ME5 – Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Job Title: Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Location: Scotstoun and Govan, Glasgow on site. We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role

Salary: Up to £51191 depending on skills and experience plus 10% bonus

Who we are:

Join BAE Systems and you’ll be part of something bigger. As a valued member of our global colleague network, you’ll bring your unique skills and perspectives to help pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You’ll be trusted to play your part in delivering the advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions of tomorrow, shaping a safer future, for all of us.

From the depths of the ocean, to the far reaches of space, there’s no limit to where a career at BAE Systems could take you.

Role description:

As a Principal Manufacturing Engineering you will develop, implement and govern capable methods of manufacture, assembly, disassembly and repair (including method of verification) which can meet customer and business requirements for Safety, Quality, Cost and Delivery throughout the product lifecycle, ensuring compliance to design intent.

Core Duties

• Manage a multidisciplinary team delivering NC programmes and local machine support across three production facilities, supporting plate cutting, panel line welding, and machine shop operations through the effective application of multiple software systems, machine controls, and manufacturing technologies.
• Resource manage & talent guide within the team(s).
• Develop and maintain manufacturing instructions, support design reviews, and define facility and tooling capability requirements.
• Develop Bill of Materials and Installation Sequence.

Essential Skills:

• Previous experience in Process Planning, NC Programming, Tool Definition, Quality Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Continuous Improvement System Implementations and Facility Investment activities.
• Project and task management skills in coordinating and delivering successful activities with good interpersonal, facilitating and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to understand and interpret requirements, specifications and engineering outputs, including models and drawings.
• Basic understanding of steel fabrication and welding.
• Understanding cost, quality and schedule drivers and their interactions.
• Understanding Lean and/or Six Sigma and/or Theory of Constraints principles.
• Understanding tolerance and variation management principles.

The Manufacturing Team:

As Principal Manufacturing Engineer, you will lead a team responsible for delivering complex, cross discipline projects that ensure design intent can be met. You will understand functional and business requirements to assist in delivery of projects. You will take on resource management tasks in support of your ME Manager..

Why BAE Systems?

Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.

Why BAE Systems?

Here you’ll build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities. With lifelong learning and meaningful work, this is a place where you can grow your career with confidence and be empowered to be your best. You’ll be recognised for your contribution and enjoy rewards tailored to what’s most important to you and your family, support for your financial and personal wellbeing, as well as a balanced lifestyle. In an environment embracing sustainable ways of working and with a strong sense of shared purpose, our supportive culture is a place you can feel you belong and proud of the difference you make.

A place where everyone can thrive:

We’re committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. We know that a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to the work we do.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

Closing Date: 2nd September 2026

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.

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