Lead Mechanical Design Engineer

Location: Barrow-in-Furness. We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this role.

Salary: Circa £55,000

What you’ll be doing:

• As a Lead Principal Engineer within the SSNA Platform Mechanical Integrated Delivery Team (IDT), you will play a key leadership role in delivering engineering scope across a complex and fast-paced submarine programme.
• You’ll take ownership of multiple systems, provide technical assurance, and collaborate across disciplines to drive delivery forward.
• Leading the delivery of assigned engineering scope, ensuring quality and timely outputs across design, integration, and qualification.
• Overseeing technical ownership of several mechanical systems, ensuring compliance with system requirements and effective collaboration across interface areas.
• Producing engineering artifacts, including documentation, calculations and performing simulation/analysis.
• Managing task allocation and progress tracking through structured tools (Jira/Confluence), ensuring alignment with programme milestones, cost, and schedule expectations.
• Coaching and supporting engineers at all levels — from graduates to senior professionals — to grow technical capability and confidence.
• Working closely with peers, suppliers, and wider functional stakeholders to resolve issues and maintain delivery momentum.
• Reviewing technical documentation, supporting hazard assessments, and managing change control with sound engineering judgement.
• Proactively identifying and addressing shortfalls in delivery, documentation or process — embedding a culture of openness, improvement, and accountability.

Your skills and experiences:

• We’re looking for someone who can confidently lead engineering work packages while mentoring others and contributing to a collaborative delivery culture.
• A proven track record of delivering complex mechanical or multi-disciplinary engineering tasks in a regulated environment.
• Experience mentoring or coaching engineers to support technical and professional growth.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to lead conversations, challenge constructively, and build strong working relationships.
• The ability to collaborate effectively across engineering, project, safety, ILS and supply chain functions.
• Familiarity with task and documentation management tools such as Jira and Confluence.
• Working toward or already professionally registered (CEng strongly preferred).
• A STEM-related degree (or equivalent experience) with strong foundations in systems thinking and platform-level integration.

Benefits:

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts - you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Platform Mechanical team:

You’ll join the Platform Mechanical Integrated Delivery Team — a dynamic, collaborative engineering group working at the forefront of submarine platform development. The team brings together engineers from across disciplines, career levels, and partner organisations to deliver critical mechanical capability. Through close engagement with suppliers, systems engineers, and programme stakeholders, you’ll play a central role in shaping high-integrity technical solutions, supporting team development, and ensuring delivery remains aligned with the wider programme plan and budget.

We have multiple roles available & will be offering positions within the following disciplines; Air Purification & Atmosphere Monitoring, Trim & Compensation, Hydraulics, Air Movement & HVAC, and Cooling. We offer relocation support packages across all Submarines roles, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 2nd February 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.