
• Shopping discounts and eligibility for an annual incentive.

Join our dynamic team of 31 engineers at Portsmouth Naval Base, where your work will have an immediate impact on the vessels at the heart of UK defence. As a Principal Design Engineer Mechanical Lead, you will provide expert engineering input across projects, conduct research, and drive the adoption of new technologies.

This is your opportunity to make a real difference in an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought and rewards integrity. We are committed to empowering you to fulfill your potential, welcoming 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 encourage you to apply early, as we may close this vacancy if we receive sufficient applications.

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