Senior Project Engineer (Materials)

Job Title\: Senior Project Engineer - Materials

Location\: Portsmouth Naval Base - onsite

Grade\: GG10

You’re expected to have completed 12 months in role prior to applying for an advertised vacancy and you should also discuss the internal opportunity with your line manager to ensure sustained business continuity and to further support your career development.

We know there may be exceptional individual circumstances that impact this, in the first instance please discuss this with your line manager.

If you don’t feel you can talk to your line manager, you can contact your HRBP.

PLEASE NOTE\: Should you be invited for interview; you acknowledge that the Recruitment team will contact you and your line manager regarding your application for this opportunity.

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.

What you’ll be doing \:

As a Senior Project Engineer -Materials, you will play a key role within the Project Engineering Management team, supporting the delivery and sustainment of complex naval platforms across a range of warship classes. Acting as the primary engineering focal point for materials and quality-related matters, you will work closely with internal teams, suppliers, and Ministry of Defence stakeholders to resolve technical challenges, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and ensure the effective management of critical materials and rotable assets. This position requires a strong combination of engineering expertise, problem-solving capability, and stakeholder engagement skills to support operational readiness, maintenance activities, and material governance within a highly regulated defence environment.

Core duties\:

• Act as the lead point of contact for material and quality-related engineering queries, providing technical guidance and support to multiple project and operational teams.
• Investigate, analyse and resolve material performance issues, engineering defects, and quality concerns to support the safe and effective operation of naval platforms.
• Support the management, maintenance and continuous improvement of rotable equipment and components, ensuring assets remain available, compliant and fit for purpose.
• Identify recurring technical issues, failure trends and repair challenges, producing recommendations that improve reliability, reduce downtime and enhance operational performance.
• Work collaboratively with suppliers, engineering teams, project stakeholders and MOD representatives to coordinate material solutions, drive issue resolution and maintain programme delivery objectives.
• Research, track and monitor material-related activities, supporting engineering decision-making, compliance requirements, safety standards, workforce capability development and the implementation of new ways of working.

Essential Skills\:

• Demonstrable knowledge of warship design, maintenance, repair and support activities, with an understanding of how materials and engineering decisions impact vessel performance and availability.
• Strong materials engineering and technical problem-solving capability, with proven experience investigating defects, resolving quality issues and making informed engineering decisions within a complex operational environment.
• Experience using SAP or similar enterprise systems for material management, stores control, asset tracking, inventory governance and engineering support activities.
• Knowledge of engineering materials, quality processes and assurance standards, with the ability to assess compliance, identify risks and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Effective stakeholder engagement and functional leadership skills, able to influence, collaborate and communicate confidently with engineers, suppliers, project teams and MOD stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes.

The Project Engineering Management team\:

Working as part of a wider Project Engineering Management team of 50+ engineers. Problem solving across different classes of Warship, the role requires liaising with stakeholders, suppliers and the MOD with the opportunity to develop and enhance your knowledge and skills

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.

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified people, who are BAE Systems employees and have been in their current role for 12 months or longer

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\: 10th November 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

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