Senior Mechanical Handling Engineer
Reference Number: 442554
Job Published: 30/06/2026
Form of employment: Contract
Salary: £63 - £70 Per hour
Industry: Engineering
Job Type: Full Time
Senior Mechanical Handling Engineer
Duration: 12 Months
Location: Devenport Dockyard, Plymouth (hybrid)
Pay Rate: £63-£70 per hour inside IR35 via Umbrella (35 hours per week)
Clearance required: SC Clearance/ eligibility required
Summary:
To deliver the MoD's submarine and warship programmes, a significant programme of infrastructure investment is required on the Devonport site. The 'Major Infrastructure Projects' (MIP) Business Unit has been established to support this.
One of the key scope elements within MIP is establishing a defuel capability for out of service submarines, which is delivered under the programme banner of 14 Dock Readiness. This work comprises of several interrelated projects to develop various multi-disciplinary infrastructure systems, with an overall value more than £100m.
The Submarine Defuel Delivery Project (SDDP) sits within the Dock Readiness programme. SDDP provides the Reactor Access House (RAH) which supplies the necessary tools and systems to defuel submarine.
This role is part of that Engineering Team that is delivering the design and implementation of the RAH and its associated tools and systems
Key Responsibilities
The primary purpose of the role is to ultimately assist and support the Design Manager in the delivery of project scope. This will include the likes of the following:
- To undertake the delivery of mechanical handling and defuel tooling activities to the required scope, quality, schedule and cost.
- Responsible for technical aspects of the defuel tooling work packages, specifically updating documentation from detailed design to as-built status.
- Ensuring effective Quality Management Arrangements, operate and deliver through compliance with the company Business Management System and Technical Manual.
- Support ensuring that the processes and activities being undertaken are appropriately documented with appropriate records maintained and configuration and quality controls applied.
- Support ensuring that staff and contractors are familiar with the hazards and risks associated with the work undertaken by the delegated engineering team through effective management and communication of the Risk Assessment.
To be successful in this role:
- The candidate will have a degree or equivalent in a Mechanical Engineering related discipline.
- Preferably working towards Chartered Engineer status and member of relevant institute.
- Have experience of designing mechanical handling systems and lifting equipment, preferably in a nuclear context.
- Experience of design justification.
- Be able to demonstrate relevant knowledge and skills required in technical design development.
- Sound understanding of engineering design and safety practice as relevant to discipline, post and project requirements.
- Sound understanding of Company and departmental procedures relating to Design, Health & Safety and Quality requirements, and ability to manage tasks in accordance with these procedures.
- Working knowledge of relevant engineering computer applications.
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