Principal Mission Systems Engineer

Job Title:                     Principal Mission Systems Engineer

Location:                     Dunfermline, Fife, Devonport, Plymouth or Bristol

Compensation:           £65,000 - £75,000

Role Type:                   Full time / Permanent

Role ID:                        SF69750

Lead the Future of Naval Mission Systems

At Babcock, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Principal Mission Systems Engineer at Devonport, Bristol or Rosyth, near Plymouth, Bristol or Dunfermline.

The role

As a Principal Mission Systems Engineer, you’ll take a leading role in shaping the mission capability of some of the world’s most advanced naval platforms. Your expertise will directly support Babcock’s rapidly expanding global ship design and build portfolio, including opportunities stemming from the UK MoD Type 31 Frigate programme and international export variants.

This role offers the opportunity to influence high‑value engineering decisions, develop innovative integration solutions, and support complex shipbuilding programmes—from fast attack craft to aircraft carriers. It’s a chance to advance your career while contributing to engineering work that protects national security and strengthens global defence capability.

Day-to-day, you’ll have the following responsibilities:

• Leading Combat Systems and Mission Systems Engineering activities across multiple programmes.
• Engaging with customers to develop and agree clear, robust mission system requirements.
• Generating and assessing viable sensor and weapon suite solutions for concept designs.
• Taking ownership of mission system compartments or systems through all design stages.
• Specifying, selecting and managing external suppliers, and managing system integration risk throughout the engineering lifecycle.

This is a full‑time position based at Devonport, Bristol or Rosyth. Hybrid working patterns are available (two days per week onsite).

Essential experience of the Principal Mission Systems Engineer:

• Proven ability to work with or on controlled goods, technology or services (including ITAR‑controlled items).
• Deep technical knowledge across Communications, Navigation, Command and Control, Sensors and Effectors integration.
• Demonstrable experience delivering mission systems physical integration solutions on marine platforms.
• Strong communication skills and experience working within multidisciplinary engineering teams.

Qualifications for the Principal Mission Systems Engineer:

• Degree in an engineering discipline, or HND/HNC with extensive relevant experience.
• Chartered membership of a relevant professional institution.

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.

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. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

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. There is an annual Window to request this benefit. ‘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: 20/03/2026