At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead mechanical commissioning activities and ensure systems meet safety and quality standards.
- Company: Join Babcock, a global leader in defence and engineering.
- Benefits: Generous holiday allowance, matched pension scheme, and health support.
- Other info: Flexible working options and commitment to inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national security while advancing your engineering career.
- Qualifications: Degree in Mechanical Engineering and experience in commissioning required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Your Role
Applies Engineering concepts and theories to provide technical direction and leadership for the delivery of designs, calculations and technical solutions across a range of applications for Babcock products and services across the Engineering Product Lifecycle. Uses their experience to make decisions in complex situations. Able to work under own initiative to produce high quality outputs. Capable of managing others and/or delivery of engineering and technical activities, through the application of process, domain knowledge and experience. Can apply a broad and/or deep range of knowledge to complex situations whilst extending their business knowledge base in the subject area. Provides coaching, direction, assistance and mentoring to others.
Role
As a Principal Mechanical Commissioning Engineer, you’ll play a pivotal leadership role in delivering commissioning activities across complex mechanical systems within a highly regulated defence environment. This is your opportunity to lead from the front, ensuring critical infrastructure and assets are brought into service safely, efficiently, and to the highest quality standards. Day-to-day, you’ll influence project outcomes, mentor engineering teams, and act as a technical authority, helping to deliver essential capabilities that support national defence and security. This role offers the chance to deepen your expertise, expand your leadership impact, and build a meaningful career within defence, aerospace and engineering.
- Leading mechanical commissioning activities across complex projects and systems
- Ensuring systems are commissioned safely, meeting all regulatory and quality requirements
- Providing technical leadership and guidance to engineering and commissioning teams
- Developing and reviewing commissioning documentation, procedures, and test plans
- Coordinating with stakeholders to ensure seamless project delivery
This role is full time, 35 hours per week and is based on site at Devonport Royal Dockyard.
Essential Experience
- Demonstrating significant experience in mechanical commissioning within engineering or defence environments
- Applying strong technical knowledge of mechanical systems and commissioning processes
- Leading teams and influencing stakeholders in complex, safety-critical settings
- Working within highly regulated industries with a strong focus on safety and compliance
- Solving complex engineering challenges with a structured and analytical approach
Qualifications
- Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience
- Chartered Engineer status or working towards - Preferred
- Relevant professional accreditation or membership - Desirable
Security Clearance
The successful candidate must be a sole UK National who is able to achieve and maintain Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information (NNPPI) security clearance for this role. Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held.
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 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: 25/06/2026
Principal Commissioning Engineer - Mechanical in Devon employer: Nuclearinst
Babcock is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Plymouth where you can lead critical mechanical commissioning activities within the defence sector. With a strong focus on employee development, generous benefits including a matched pension scheme and health support, and a commitment to work-life balance, Babcock fosters a culture of inclusivity and professional growth, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful careers in engineering.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Commissioning Engineer - Mechanical in Devon
✨Get Your Hands Dirty at Engineering Events
Join local engineering meetups or industry conferences related to mechanical engineering. Whether it's a workshop or a career fair, these events are goldmines for networking and getting a foot in the door. Plus, you can showcase your passion and enthusiasm directly to potential employers like Nuclearinst.
✨Connect with Professors & Peers
Tap into your university’s resources—professors often have connections in the industry. Don’t be shy to ask about potential openings or recommendations. Your classmates might also know of companies hiring. Often, it’s who you know that gets you in front of the right people!
✨Highlight Your Projects and Practical Experience
When you land those interviews, make sure to talk about your hands-on projects or internships. Whether it's a design project or hands-on experience with CAD software, specific examples will make you stand out. Companies like Nuclearinst love to hear about practical applications of your skills.
✨Apply Directly on Company Websites
Check out the careers page of Nuclearinst and apply directly through there. It shows initiative and interest in their specific values. Plus, you'll often find openings that aren't advertised on job boards, giving you a better chance to land that full-time gig!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Commissioning Engineer - Mechanical in Devon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Technical Expertise:In mechanical engineering, it’s vital to highlight your technical skills and projects. Make sure to include relevant software proficiency (like CAD tools) in your CV. If you've worked on specific engineering projects, detail your key contributions — we want to see how you’ve applied your skills in a practical setting!
Focus on Problem-Solving Examples:Employers in mechanical engineering love to see how you handle challenges. Use your cover letter to share specific instances where you’ve solved a complex problem or improved a design. This will show us you're not just knowledgeable but also capable of applying that knowledge effectively.
Highlight Relevant Certifications:Include any relevant certifications or training that can set you apart from the competition. Whether it's coursework from your degree, a recognised certification, or extra training in new technologies, we love to see candidates who continuously improve their skill set. This tells us you're serious about your career in engineering!
Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don’t forget to customise your CV for Nuclearinst and the Principal Commissioning Engineer - Mechanical role specifically. Pull examples from your experience that align with the job description — it shows us you've done your research and are genuinely interested in becoming part of the team. We recommend applying through our website to ensure your application gets to the right people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Nuclearinst
✨Brush Up on Your CAD Skills
Since mechanical engineering often involves design processes, be ready to showcase your proficiency in CAD software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD. Bring along a digital portfolio or even some sketches that demonstrate your design capabilities — it’s a great way to show what you can bring to the table at Nuclearinst.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions that test your understanding of engineering principles and problem-solving skills. You might get hypothetical scenarios where you need to design a component or troubleshoot a mechanical system. Practising these types of questions will give you the confidence to tackle whatever comes your way!
✨Show Your Team Spirit
As a full-time mechanical engineer, collaboration is key! Be ready to share examples of past team projects or any experiences where you contributed to solving a complex problem with others. Demonstrating your ability to work in a team will resonate well with the interviewers at Nuclearinst.
✨Discuss Your Future Goals
Since this is a full-time position, your long-term vision is important. Be open about your career aspirations, whether it’s mastering a specific tool or leading projects. This shows that you're committed not just to learning but also to growing with Nuclearinst, making you a more appealing candidate.
