Senior Design Engineer

Job Title:                     Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Location:                     Plymouth, Devon + Hybrid Working Arrangements

Compensation:           £44,600 - £55,800 Depending on Experience + Benefits

Role Type:                   Full time / Permanent

Role ID:                        SF73716

Create engineering solutions that protect and power the future

At Babcock we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together, and if you join us, you can play your part as a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer at our Devonport Royal Dockyard site.

The role

As a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, you’ll play a key part in delivering complex engineering design solutions across critical defence infrastructure. Working within a highly skilled team, you’ll lead and support mechanical design activities for both nuclear and non-nuclear systems, helping to ensure safe, compliant, and reliable operations.

Day-to-day, you’ll have the opportunity to work across the full engineering lifecycle, from initial concept through to implementation, operation, and decommissioning. Your work will directly contribute to national defence capability while developing your technical leadership and engineering expertise in a dynamic environment.

• Lead the development and delivery of designs in accordance with the design process (Start-up, Concept, Scheme, Detailed and Implementation phases) and relevant legislation 

• Lead or manage a team of engineers, planning and organising their tasks and facilitating progress, providing guidance as appropriate 

• Act as lead author for design and safety documentation and manage the production of supporting assessments 

• Lead the provision of advice to line management and other key stakeholders, on the implementation and maintenance of design documentation and compliance with relevant codes, standards and legislation both nuclear and non-nuclear 

• Lead the provision of quality checking services with reference to technical speciality/expertise. 

This role is full time, 35 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with a minimum of 2 days in the office/onsite.

Essential experience of the Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

• Experience in mechanical engineering principles applied to the design, operation, and maintenance of systems including Steam and Condensate, Industrial Gases, Fresh Water, Demineralised Water, and Domestic Water services. 
• Proficient in digital tools and platforms, with a good level of computer literacy to support design, analysis, documentation, and collaboration. 
• Experience in applying the full design lifecycle across engineering projects. 
• Knowledge of relevant regulations, legislation, and technical standards governing mechanical services system design, ensuring compliance and safety.  
• Knowledge of operating within nuclear or other high-hazard Industries. 

Qualifications for the Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

• Level 6 qualification in a mechanical engineering discipline, or Level 5 with significant relevant experience (essential)
• Professionally registered with a recognised engineering institution such as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers or Institution of Engineering and Technology - Desirable

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: 03/06/2026

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