Senior Design Engineer in Plymouth

As a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, you'll play a key part in delivering complex engineering design solutions across critical defence infrastructure. Working within a highly skilled team, you'll lead and support mechanical design activities for both nuclear and non-nuclear systems, helping to ensure safe, compliant, and reliable operations. Day‑to‑day, you'll have the opportunity to work across the full engineering lifecycle, from initial concept through to implementation, operation, and decommissioning. Your work will directly contribute to national defence capability while developing your technical leadership and engineering expertise in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of designs in accordance with the design process (Start‑up, Concept, Scheme, Detailed and Implementation phases) and relevant legislation.
• Lead or manage a team of engineers, planning and organising their tasks and facilitating progress, providing guidance as appropriate.
• Act as lead author for design and safety documentation and manage the production of supporting assessments.
• Lead the provision of advice to line management and other key stakeholders, on the implementation and maintenance of design documentation and compliance with relevant codes, standards and legislation both nuclear and non‑nuclear.
• Lead the provision of quality checking services with reference to technical speciality/expertise.

This role is full time, 35 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with a minimum of 2 days in the office/onsite.

Qualifications and Skills

• Experience in mechanical engineering principles applied to the design, operation, and maintenance of systems including Steam and Condensate, Industrial Gases, Fresh Water, Demineralised Water, and Domestic Water services.
• Proficient in digital tools and platforms, with a good level of computer literacy to support design, analysis, documentation, and collaboration.
• Experience in applying the full design lifecycle across engineering projects.
• Knowledge of relevant regulations, legislation, and technical standards governing mechanical services system design, ensuring compliance and safety.
• Knowledge of operating within nuclear or other high‑hazard industries.
• Level 6 qualification in a mechanical engineering discipline, or Level 5 with significant relevant experience (essential).
• Professionally registered with a recognised engineering institution such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers or Institution of Engineering and Technology – desirable.

Security Clearance

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

Benefits

• 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 entitlement.
• Be Kind Day enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with a chosen organisation or registered charity.
• Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.