Principal Engineer - Operability

BAE Systems; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - GBP 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense technologies company is seeking a Principal Operability Engineer to join their team in Glasgow. This hybrid role involves reviewing submarine designs for safety and operability. You will provide specialist guidance on safety activities and support documentation production. Candidates should have relevant experience in nuclear submarine operations and may enjoy a range of employee benefits, including flexible health plans and pension schemes.

Benefits

Competitive pension scheme

Employee share plans

Flexible health and wellbeing benefits

Shopping discounts

Qualifications

• Relevant Qualifications to skills required.
• Experience in submarine operations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Reviewing and assessing the developing Submarine design for safety and operability.
• Providing specialist support to safety activities such as HAZID and HAZOPS.
• Delivering guidance to Operating Documentation Production Authority.

Skills

Experienced in Manoeuvring Room/Cat A Nuclear Supervisor

Operational knowledge serving on the Astute Class of Submarine

Knowledge of Electrical Generation & Distribution

Knowledge of Ship & Propulsion Systems

Job description

Overview

Job Description - Principal Engineer - Operability (00134156)

Job Title: Principal Operability Engineer

Location: Barrow-In-Furness/Glasgow (Hybrid). We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role.

Salary: Negotiable depending on skills and experience

Responsibilities

What you’ll be doing:

• Reviewing and assessing the developing Submarine design to ensure it is safe, operable and habitable by its crew. This will be achieved through attendance at design reviews, review of the 3D CAD model review of design documentation and participation in experimental design and user trials, provision of design guidance and sharing of SQEP knowledge
• Providing specialist support to safety activities e.g., HAZID, HAZOPS, ALARP Optioneering workshops
• Delivering specialist guidance and support to Operating Documentation Production Authority in support of OPDOC derivation and verification

Qualifications

Your skills and experiences:

• Experienced in one of the following disciplines: Manoeuvring Room/Cat A Nuclear Supervisor, Reactor Panel Operator/Main Control Desk Operator. Relevant Qualifications to skills required
• Knowledge across any of the following disciplines: Electrical Generation & Distribution, Ship & Propulsion Systems
• Operational knowledge serving on the Astute (preferred) or Vanguard Class of Submarine

Benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing and lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts - you may also be eligible for an annual incentive.

The Operability team

The Operability team:

As a Principal Engineer, You will work alongside other Ex-Submariners with experience across the full fleet of UK SSBNs and SSNs. The team of Operability specialise in all areas with whole boat experience such as Damage Control and Submarine Escape and Rescue. We offer relocation packages across all Submarines roles, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.

Why BAE Systems?

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

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: 20th February 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.