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, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of naval engineering. Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading Design Reviews, either by presenting information or serving as an assessor or chair.
• Conducting complex technical analyses and investigations, evaluating options, and preparing reports with recommendations to enhance engineering capabilities.
• Developing designs in line with specifications and quality standards, ensuring all design appraisals meet required benchmarks.
• Investigating operational problems and developing solutions, either independently or as part of a project team.
• Identifying business opportunities and preparing high-quality bids in your area of expertise.
• Ensuring compliance with quality plans, contract specifications, and regulatory standards.

We’re looking for someone with a strong background in mechanical engineering. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Expert-level knowledge of mechanical engineering design principles, with the ability to tackle diverse design challenges.
• Subject Matter Expert (SME) in mechanical piping systems, with a solid understanding of related trades.
• Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Vault, SAP, AutoCAD, Inventor, and JIRA.
• Strong technical drawing skills and the ability to produce high-quality technical documentation.
• Experience in mentoring and training, including process derivation and skills management.
• HNC (or equivalent) in an engineering discipline, or equivalent experience, ideally working towards Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status.

At BAE Systems, you’ll enjoy a competitive benefits package, including:

• A robust pension scheme.
• Employee share plans.
• Flexible health, wellbeing, and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme and shopping discounts.
• Potential eligibility for an annual incentive.

Our dynamic team of 31 engineers at Portsmouth Naval Base is dedicated to delivering expert mechanical design integration for all current naval platforms. Your work will have an immediate impact, directly shaping the vessels that are vital to UK defense. Join us to make a real difference in supporting those who serve and protect our nation!

This is a place where you can truly make a difference. We foster an inclusive culture that values diverse perspectives and rewards integrity and merit. You’ll be empowered to reach your full potential. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and are committed to making our recruitment processes as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance, please 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 positions. 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 reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications. If you’re interested, please submit your application as soon as possible!

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