Chief Engineer - Propulsion

Job Title:                     Chief Engineer - Propulsion

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

Compensation:           Competitive + Benefits

Role Type:                   Full time / Permanent

Role ID:                        SF67597

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 Chief Engineer - Propulsion at our Devonport Royal Dockyard or Babcock Technology Centre sites.

The role

As a Chief Engineer - Propulsion, you’ll have a role that’s out of the ordinary. You’ll be at the forefront of submarine engineering, leading technical excellence across some of the UK’s most critical defence assets. This is a high-impact leadership role within our newly formed Platform Systems Technical Authority (PSTA), where you’ll shape the future of propulsion systems and drive improvements in technical approval, risk mitigation, and assurance.

Day-to-day, you’ll hold full technical delegations, act on behalf of the Chief Engineer – Submarines, and lead the waterfront Assistant Chief Engineer team. Your work will directly influence the safety, compliance, and performance of the Nuclear Steam Raising Plant (NSRP) and Secondary Propulsion systems during major maintenance periods.

• Leading requirements management to ensure engineering outcomes meet regulatory and safety standards
• Managing technical risks and implementing forward-looking mitigations
• Conducting technical reviews and developing repair schemas aligned with policy
• Driving assurance and acceptance processes with MOD QA and Design Authorities
• Overseeing engineering readiness and inspections to ensure delivery excellence

This role is full time, 35 hours per week and provides hybrid working arrangements. 

Essential experience of the Chief Engineer - Propulsion

• Demonstrable experience in submarine engineering
• Expertise in nuclear engineering and reactor operations
• Proven leadership in technical risk management and assurance
• Strong stakeholder engagement across MOD and technical authorities
• Experience in managing complex engineering projects

Qualifications for the Chief Engineer - Propulsion

• Level 6 qualification in Engineering
• Chartered Engineer status

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 (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. 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 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: 27/10/2025

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