Navy Command - Principal Design Engineer RW

Job summary

At Navy Command, we lead, support, and sustain the Royal Navy across every theatre of operations. We coordinate the people, platforms, and missions that keep the Fleet ready for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Together, we uphold centuries of naval tradition while driving innovation that ensures the Royal Navy’s readiness to protect our nation and secure our future.

As the authority for the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine capability, the Submarine Directorate oversees one of the most complex and critical elements of UK defence. Covering everything from in‑service management to long‑term fleet modernisation, the directorate ensures the Submarine Flotilla remains safe, reliable, and ready to meet national security requirements.

You'll be based at HMNB Clyde, home to the UK Submarine Service. It sustains the nation’s continuous at-sea deterrent and supports the Royal Navy’s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. As a centre of excellence for submarine operations, Clyde plays a critical role in national security and global stability.

This position is a Reserved Post within the Civil Service, for which only sole UK nationals are eligible. Under the Civil Service Nationality Rules, UK nationals include British citizens, British subjects with the right of abode in the United Kingdom, and British Overseas Territories citizens.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Within HM Naval Base Clyde, the Design Authority acts on behalf of the Clyde Authorisee to ensure that nuclear activities remain safe, compliant and capable of supporting current and future Royal Navy operations. We are recruiting two Approving Authority Principal Design Engineers at Senior Executive Officer grade within the Replacement Warhead Design team: one Civil and one Mechanical. This is an opportunity to help shape major new infrastructure at RNAD Coulport from its earliest design stages, supporting the future undertaking of Replacement Warhead activities. Reporting to the Assistant Head Approving Authority (Design) – Replacement Warhead, the postholders will provide technical assurance within their discipline and influence how safety, operability, maintainability and through-life requirements are built into the developing design.

The Principal Design Engineers will act as the Design Authority Intelligent Customer for their assigned Civil or Mechanical discipline. Working closely with project teams, designers and specialist stakeholders, they will provide informed challenge and assurance as the new infrastructure develops from concept and early design. They will help ensure that design intent, engineering substantiation and safety requirements are defined clearly and embedded from the outset, creating facilities that can safely and effectively support Replacement Warhead activities at RNAD Coulport.

What you will be doing:

• Act as the Design Authority Intelligent Customer and subject matter expert for the assigned Civil or Mechanical discipline.
• Assess, approve, maintain and manage engineering substantiation for relevant Class 1, 2 and 3 structures, systems and components.
• Ensure design intent, safety and operational functional requirements, operating constraints and applicable standards are appropriately defined and met.
• Assess design changes, concessions and maintenance or operational changes that may affect design intent or the approved safety justification.
• Support independent technical review and resolve findings relating to engineering substantiation.
• Develop and review through-life examination, inspection, maintenance and testing requirements, procedures and results.
• Work collaboratively with Replacement Warhead project teams and designers, providing technical direction and assurance to influence the developing infrastructure design.
• Lead and develop staff within the relevant engineering discipline and promote a strong nuclear safety and security culture.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Experience developing, assessing, approving or maintaining engineering substantiation for safety-critical civil or mechanical structures, systems and components.
• Ability to apply independent, evidence-based judgement to complex engineering and safety issues.
• Experience working with multidisciplinary teams and influencing technical stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Degree or equivalent qualification and experience in civil engineering, mechanical engineering or another relevant discipline.
• Chartered Engineer status, or working towards achieving it.

This position is a Reserved Post within the Civil Service, for which only sole UK nationals are eligible. Under the Civil Service Nationality Rules, Sole UK nationals include British citizens, British subjects with the right of abode in the United Kingdom, and British Overseas Territories citizens.

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates

• Nuclear, defence, explosives, maritime or other high-hazard industry experience.
• Experience acting as an Intelligent Customer, Design Authority, Technical Authority or Approving Authority.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and through-life examination, inspection, maintenance and testing arrangements.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Nuclear Competence Framework 4.4: Nuclear Infrastructure Concept, Assessment, Design, Modifications and Life Extensions - Level 2
• Nuclear Competence Framework 5.4: Nuclear Infrastructure Procurement, Supervision of Manufacturing and Acceptance - Level 2

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Market-leading employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Personal & professional development
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to a confidential, professional support service
• Discount schemes
• Bicycle / season-ticket loans
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Special paid leave to volunteer (up to 6 days a year)
• Assisted travel scheme

In Navy Command we believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you’ll be supported through your learning journey and your career. This can include working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of your role.

You’ll have access to a variety of qualifications pathways ranging from GCSE/A-Level equivalent all the way up to master’s degree, depending on your role, your previous skills and your experience. Some qualifications even include “on-the-job” training which means minimal disruption to your working day but maximum impact.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a s