Principal Electrical Engineer in Bristol

Established in 2022, Navantia UK is a subsidiary of Navantia SA, a Spanish state-owned company with over 300 years of naval shipbuilding history. In January 2025, Navantia UK completed the acquisition of Harland & Wolff and its four historic facilities in Belfast, Appledore, Methil, and Arnish. By combining Harland & Wolff’s proud heritage and facilities with Navantia’s global expertise, Navantia UK is well-positioned to strengthen Britain’s defence, maritime and energy industrial capabilities, supporting jobs and economic growth across the country.

Are you ready to take the lead on some of the most advanced naval engineering projects in the world? Navantia UK is looking for a Principal Electrical Engineer to join our growing team in Bristol. This is an opportunity to play a central role in the design, integration, and optimisation of electrical and control systems for complex naval platforms.

About Us: Navantia UK is part of the global Navantia Group – a leader in innovative naval solutions. We specialise in the design, construction, and through-life support of ships and systems for both naval and government customers. Our focus is on delivering cutting-edge technologies, sustainable solutions, and engineering excellence.

The Role: As Principal Electrical Engineer, you’ll provide technical leadership in the design and integration of electrical systems, from initial concept through to in-service support. Working with a multidisciplinary team, you’ll ensure our platforms meet demanding performance, safety, and regulatory standards while driving forward innovation in energy management and emerging technologies.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead the design, integration and optimisation of electrical systems for naval and government vessels.
• Develop and specify power generation and distribution systems, ensuring reliable and efficient energy management.
• Collaborate across engineering disciplines to achieve seamless integration of systems.
• Deliver energy management strategies that improve efficiency, support sustainability, and reduce emissions.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, regulatory and operational standards.
• Provide technical leadership and mentor junior engineers.
• Engage with clients, suppliers, and regulatory bodies to deliver high-quality solutions.
• Contribute to innovation in areas such as alternative power sources, future fuels, autonomy, and digital systems.
• Support projects during build and through life, ensuring systems meet evolving operational needs.

Qualifications About You: You’ll bring a strong track record in electrical systems engineering, ideally in a naval or marine environment, alongside:

• Degree (or equivalent) in Electrical Engineering, Marine Engineering, or related field; Master’s desirable.
• Significant experience in power generation and distribution system design, integration, and optimisation.
• Experience with HV and LV systems and the challenges of integrating electrical systems with ship platforms.
• Knowledge of naval/maritime codes, standards and regulations.
• Understanding of energy management solutions and sustainable technologies.
• Chartered Engineer status (or working towards it).
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Eligibility for BPSS and potentially SC clearance.

Additional Information: What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits package.
• Hybrid working – typically 3 days per week in our Bristol office.
• Career growth opportunities within a global organisation.
• The chance to work on complex, cutting-edge naval projects.
• An inclusive, collaborative workplace where your contributions make a difference.

If you’re passionate about electrical engineering and want to shape the future of naval platforms, we’d love to hear from you. Apply with your CV and a short cover letter highlighting your experience and motivation for the role.

Equal Opportunity: We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. To ensure equal opportunities for all candidates, we commit to a fair and unbiased recruitment process at every stage. This includes ensuring hiring managers are aware of legislation, providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities, and actively seeking to eliminate any form of discrimination based on race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic. Our goal is to create a recruitment environment where every candidate feels valued and has an equal chance to succeed.