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Job title: Principal Mechanical Engineer – PNED

Location: Barrow-in-Furness. We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this role

Salary: £45,628 – £57,500 dependent on experience

Overview

The Platform Nuclear Engineering Department Team is seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer – PNED to support the design, build, and test phases of the Naval Reactor Plant (NRP) across multiple programmes, ensuring alignment with the original design intent. You will lead the resolution of complex technical issues encountered during construction and testing, developing robust engineering solutions and maintaining the integrity of the supporting safety case.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Collaborate closely with the build organisation, providing engineering support to ensure the final product aligns with original design intent
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of key requirements and critical dimensions related to major structural components
• Lead the assessment and implementation of design changes impacting primary structural elements, whether driven by emergent issues, continuous improvement, or process updates
• Support, or where appropriate, serve as the engineering representative within test and authorisation groups
• Develop specialised knowledge of the unique build sequence of the Reactor Compartment Unit and deliver ongoing engineering support throughout construction
• Represent the engineering function during the planning and execution of major construction milestones within the Reactor Compartment Unit’s scope
• Investigate and present robust technical solutions to challenges encountered during the construction of the Naval Reactor Plant
• Provide well-reasoned technical recommendations to key stakeholders, including Rolls-Royce and the Ministry of Defence, to support or constructively challenge existing requirements

Essential

• Your skills and experiences: Degree-level qualification in Engineering, preferably with a focus on Mechanical or Structural disciplines
• Proficient in interpreting mechanical drawings, with a solid understanding of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T)
• Familiarity with welding engineering principles and non-destructive examination (NDE) techniques
• Strong technical report writing skills, with experience in producing clear justifications for design changes

Desirable

• Understanding of stress, fatigue, and thermal analysis principles in engineering applications
• Awareness of nuclear radiation shielding requirements and best practices
• Prior experience working within a nuclear plant environment
• Knowledge of the nuclear industry, including familiarity with regulatory bodies and compliance standards

Benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

Relocation

We offer relocation support across all Submarine roles, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.

Closing Date

Closing Date: 25th September 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.