Salary: Senior Engineer £42,479 - £49,976 / Engineer £35,853 - £42,181 (dependent on experience)
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
Additional Information: This is not an operational seagoing position; however, due to the nature of the role, it is desirable, but not essential, that the post holder be operationally seagoing and as such capable of going afloat in all sea conditions.
Location: Poole, Dorset, England
Location Description: Hybrid working arrangement between home and Poole, with a minimum of three days per week in Poole
Closing Date: 18-05-2026
Reference: 21519
About us
Our purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. 24 hours a day, every day, RNLI lifesavers are ready to launch to the rescue. They depend on the lifeboats and equipment we provide 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Our lifeboats are amongst the best in the world, but we’re constantly looking at ways in which we can improve their performance, safety and reliability.
We’re recruiting for a Senior Engineer / Engineer to join the Engineering team and provide technical knowledge and expertise for new and existing assets and associated equipment to support our crews and coastal operations.
If all essential criteria are not met, suitable candidates may be considered for an Engineer role, with development and progression opportunities.
Some of the benefits
- Salary of £42,479 - £49,976 (dependent on experience) (Senior Engineer)
- Salary of £35,853 - £42,181 (dependent on experience) (Engineer)
- Flexible working
- 26 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays
- Competitive pension scheme
- Life assurance
- Health cashplan option
Your role
You will be tasked with focusing on the following areas:
- To support the integration, testing and roll out of new assets (including Atlantic-85 Mk4, Coastal Lifeboat and new Rescue Hovercraft) and equipment (including the SIMS replacement project), ensuring all work is based on cost, risk and performance.
- To ensure that the design and integration of RNLI assets, equipment and procedures are developed in accordance with Engineering Processes and Standards.
- To undertake technical investigations, troubleshooting, trials and analysis of data, including at lifeboat stations, boatyards and contractors’ premises.
- To undertake assigned tasks, including the creation of CAD models, design calculations, engineering drawings and specifications.
- To work within one or more of the Engineering & Supply delivery and project teams and to work with the engineering leads and project managers to ensure work is completed to agreed timescales and that processes and procedures are followed.
- To co-ordinate/participate in research and development projects as required.
About you
You’ll be a strong team player able to problem solve and think analytically whilst handling a demanding workload with changing priorities. You’ll be operating within a high-profile department and liaising right across our organisation, as well as with external organisations and suppliers. Your commitment to helping us produce safe, innovative and cost-effective Engineering and design solutions will be key. To be considered, you will need:
- Experience relevant to the appropriate grade in a similar role in the engineering industry.
- An engineering qualification equivalent to the England, Wales & Northern Ireland qualification Level 6 as defined by the UK government, or at Level 5 with proven additional experience.
- The ability to demonstrate working towards and an expectation to achieve Engineering Council registration at Incorporated / Chartered Engineer level.
- A good understanding of spoken and written English.
- Good IT skills, including use of e.g. Microsoft Office, Excel, Word and CAD (Solidworks).
So, if you think you have the right technical knowledge and experience and want to support our organisation’s aim to reduce drowning, this could be the role for you. Please apply via the button shown.
Safeguarding
The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out, dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).
Diversity at the RNLI
Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One
Salary description
£35853.00 - £49976.00 per year