At a Glance
- Tasks: Influence high-impact engineering decisions for advanced Royal Navy submarines.
- Company: Join Babcock, a global leader in defence and engineering.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, pension scheme, health support, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid working, inclusive culture, and excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Shape the future of submarine engineering while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Degree in Engineering or equivalent experience; marine structures knowledge required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: Plymouth, Devon + Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute + Hybrid Working Arrangements
Compensation: Up to £70,000 Depending on Experience + Benefits
Role Type: Full time / Permanent
Help Shape the Future of Submarine Engineering
At Babcock we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as an Assistant Chief Engineer – Structures and Naval Architecture at our Devonport Royal Dockyard or HMNB Clyde Faslane sites.
The role
As an Assistant Chief Engineer – Structures and Naval Architecture, you’ll have a rare opportunity to influence high-impact engineering decisions while developing your career in one of the most complex and rewarding environments in defence, aerospace and engineering. Day-to-day, you’ll play a pivotal role in ensuring the safety, availability, and technical integrity of some of the world’s most advanced Royal Navy submarines.
- Provide technical oversight, acting on behalf of the Chief Engineer during deep maintenance periods.
- Deliver engineering guidance and ensure design intent is maintained from work package creation through to testing and acceptance.
- Interface with internal project teams and external Design Authorities to ensure performance, safety and quality standards are achieved.
- Lead technical investigations, audits and structured reviews across submarine platform systems.
- Contribute to engineering change processes, working groups and continuous improvement initiatives.
This role is full time, 35 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with a minimum of 4 days in the office/onsite.
Essential experience
- Proven experience in marine structures, naval architecture engineering or marine surveying, including exposure to classification requirements.
- Strong understanding of marine structural principles and surveying practices.
- Hands-on experience conducting technical audits and navigating associated processes.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders.
- Demonstrated capability in identifying, managing and prioritising technical risks and developing mitigation strategies.
Qualifications
- Degree-level education in Engineering or equivalent relevant experience.
- Currently holds or is willing to work towards Chartered Engineer status as part of continuous professional development.
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must be a sole UK National who is able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.
What we offer
- 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 is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to 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 (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.
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.
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 careers@babcockinternational.com 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.
Closing date: 11/03/2026
Assistant Chief Engineer, Naval Structures & Architecture employer: Nuclearinst
Babcock is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to work on high-impact engineering projects that contribute to national security and public infrastructure. With a strong focus on employee development, generous benefits including a matched pension scheme, and a commitment to work-life balance through hybrid working arrangements, Babcock fosters a supportive and inclusive work culture where every team member can thrive and make a meaningful impact.
