Principal Mechanical Engineer

Package: Competitive Salary + Benefits

Role : SF20278

Are you ready to be part of the future? At QinetiQ, we’re not just imagining tomorrow we are creating it. From cutting‑edge defence technology to ground‑breaking innovations our mission is to empower and protect lives. Join us as a Principal Mechanical Engineer at our Gosport site, where you will have the opportunity to work with cutting‑edge technology in partnership with some of the most brilliant minds.

As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will lead the delivery of engineering work streams while providing technical direction and mentorship across teams. You will be instrumental in ensuring that engineering solutions are robust, innovative, and delivered to the highest standards.

Day‑to‑day, you will combine technical excellence, leadership, and mentoring to guide a multidisciplined team and ensure the successful delivery of high‑profile, multi‑year projects.

• Lead and coordinate a multidisciplinary engineering team, ensuring delivery to scope, schedule, and budget while maintaining technical excellence
• Provide technical engineering expertise across design, analysis, and development activities, ensuring alignment with industry standards and best practices
• Act as a mentor and coach to engineers at all levels, fostering professional development and strengthening team capability
• Own and deliver complex work packages, overseeing design reviews, documentation, and engineering outputs to ensure quality and compliance
• Work closely with cross‑functional teams and external stakeholders to develop integrated engineering solutions and support business growth initiatives
• Ensure engineering governance is applied consistently, acting as a technical reviewer for key programmes and maintaining adherence to recognised standards

• Proven experience in a senior mechanical engineering role, including leading teams
• Strong background in mechanical design and engineering analysis, ideally within regulated or complex environments (e.g., maritime, defence, energy, or infrastructure)
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor and develop engineers, building high‑performing teams
• Solid understanding of engineering standards, codes of practice, and design governance
• Experience managing delivery of engineering projects or programmes
• Proficiency with CAD tools and engineering analysis methods

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering (BEng/MEng) or equivalent experience

This role is 37 per week based rid working patterns are available.

Our facilities at the Haslar Marine Technology Park are state‑of‑the‑art, including our ocean basin rotating arm, and marine towing tank, offering an unparalleled environment for testing and refining designs. Our marine technology offers our global customers a service to deliver constrained hydrodynamic model tests of surface ships, submarines, offshore structures, and renewable energy devices.

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Generous holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days
• Options to join Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance and Dental Insurance
• Employee discount portal:
  Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more
• We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and maintaining our Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
• Volunteering Opportunities – helping charities and local community

Please note: all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum.

Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting. Applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment. A number of roles are also subject to additional restrictions, which means factors such as nationality or previous nationalities may affect the roles that you can be employed in.