At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage a team of Principal Mechanical Engineers in a dynamic engineering environment.
- Company: Join BAE Systems, a leader in innovative engineering solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, and extensive health and lifestyle benefits.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a diverse and inclusive culture that values your potential.
- Qualifications: Experience in people management and excellent communication skills required.
- Other info: Opportunities for professional development and career growth in a supportive environment.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Location: Portsmouth Naval Base. We offer a range of flexible working arrangements - please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role.
Salary: £60,000+ Dependent on skills & experience.
What you’ll be doing:
- Direct line management of all Principal Mechanical Engineers within the WTA.
- Oversight of mechanical engineering resource pool within the Warship Technical Authority (WTA).
- Ensure Mechanical Discipline maintains the right level of trained, professional engineers, including appropriate subject matter experts, in accordance with the demands placed by the WTA Delivery Leads.
- Manage resource movement within the WTA and the wider BAE Systems organisation, to ensure engineers obtain the necessary development and experience.
- Liaising with the wider BAE Systems organisation to grow and maintain links and relationships with a wider network of expertise.
- Act as the focal point for all line managers within the Mechanical Engineering Discipline to ensure effective and consistent delivery of personnel management activities.
- Represent the Warship Technical Authority Mechanical Discipline at internal reviews and management meetings, including management of the relationship with the Mechanical Engineering Function within Maritime & Land.
Your skills and experiences:
- A personable and professional approach that positively influences the team dynamic.
- A considerable background in people and capability management in a complex engineering organisation.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills across engineering, functional, and programme boundaries.
- Experienced in growing team capabilities through individual development and mentoring.
- Skilled at problem solving to enable decisions and prioritisation, when dealing with unexpected demands and ambiguous information.
- Effective at building and maintaining a network of relationships in support of developing the technical expertise of the discipline.
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.
Warship Technical Authority: The Mechanical Discipline Lead is responsible for supporting and resourcing the day-to-day delivery of engineering output from the Asset Management Warship Technical Authority (WTA), in alignment with the agreed Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). The role supports the Asset Management WTA Capability Lead in ensuring activity across the Mechanical Discipline is coherently resourced and executed. The primary responsibility is the generation and maintenance of a robust, suitably qualified and experienced Mechanical Engineering Discipline. This is enabled through development, training and providing experiences to a Discipline comprising of approximately 45 engineers, ranging from a Principal level to Early Careers.
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: 19th December 2025. 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.
WTA Mechanical Discipline Lead in Portsmouth employer: BAE Systems.
Contact Detail:
BAE Systems. Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land WTA Mechanical Discipline Lead in Portsmouth
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the engineering field, especially those who work at BAE Systems. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just land you an interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on your technical knowledge and leadership skills. Think about how you can demonstrate your experience in managing teams and solving complex problems, as these are key for the Mechanical Discipline Lead role.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your personality! During interviews, let your personable approach shine through. BAE Systems values team dynamics, so be ready to discuss how you positively influence your team and build relationships.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the latest roles and updates there.
We think you need these skills to ace WTA Mechanical Discipline Lead in Portsmouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. Highlight your background in people management and stakeholder engagement, as these are key for the Mechanical Discipline Lead role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this position. Share specific examples of how you've influenced team dynamics and developed engineering capabilities in your previous roles.
Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills: In your application, don’t forget to mention your experience with problem-solving and decision-making. We want to see how you handle unexpected demands and ambiguous situations, so share relevant stories!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to the right people and shows us that you’re serious about joining our team at BAE Systems.
How to prepare for a job interview at BAE Systems.
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your mechanical engineering knowledge, especially in areas relevant to the role. Familiarise yourself with the latest trends and technologies in the field, as well as BAE Systems' specific projects and challenges.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Mechanical Discipline Lead, you'll be managing a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past, focusing on your approach to mentoring and developing engineers. Highlight any experience you have in stakeholder engagement and problem-solving.
✨Build Connections
Since the role involves liaising with various stakeholders, think about how you can demonstrate your networking skills. Be ready to discuss how you've built relationships in previous roles and how you plan to maintain those connections within BAE Systems.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that show your interest in the role and the company. Inquire about the current challenges facing the Mechanical Discipline or how BAE Systems supports the development of its engineers. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.