Principal Safety Engineer in London

Shape the future of naval defence by leading safety engineering on world class shipbuilding programmes. At Babcock, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Principal Safety Engineer – Weapons, Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives Specialist at Devonport, Bristol or Rosyth.

The role involves ensuring the safe introduction, integration and operation of weapons, ordnance, munitions and explosive systems across complex naval shipbuilding programmes. You’ll be a key technical authority within a multi‑disciplinary engineering environment, making decisions that shape equipment safety, compliance with UK legislation and Ministry of Defence policy, and the safety and environmental performance of our platforms.

Day‑to‑day responsibilities include:

• Leading the safe introduction into service of new weapons and ammunition, working with accreditation bodies such as WESCoE.
• Overseeing Ship Explosives Threat Hazard Assessment (SETHA) activities in line with Maritime Acquisition Publication (MAP) 01 103.
• Managing all aspects of WOME safety, including embarkation, storage, handling and operational use.
• Producing and approving key technical documents such as SEMPs, SETHA Reports, Safety Case Reports, Hazard Logs, Ammunition Route plans and integration specifications.
• Collaborating with engineering, naval architecture and project delivery specialists to support a variety of new build and refit programmes.

This role is full time and can be based at either Devonport, Bristol or Rosyth. Hybrid working patterns are available.

Essential experience includes:

• Developed technical expertise with accountability for design development and problem solving within WOME.
• Experience chairing and facilitating customer‑facing engineering and safety meetings (PSECs, HLWGs, EWGs).
• Principal level engineering experience with significant exposure to naval explosive safety.
• Direct experience of UK naval programmes and relevant standards: ANEP 77, NATG Explosive Certification, Defence Standard 00 101, Naval Authority Notice (NAN) Exp 03 Parts 1 & 2, Defence Maritime and Ordnance Regulations.
• Working knowledge of ANEP 77 and the IMO IMDG Code.

Qualifications required:

• Chartered Engineer status in a relevant discipline.
• Degree qualified (or HND/HNC with extensive and relevant engineering experience).
• Appropriate explosive and maritime safety training.

The successful candidate must be a sole UK National who is able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.

What we offer includes:

• Generous holiday allowance.
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance.
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+.
• Employee share scheme.
• Employee shopping savings portal.
• Payment of Professional Fees.
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10‑days special paid leave.
• Holiday Trading allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement.
• "Be Kind Day" enables employees to take one working day’s paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity.
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.

Babcock is a global FTSE 100 organisation with over 26,000 people working together to make a difference. Here, you’ll be part of something bigger. From initial design to final decommissioning, your work will contribute to products and services that are essential to national security and public infrastructure.

We are a disability‑confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email with the subject header "Reasonable adjustments requirement." We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing date: 07/04/2026