Lead Mechanical Design Engineer

Location: Barrow-in-Furness. We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – feel free to discuss your preferences with your recruiter!

Salary: Circa £55,000

As a Lead Principal Engineer within the SSNA Platform Mechanical Integrated Delivery Team (IDT), you will be at the forefront of a complex and fast-paced submarine programme. Your leadership will be crucial in delivering engineering scope, and you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Lead the delivery of assigned engineering scope, ensuring quality and timely outputs across design, integration, and qualification.
• Oversee technical ownership of several mechanical systems, ensuring compliance with system requirements and effective collaboration across interface areas.
• Produce engineering artifacts, including documentation, calculations, and perform simulation/analysis.
• Manage task allocation and progress tracking through structured tools (Jira/Confluence), ensuring alignment with programme milestones, cost, and schedule expectations.
• Coach and support engineers at all levels — from graduates to senior professionals — to enhance their technical capability and confidence.
• Work closely with peers, suppliers, and wider functional stakeholders to resolve issues and maintain delivery momentum.
• Review technical documentation, support hazard assessments, and manage change control with sound engineering judgement.
• Proactively identify and address shortfalls in delivery, documentation, or process — fostering a culture of openness, improvement, and accountability.

We’re looking for a confident leader who can mentor others and contribute to a collaborative delivery culture. You should have:

• A proven track record of delivering complex mechanical or multi-disciplinary engineering tasks in a regulated environment.
• Experience mentoring or coaching engineers to support their technical and professional growth.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to lead conversations, challenge constructively, and build strong working relationships.
• The ability to collaborate effectively across engineering, project, safety, ILS, and supply chain functions.
• Familiarity with task and documentation management tools such as Jira and Confluence.
• Working toward or already professionally registered (CEng strongly preferred).
• A STEM-related degree (or equivalent experience) with strong foundations in systems thinking and platform-level integration.

In addition to a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems offers:

• Employee share plans.
• An extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing, and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans, and shopping discounts.
• Eligibility for an annual incentive.

You’ll join a dynamic, collaborative engineering group working at the forefront of submarine platform development. Our team brings together engineers from various disciplines and career levels to deliver critical mechanical capability. You’ll engage closely with suppliers, systems engineers, and programme stakeholders, playing a central role in shaping high-integrity technical solutions. We have multiple roles available across disciplines such as Air Purification & Atmosphere Monitoring, Trim & Compensation, Hydraulics, Air Movement & HVAC, and Cooling. Relocation support packages are available for eligible candidates.

This is a place where you can truly make a difference. Join 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.

Important Note: 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.

Closing Date: 3rd March 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications. If you’re interested, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible!