Principal Structural Engineer

Job Title: Principal Structural Engineer

Location: Stoke Gifford, Bristol or Plymouth, Devon + Hybrid Working Arrangements

Compensation: Up to £72,337 depending on experience + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF64460

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 Principal Structural Engineer at our Bristol or Devonport site.

The role

As a Principal Structural Engineer, you'll have a role that's out of the ordinary.  This role is based with Submarine Support Engineer (SSE). The SSE mission is to deliver submarine programme and engineering excellence through enterprise collaboration, innovation and analytics. Within SSE, the Constructive Group support the Royal Navy submarine fleet through the structures, naval architecture, seamanship, outfitting and design change disciplines.

Day to day, you'll support the Structures team as a technical specialist exercising judgement to identify and resolve problems by analysing possible solutions using experience and developed expertise. You will be responsible for directing technical outputs, coaching junior team members as well as coordinating and working with multi-disciplinary teams and representing Babcock at customer meetings. You will work on a wide range of projects on complex assets, which may include:

• Structural assessment using hand calculations and finite element analysis.
• Design and assessment for explosive shock survivability.
• Platform surveys and validation exercises.
• Generation of capability upgrades.
• Technical investigations and feasibility studies.
• Development of technical capabilities

This role is full time, 35 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements with 2 days in the office/onsite and 3 days working from home. We are also open to candidates based in Plymouth near our Devonport Royal Dockyard, who can attend the Bristol office at least once a month.

Essential experience of the Principal Structural Engineer

• Significant experience in Naval marine structural analysis and design.
• Effective project management, interpersonal and communication skills
• The ability to effectively coach junior members and facilitate transfer of knowledge within the team.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise effectively and deliver in a complex environment.

Qualifications for the Principal Structural Engineer

• Degree qualified in a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Has achieved (or can demonstrate the competencies required for) Chartered or Incorporated Engineer Status with the UK Engineering Council and holds full membership of a relevant engineering institute.

Security Clearance
The successful candidate must be 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 ).

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. This Window opens February through to March annually.
• '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 International 
For over a century Babcock has helped to defend nations, protect communities and build a better world. To continue, we must adapt, advance and be a sustainable business with a shared goal. 

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: 31/10/25