At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative mechanical solutions for nuclear decommissioning.
- Company: Join Cavendish Nuclear, a leader in the UK nuclear industry.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, matched pension scheme, health support, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a critical industry while advancing your engineering career.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in engineering leadership and project delivery required.
- Other info: Opportunities for global travel and volunteering days to give back.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you'll play a pivotal role in one of the UK's major civil nuclear decommissioning programmes. Working as a senior technical authority within a multidisciplinary engineering environment, you'll drive the integration of complex mechanical systems and develop innovative solutions that directly support the safe deconstruction and long-term management of nuclear facilities. You'll lead engineering teams, oversee high-integrity technical outputs, safeguard design quality, and act as a primary interface for customers—while mentoring engineers and championing continuous improvement across projects. This role places you at the technical forefront of a major expansion within the Cavendish Nuclear Design Services Alliance.
Day-to-day, you’ll have the following responsibilities:
- Lead and manage multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver high-quality technical solutions
- Supervise and mentor engineers and technical specialists to ensure performance and development
- Act as a key liaison with customers, ensuring transparent communication and technical clarity
- Oversee production, review, and approval of engineering outputs—including calculations, specifications, and reports
- Champion safety, quality, and engineering best practice across all project activities
This is a full-time position working 37 hours, 5 days per week, based at either of our Westlake's Science Park, Moor Row or Warrington, Cheshire sites.
Essential Qualifications
- Extensive experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and delivering complex technical projects
- Proven ability to supervise and mentor engineers and technical specialists
- Strong background in producing, reviewing, and approving detailed engineering outputs
- Demonstrated expertise in applying procedures, codes, and standards to ensure compliance and integrity
- Track record of effective customer engagement, issue resolution, and technical support
- Engineering degree (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering discipline
- Ability to achieve and maintain Standard (BPSS) 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 special paid leave
- Holiday Trading benefit that allows UK Cavendish employees to buy additional leave or 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 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
Cavendish Nuclear is a leader within the UK nuclear industry, providing a comprehensive range of critical nuclear solutions. Your career with us could take you anywhere within Babcock International Group — from Canada, the USA to Japan. Work with us to create a safe and secure world, together.
Principal Mechanical Engineer in Whitehaven employer: Cavendish Nuclear
Contact Detail:
Cavendish Nuclear Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Mechanical Engineer in Whitehaven
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that Principal Mechanical Engineer role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company and its projects. We want you to be able to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in complex mechanical systems. Show them you’re not just another candidate, but the one they’ve been looking for!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your technical explanations! As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you’ll need to communicate complex ideas clearly. We suggest running through potential questions with a friend or mentor to ensure you can articulate your thoughts confidently during interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our hiring process.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Mechanical Engineer in Whitehaven
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Principal Mechanical Engineer role. Highlight your experience leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering complex projects, as this is key for us. Use specific examples that showcase your skills in mentoring and customer engagement.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for engineering and how your background aligns with our mission at Cavendish Nuclear. Don’t forget to mention your commitment to safety and quality!
Showcase Your Technical Expertise: In your application, be sure to highlight your technical skills and experience with engineering outputs. We want to see your ability to produce, review, and approve detailed calculations and specifications, so don’t hold back on the details!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about what we do at Cavendish Nuclear!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cavendish Nuclear
✨Know Your Technical Stuff
As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you'll need to showcase your extensive knowledge in mechanical systems and engineering principles. Brush up on relevant codes, standards, and procedures that apply to nuclear decommissioning. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've led teams and delivered complex solutions.
✨Showcase Leadership Skills
This role requires you to lead and mentor engineers, so be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully managed multidisciplinary teams. Highlight your approach to fostering collaboration and continuous improvement, and how you've resolved conflicts or challenges within your team.
✨Engage with Customer Focus
Effective communication with customers is key. Think of instances where you've acted as a liaison, ensuring technical clarity and addressing issues. Prepare to discuss how you maintain transparency and build strong relationships with clients, as this will be crucial for the role.
✨Emphasise Safety and Quality
Safety and quality are paramount in the nuclear industry. Be ready to talk about how you've championed best practices in your previous roles. Discuss specific measures you've implemented to ensure compliance and integrity in engineering outputs, and how you promote a culture of safety within your teams.