Jobs in Kilmacolm

Job Title: Principal Engineer – Systems – Design Assurance

Location: Glasgow. Hybrid – 3 days / week on site . We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role

Salary: Up to £ 68,500 (DOE)

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:

This is a key role leading the Design Assurance work scope on the River-Class Destroyer Programme, managing the engineering lifecycle and technical risk, through co-ordinating design reviews, zonal and compartment reviews, and maturity management and reporting to provide assurance to the customer and internal stakeholders that the desired performance is being met and maintained by the evolving design.

As a Principal Engineer, you’ll play a key role in ensuring the River-Class Destroyer product has the right design, and has been designed right.

Core duties:

You will be applying Systems Thinking to understand the wider problem space to help lead, develop and educate engineering teams to ensure they are aware and capable of delivering their accountabilities through the engineering lifecycle (in particular Design Review and Zonal Review Processes)

You will lead the setting, management and reporting on measures associated with project maturity to provide assurance to the customer and internal stakeholders that the desired performance is being met and maintained by the evolving design

You will lead development and maintenance of engineering and assurance processes, responding to technical developments and operational need (including; Zonal Review, Compartment Plan Approval, Zonal Completion, Technical Debt and Constrained Design processes)

Through strong technical expertise & leadership, you will lead reviews, manage risks and issues, ensure governance expectations are met, and deliver work packages to cost, schedule and quality. You will also provide day‑to‑day leadership and coordination of the team, mentoring and coaching engineers, promoting systems engineering best practices and exemplify BAE Systems behaviours and ways of working

Essential Skills:

Applicants should hold a degree in a STEM‑related discipline and be a Chartered Engineer (CEng) or possess an equivalent professional registration with a relevant recognised institution

Understanding and working experience of key systems engineering principles/methodologies and the engineering lifecycle

Strong stakeholder engagement and management skills and leadership experience managing a high performing team

Working knowledge of warship or large complex product (System of Systems) design processes, assurance activities and inter-relationships and design delivery would be advantageous

The River Class Destroyer (RCD) Design Assurance Team:

The team at BAE Systems work as part of the Office of the Chief Engineer in the Systems Engineering team. This is an exciting opportunity to take a wholeship system-level view of the platform and be responsible for managing key engineering governance and assurance processes on behalf of the Chief Engineer. These processes provide evidence of the design “goodness” throughout the programme lifecycle, as well as at key assurance events. You’ll work closely with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to help provide assurance that the RCD both has the right design, and has been designed right. You will lead a small team, fostering Systems Thinking and championing best practice in Systems Engineering across the programme.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys cross‑disciplinary engineering, big‑picture thinking, and shaping how complex maritime systems are assured and delivered.

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: 22nd April 2026. Interviews for this position will take place W/C 27th April.

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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