Principal Mechanical Engineer

Are you an experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer who enjoys solving complex technical problems, improving asset reliability and ensuring engineering systems are safe and compliant? If you’re looking for a role with real impact across one of the UK’s most unique and high-profile infrastructure environments, this could be the perfect opportunity.

We’re supporting a major organisation responsible for engineering governance, assurance and asset management across a large, highly regulated maritime estate in Portsmouth. You’ll join a specialist team of senior engineers who support mission-critical mechanical and saltwater systems, working in an environment where no two days are the same.

What’s the role all about?

As a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you’ll be a key part of the Engineering, Assurance & Compliance team, providing technical leadership across mechanical systems, rotating machinery, hydraulic systems and saltwater infrastructure.

You’ll take ownership of complex engineering challenges, drive safe-to-operate assurance, and make sure assets are managed, maintained and developed in line with statutory and regulatory requirements.

In this role, you will:

Provide engineering governance and assurance for mechanical and saltwater systems

Own technical issues, produce safety management systems and unblock engineering problems

Review asset condition and present findings to asset owners

Support the development and implementation of maintenance strategies (including Condition & Risk-Based Maintenance)

Contribute to updates of Asset Management Plans and long-term improvement strategies

Collaborate with engineering teams to drive solutions and continuous improvement

Support efforts aligned with Net Zero Carbon engineering strategies
This is a senior-level engineering role where your decisions genuinely influence safety, reliability and strategic infrastructure planning.

What you’ll bring

To succeed as a Principal Mechanical Engineer, you’ll need:

Degree in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent)

Chartered status or working toward chartership (CEng preferred)

Significant experience in mechanical engineering within a regulated or infrastructure environment

Strong technical understanding of saltwater systems, hydraulic systems, rotating machinery

Experience creating and implementing maintenance strategies

Ability to balance systems-level thinking with component-level detail

Knowledge of compliance requirements for mechanical systems within built or maritime estates

Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder-management skills
Who you are

You’re a confident and influential engineer who enjoys taking ownership, solving problems and supporting others. You think strategically, can explain complex engineering concepts clearly, and work well with both senior stakeholders and technical teams.

You’ll be:

Organised and proactive

Engaging and collaborative

Skilled at communicating technical information

Driven by quality, safety and continuous improvement
What’s in it for you?

£60,000–£68,000 salary

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Enhanced pension scheme

Life assurance

Group income protection

Internal benefits & discounts programme

Cycle to Work scheme

Professional development & career progression

Wellbeing & occupational health services

Reward & recognition initiatives
Ready to take the next step?

If you’re an experienced Principal Mechanical Engineer looking for a role where your expertise truly makes an impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today — or reach out for a confidential chat.

Kingdom People are acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

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