Nuclear Watchkeeper

Location: Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute

Onsite or Hybrid: OnSite

Role Type: Full time / Permanent – Part-time and flexible working arrangements will also be considered

Shape the future of submarine engineering – and your career.

The role

We’re looking for experienced Nuclear Watchkeepers to join us as instructors supporting the Royal Navy Submarine Service. This is a unique opportunity to step into a rewarding, shore-based role where you’ll pass on your knowledge and experience to the next generation of engineers. No prior instructional experience is required; we’ll provide full training and support to help you develop into a confident and effective instructor.

Day-to-day you’ll be:

• Delivering classroom and simulator-based training to Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operators and Marine Engineering Equipment Maintainers.
• Collaborating with training designers to update courseware in line with technical changes.
• Delivering additional safety training (e.g. Confined Space, Working at Height) to students outside the ACTS programme.
• Providing subject matter expertise to evaluate technical data and course content.
• Supporting the routine review and revision of training materials.

This role is full time, 37 hours per week and is based at HMNB Clyde Faslane. We welcome applications for part-time roles and are open to discussing alternative working arrangements. A relocation package may be available, subject to eligibility.

Essential experience of the Nuclear Watchkeeper:

• Comprehensive knowledge of Naval Nuclear Steam Raising Plant operation.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Recent hands-on experience in this field with up-to-date technical skills.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage and inspire learners.

Qualifications for the Nuclear Watchkeeper:

• Royal Navy Submarine Service: Category A, B or C Watchkeeping Qualification.
• Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain a Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.

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-day special paid leave.
• Holiday trading – benefit allowing UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or sell up to one working week of annual leave; opens February through March annually.
• ‘Be Kind Day’ – allows 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.

About 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.

Disability Confidence:

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.