Principal Mechanical Engineer

Babcock Canada Inc.; Carlisle; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - GBP 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading nuclear solutions provider seeks a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead engineering excellence in decommissioning projects. This hybrid role involves managing multidisciplinary teams, ensuring high-quality technical outputs, and mentoring engineers. Candidates should have extensive experience in engineering management and possess an engineering degree. Offering competitive benefits including a matched pension scheme and excellent development opportunities. Join us in creating a safe and secure world.

Benefits

Matched contribution pension scheme

Access to Digital GP

Employee share scheme

Professional fees payment

Holiday trading benefit

‘Be Kind Day’ volunteering leave

Development opportunities

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Proven ability to supervise engineers and technical specialists.
• Strong background in reviewing and approving engineering outputs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage engineering teams to deliver technical solutions.
• Supervise and mentor engineers and technical specialists.
• Act as liaison with customers to ensure clear communication.

Skills

Leading multidisciplinary engineering teams

Mentoring engineers

Customer engagement

Technical documentation

Engineering best practices

Education

Engineering degree (or equivalent)

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Principal Mechanical Engineer

Location: Whitehaven, Cumbria + Hybrid Working Arrangements

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF70329

Lead Engineering Excellence in Nuclear Decommissioning

At Cavendish Nuclear, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Principal Mechanical Engineer at either of our Westlake’s Science Park, Moor Row or Warrington, Cheshire sites.

The role

As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you’ll play a pivotal role in one of the UK’s major civil nuclear decommissioning programmes. Working as a senior technical authority within a multidisciplinary engineering environment, you’ll drive the integration of complex mechanical systems and develop innovative solutions that directly support the safe deconstruction and long‑term management of nuclear facilities.

You’ll lead engineering teams, oversee high‑integrity technical outputs, safeguard design quality, and act as a primary interface for customers—while mentoring engineers and championing continuous improvement across projects. This role places you at the technical forefront of a major expansion within the Cavendish Nuclear Design Services Alliance.

Day-to-day, you’ll have the following responsibilities:

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver high‑quality technical solutions
• Supervise and mentor engineers and technical specialists to ensure performance and development
• Act as a key liaison with customers, ensuring transparent communication and technical clarity
• Oversee production, review, and approval of engineering outputs—including calculations, specifications, and reports
• Champion safety, quality, and engineering best practice across all project activities.

This is a full‑time position working 37 hours, 5 days per week, based at either of our Westlake’s Science Park, Moor Row or Warrington, Cheshire sites.

Essential experience

• Extensive experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams and delivering complex technical projects
• Proven ability to supervise and mentor engineers and technical specialists
• Strong background in producing, reviewing, and approving detailed engineering outputs
• Demonstrated expertise in applying procedures, codes, and standards to ensure compliance and integrity
• Track record of effective customer engagement, issue resolution, and technical support.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering discipline.
• 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 Cavendish 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.

As a leader within the UK nuclear industry, Cavendish Nuclear, part of Babcock International Group, provides a comprehensive range of critical nuclear solutions in clean energy, defence and civil new build and decommissioning projects. Together, we’re innovating to make nuclear safer, faster and cost-effective across the nuclear energy life cycle. Your career with us could take you anywhere within Babcock International Group – from Canada, the USA to Japan. Work with us to create a safe and secure world, together.

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 [e-mail] 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.

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