At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team in designing bespoke mechanical handling equipment for submarines and warships.
- Company: Join a leading engineering firm with a focus on innovation and excellence.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, pension scheme, health support, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Enjoy hybrid working arrangements and excellent career growth in a regulated environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in defence engineering while mentoring the next generation of engineers.
- Qualifications: Degree in Mechanical Engineering and experience in high-integrity lifting equipment design.
Overview
As a Principal Mechanical Handling Engineer, you will lead a team of engineers and provide technical leadership across the design, assurance, and delivery of bespoke mechanical handling and lifting equipment for submarine and warship refit programmes in a highly regulated environment.
Responsibilities
- Lead and manage a team of engineers providing technical oversight for design and delivery of mechanical handling and lifting equipment.
- Oversee technical reviews and approve engineering designs, calculations, and technical documentation.
- Provide expert guidance and solutions to complex engineering challenges within regulated environments.
- Act as an Intelligent Customer, assessing, challenging, and verifying contractor and supplier engineering solutions.
- Support successful delivery of submarine and warship refit programmes through technical leadership and engineering excellence.
- Apply engineering concepts and theories to deliver designs, calculations, and technical solutions across Babcock products and services throughout the engineering product lifecycle.
- Make decisions in complex situations using relevant experience and initiate high‑quality outputs.
- Coach, direct, assist, and mentor other team members.
- Work full time (35 hours per week) with hybrid arrangements, requiring a minimum of two days in the office/onsite.
Qualifications & Experience
- Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent relevant experience.
- Chartered Engineer status with a relevant professional institution (IMechE, IMarEST, IET) or active pursuit of Chartered status.
- Experience designing high‑integrity lifting equipment and accessories, ideally within a nuclear‑regulated environment.
- Strong understanding of engineering regulations, legislation, and standards applicable to mechanical handling design.
- Demonstrable experience managing complex engineering design development throughout the full design lifecycle.
- Experience acting in an Intelligent Customer capacity, reviewing and verifying engineering solutions from external suppliers and contractors.
- Experience working within nuclear, defence, or other highly regulated, high‑hazard industries.
Security
The successful candidate must be a sole UK National who can 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 of special paid leave
- Holiday trading – ability to buy or sell up to one working week of annual leave
- 'Be Kind Day' – one paid day to volunteer with a chosen charity
- Excellent development opportunities and employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental, and financial wellbeing
RSE Principal Engineer employer: Babcock International
Babcock International is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment at the Rosyth site in Scotland, where you can contribute to impactful construction and infrastructure projects. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, we provide ongoing training and development opportunities, alongside a collaborative culture that prioritises safety and compliance. Join us to be part of a team that values your contributions and supports your career advancement in the engineering field.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land RSE Principal Engineer
✨Get Your Hands Dirty at Engineering Events
Join local engineering meetups or industry conferences related to mechanical engineering. Whether it's a workshop or a career fair, these events are goldmines for networking and getting a foot in the door. Plus, you can showcase your passion and enthusiasm directly to potential employers like Babcock International.
✨Connect with Professors & Peers
Tap into your university’s resources—professors often have connections in the industry. Don’t be shy to ask about potential openings or recommendations. Your classmates might also know of companies hiring. Often, it’s who you know that gets you in front of the right people!
✨Highlight Your Projects and Practical Experience
When you land those interviews, make sure to talk about your hands-on projects or internships. Whether it's a design project or hands-on experience with CAD software, specific examples will make you stand out. Companies like Babcock International love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of Babcock International and apply directly through there. It shows initiative and interest in their specific values. Plus, you'll often find openings that aren't advertised on job boards, giving you a better chance to land that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace RSE Principal Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Expertise:In mechanical engineering, it’s vital to highlight your technical skills and projects. Make sure to include relevant software proficiency (like CAD tools) in your CV. If you've worked on specific engineering projects, detail your key contributions — we want to see how you’ve applied your skills in a practical setting!
Focus on Problem-Solving Examples:Employers in mechanical engineering love to see how you handle challenges. Use your cover letter to share specific instances where you’ve solved a complex problem or improved a design. This will show us you're not just knowledgeable but also capable of applying that knowledge effectively.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Include any relevant certifications or training that can set you apart from the competition. Whether it's coursework from your degree, a recognised certification, or extra training in new technologies, we love to see candidates who continuously improve their skill set. This tells us you're serious about your career in engineering!
Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don’t forget to customise your CV for Babcock International and the RSE Principal Engineer role specifically. Pull examples from your experience that align with the job description — it shows us you've done your research and are genuinely interested in becoming part of the team. We recommend applying through our website to ensure your application gets to the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Babcock International
✨Brush Up on Your CAD Skills
Since mechanical engineering often involves design processes, be ready to showcase your proficiency in CAD software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD. Bring along a digital portfolio or even some sketches that demonstrate your design capabilities — it’s a great way to show what you can bring to the table at Babcock International.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions that test your understanding of engineering principles and problem-solving skills. You might get hypothetical scenarios where you need to design a component or troubleshoot a mechanical system. Practising these types of questions will give you the confidence to tackle whatever comes your way!
✨Show Your Team Spirit
As a full-time mechanical engineer, collaboration is key! Be ready to share examples of past team projects or any experiences where you contributed to solving a complex problem with others. Demonstrating your ability to work in a team will resonate well with the interviewers at Babcock International.
✨Discuss Your Future Goals
Since this is a full-time position, your long-term vision is important. Be open about your career aspirations, whether it’s mastering a specific tool or leading projects. This shows that you're committed not just to learning but also to growing with Babcock International, making you a more appealing candidate.
