Senior Prototyping Engineer in Portsmouth

• Salary: Up to £65,000 DOE
• Full Time
• Permanent

Who we are: Sub Sea Craft is a fast growing, privately-funded, UK-based innovative maritime technology company specialising in next-generation, high-performance watercraft and systems.

We operate at the intersection of advanced engineering, cutting-edge design, and user-centric innovation, delivering safe, effective, and enabling solutions for both commercial and defence applications.

What we offer

• Pension Contribution – Pension scheme with the option to contribute via salary sacrifice.
• Annual Bonus Scheme – Eligibility to participate in the company’s annual discretionary bonus scheme, linked to individual and company performance.
• Life Assurance and Critical Illness Cover – Comprehensive protection including Life Assurance (4x salary) and Critical Illness Cover for added financial security.
• Annual Leave – Entitlement to 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Christmas Leave – A Christmas shutdown is typically observed.
• Wellbeing Day – An additional Wellbeing Day each year to focus on personal health and wellbeing.
• Family Leave – Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
• Private Healthcare – Access to comprehensive private healthcare coverage to support your physical and mental wellbeing.
• Professional Development – Commitment to ongoing learning and career growth, supported by training programmes and access to Linked In Learning.
• Flexible Working – Opportunities for flexible working arrangements to promote work–life balance.
• Inclusive Culture – A professional environment that values diversity, innovation, and collaboration.

Role Overview

We’re looking for a Senior Prototyping Engineer to join our fast-paced R&D team.

The role involves a mixture of conceptual and detailed design across multiple engineering disciplines, as well as hands‑on workshop tasks and the assembly of prototype objects.

The ideal candidate is someone who takes a pragmatic approach to solving engineering challenges using an iterative development process, with the mindset of “fail fast, learn faster.”

We are particularly interested in candidates with a strong background in embedded systems including PCB development, electrical and RF.

The overview is deliberately vague with the candidate needing to be excited to support multiple domains in support of our Diver Delivery, USV and UAV systems, and as such, people with experience in any of the above will be considered.

Responsibilities

• With a broad scope and limited guidance, take a leading role in rapid prototyping of systems, from concept to fully functioning prototypes.
• Support the smooth transitioning of successful prototypes to Engineering.
• Undertake a combination of office‑based design work and hands‑on practical workshop tasks to support prototype builds, including mechanical and electrical assembly.
• Assist and mentor others in a collaborative environment to achieve our common goals.
• Support the execution of test and validation activities both on‑site (e. g. test rigs) and off‑site during system testing at external test locations.
• Liaise with other business units (e. g. trials team, commercial, procurement, manufacturing, etc.).
• Occasional travel abroad.
• Work with external partners on component procurement and legislative/compliance requirements.

Qualifications and Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Mechanical, Mechatronic, Aerospace or Systems Engineering; Electronics, Robotics or other relevant STEM discipline.
• Significant applicable experience with relevant hobbyist experience considered

Desirable skills for the role

• Experience in prototype PCB design and embedded systems in aid of rapid development.
• Experience and understanding of RF systems.
• Experience with unmanned systems
• Understanding of design for Radar Cross Section reduction
• Experience in composite systems and design.
• Willingness to work both in, and outside of your comfort zone to deliver a whole project.
• Experienced of embedded electronics and programming [AH1].
• Knowledge of communication and networking Protocols.
• Practical experience with embedded electronics, microcontrollers, robotics, FPV drones, or related technologies through professional or personal projects.
• Experience in rapid prototyping, proof‑of‑concept development, testing, and iteration.

Note: Due to the nature of work undertaken at Sub Sea Craft, the selected candidate must be capable of meeting the security requirements of the position, which would include as a minimum existing right to live and work in the UK, Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), with UK National security clearance required for certain roles.*

Values: Our people are our greatest asset, we continually strive to provide an excellent working environment to enable our team to do their best work.

We have an agile professional workforce: weare founded on the belief that our people are valued and our business is trusted, inclusive and commercially‑adept.

What we expect from you

• Teamwork, mutual respect and collaboration
• Initiative and independent working
• Honesty and integrity
• Business and commercial awareness
• Agility, adaptability and continuous development

We are committed to building an inclusive, diverse workplace where everyone can thrive. If you require any support or adjustments to interact with us, please let us know.

*Please note that all offers of employment are conditional and subject to satisfactory DBS, driving licence and reference checks.

A criminal record will not automatically disqualify candidates from employment.

We will consider criminal record information alongside the wider range of evidence gathered at the application, interview, and pre-employment checking stages.

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to respond to everyone.

If you are shortlisted, we will aim to contact you within 14 days of your application or the closing date (if stated).

We may retain your details for future suitable roles unless you advise us otherwise.

For details of how we process your personal data, please refer to our Privacy Notice.

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