Principal HVAC Design Engineer

Location: Barrow-in-Furness. We offer a variety of hybrid and flexible working arrangements—talk to your recruiter about the options available for this role.

Salary: Circa £55,000

As a Principal HVAC Design Engineer, you will:

• Lead the development of cutting-edge HVAC systems, ensuring they meet high performance, safety, and environmental standards.
• Create and review impactful engineering artifacts—from specifications and P&IDs to calculations and 3D models.
• Drive advanced thermal, airflow, and pressure analyses to validate system performance in challenging conditions.
• Transform complex requirements into robust, innovative, and verifiable design solutions that set the benchmark for excellence.
• Guide and influence engineers, suppliers, and design partners, shaping best-in-class HVAC integration across the platform.
• Enhance design standards and evaluate specialist equipment, contributing to reviews, hazard assessments, and lifecycle verification.

Essential:

• Strong technical expertise in HVAC and mechanical system design, including psychometrics, thermal analysis, equipment specification, schematics, and system balancing.
• Awareness of multi-disciplinary system integration challenges across structures, electrical, controls, safety, and installation.
• Excellent technical communication and reporting abilities, engaging both internal and external stakeholders.
• STEM degree (or equivalent experience), ideally working toward or holding professional registration (CEng preferred).

Desirable:

• Proven experience in complex or regulated industries, with knowledge of standards such as ISO 15138, BS EN 378, ASHRAE, or CIBSE.
• Skilled in system performance assessment, design validation, modeling, and failure analysis.

We offer a competitive pension scheme, employee share plans, and a wide range of flexible, discounted health, wellbeing, and lifestyle benefits. This includes a green car scheme, private health plans, and shopping discounts. You may also be eligible for an annual incentive!

In this role, you’ll be at the forefront of one of the UK’s most advanced engineering programs, leading the delivery of complex HVAC systems that shape the future of submarine platforms. You’ll take ownership of high-impact systems, provide trusted technical authority, and collaborate across multiple disciplines to bring innovative solutions to life.

Join the Platform Mechanical Integrated Delivery Team—a fast-moving, highly collaborative group of specialists pushing the boundaries of submarine engineering. This is a unique opportunity to work alongside experts from diverse backgrounds and partner organizations, contributing to mechanical capabilities that are critical to the success of the entire platform. We also offer relocation support across all Submarine roles, subject to eligibility criteria.

At BAE Systems, you’ll have the chance to make a real difference. We foster an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity and merit, and empowers you to fulfill your potential. We welcome individuals from all backgrounds and strive to make our recruitment processes as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in certain assessments, please discuss potential reasonable adjustments with your recruiter.

Please note that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to security and export control restrictions. Factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can affect your eligibility for certain roles. All applicants must achieve at least the Baseline Personnel Security Standard, with many roles requiring higher levels of National Security Vetting, typically necessitating 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK.

Closing Date: 12th 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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