Principal Mechanical Engineer

Job Description

Job Title: Principal Mechanical Engineer

Location: Rochester; Kent: Onsite

Salary: Up to £65,000 depending on experience

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.

Job Description:

The main duty of this role is to provide expert Mechanical Engineering support for the design and development of new innovative designs through to fault finding, diagnostics and salvage of existing products.

As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will have the ability to lead innovation and provide technical direction to other Engineers/Technicians to develop ideas into a detailed scheme supported by calculations and reports to demonstrate compliance with requirements, which will include support to risk reduction and qualification testing as required. The expectation of a Principal Mechanical Engineer is to provide a high quality service to customers, on time and within budget with minimum management oversight, and be able to present the design detail directly to our high profile customers.

Core duties:

• Using product knowledge and advanced engineering understanding, generate design concepts and solutions from first principals to meet project and customer requirements
• Prepare and present concise Mechanical Development Plans, Design Scheme Data Packs and other engineering detail for internal review and in a customer forum
• Taking a Design Authority role in checking and approving datasets (drawings/MBD) to ensure they correct to required standards, that they reflect design intent correctly, and that they adequately define parts for manufacture and inspection
• Work collaboratively across all engineering disciplines, liaising with technical specialists as required, and supporting Team Leads, Projects and Mechanical Functional Managers in preparing estimates for future design activities
• Complete Design Authority level checks on the work of other mechanical engineers, which will include designs, design data, hand calculations and technical reports
• Understand and provide governance on the adherence of Engineers and Technicians to departmental and company policies and procedures
• It may be required to travel and represent the company, providing presentations, carrying out product installation surveys etc., away from the Rochester home base

Essential Skills:

• Degree qualified in Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline, or an equivalent combination of other qualifications and experience.
• Meet the requirements of UK-SPEC at the Chartered Engineer Level
• Comprehensive experience of the full product design lifecycle, from concept through to production, within an engineering environment
• Experience in preparing technical datasets (drawings/MBD) and design review datasets
• Competence in the use of CAD tools to prepare design models, along with proficiency in the CREO CAD system and experience of Teamcenter, DOORS and JIRA, would be advantageous
• Experience in leading a mechanical, or cross-discipline, design team

The Service & Industrialisation (S&I) Team:

The team provides engineering support to the wider Service organisation, working closely with Hardware and Systems Engineering teams.

The Mechanical Team comprises seven engineers ranging from Apprentice to Principal level. We support a wide portfolio of products across lifecycles exceeding 25 years, ensuring equipment remains safe, reliable, and operational throughout its service life.

Our role focuses on keeping aircraft flying by resolving obsolescence issues, carrying out redesign and modification work, and developing repair solutions. This long-term support is critical to maintaining customer capability, meeting airworthiness requirements, and ensuring continued operational availability.

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: 15th May 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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