At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead submarine engineering projects and ensure safety and performance standards.
- Company: Join Babcock, a global leader in engineering and national security.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, matched pension, health benefits, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a commitment to inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the UK's advanced Royal Navy submarines.
- Qualifications: Engineering degree and experience in submarine or systems engineering.
The predicted salary is between 56250 - 68750 £ per year.
Location: Devonport, Plymouth, GB, PL2 2BG or Helensburgh, GB, G84 8HL
Onsite or Hybrid: OnSite
Compensation: Up to £70,000 Depending on Experience + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Shape the Future of Submarine Engineering
At Babcock we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as a Principal Submarine Systems Engineer at our HMNB Clyde Faslane or Devonport Royal Dockyard sites.
The role
As a Principal Submarine Systems Engineer, you’ll have a unique opportunity to join a high‑impact engineering environment where you’ll grow professionally, build specialist expertise, and contribute to work that truly matters. Day-to-day, you’ll help safeguard the operational capability of the UK’s most advanced Royal Navy submarines. Your work will span deep maintenance periods, ensuring every system meets the required safety, performance and availability standards.
- Act on behalf of the Chief Engineer, providing technical oversight and guidance across Platform Systems.
- Hold full technical delegations and serve as a key interface with Design and Technical Authorities.
- Understand and uphold design intent from work package creation through execution, testing and acceptance.
- Work closely with internal project teams and external MOD stakeholders, contributing to long‑term engineering solutions.
- Participate in working groups to assess engineering change, address technical issues and support continuous improvement.
This role is full time, 35 hours per week and is based on site at HMNB Clyde Faslane or Devonport Royal Dockyard. The successful candidate will be flexible to work onsite in line with business requirements, ranging from a minimum of three days per week up to full‑time onsite attendance.
Essential experience of the Principal Submarine Systems Engineer
- Demonstrable experience in submarine engineering.
- Strong awareness of system engineering within mechanical or electrical engineering disciplines.
- Practical experience conducting technical audits and navigating associated processes.
- Strong communication skills, with experience engaging a range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience identifying, managing and prioritising technical risks and associated mitigations.
Qualifications for the Principal Submarine Systems Engineer
- Engineering degree or equivalent relevant experience.
- Chartered Engineer status, or close to achieving it.
- Additional technical qualifications or professional development related to naval, marine, systems or mechanical/electrical engineering - 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. Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions.
What we offer
- 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 is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to 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
We’re Babcock — 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. Together, we’re building a future that lasts — not just through the impact we make, but through meaningful careers that respect your work-life balance. We call that lifetime engineering. Join us and see how far we can go, together.
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 careers@babcockinternational.com 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.
Principal Submarine Systems Engineer in Helensburgh employer: Babcock Mission Critical Services España SA.
At Babcock, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a flexible and hybrid working environment that supports a healthy work-life balance. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our extensive development opportunities, competitive benefits package, and initiatives like 'Be Kind Day' for volunteering. Join us in creating a safe and secure world while enjoying the unique advantages of working with a diverse team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the military and emergency services sectors.
Contact Details:
Babcock Mission Critical Services España SA. Recruitment Team
