Reporting to: Lead or Principal Engineer (Senior level) or Director (Lead level)

About Subco Engineering

Subco Engineering provides specialised engineering design services, offering flexible, high-quality support to businesses that need bespoke or complex equipment designs. We work with clients across the offshore energy, subsea, ports, nuclear and defence sectors. Our projects run from initial concept through detailed analysis to manufacturing drawings and technical documentation, all in full compliance with the relevant engineering design codes.

Our work is delivered by a highly skilled multidisciplinary team, and we continue to invest in their training and development.

One role, two levels

We're growing our engineering team and are open to experienced engineers at either Senior or Lead level. Rather than advertise two separate vacancies, we'd like to hear from strong candidates at both stages of their career. We'll agree the right level with you based on your experience and ambitions.

Both levels take real ownership of engineering delivery, produce and check high-quality technical work, work directly with clients, manage contractors and help develop the engineers around them. The difference is one of scale, authority and leadership: a Senior Engineer owns work packages and projects, while a Lead Engineer owns complex multidisciplinary projects, key client accounts and a team.

What you'll do

Project delivery

• Take ownership of engineering projects from kickoff to close-out, delivering to agreed scope, schedule, quality and budget.
• Plan the work, define the tasks, and identify the resources and information needed to deliver it.
• Keep schedules and delivery on track through Subco's operating platform.
• Anticipate risks and resolve technical and delivery issues, stepping into hands-on engineering work where it helps.

Technical quality

• Produce, check and review calculations, drawings, analyses and FEA to project and company standards.
• Make sure appropriate checking is completed before deliverables are issued.
• Ensure designs are safe, practical, manufacturable, inspectable and aligned with recognised industry standards and design codes.
• Make sound engineering decisions that balance technical quality, client requirements and practical constraints.

Clients and contractors

• Keep clients informed throughout delivery and present design reviews, technical findings and progress updates.
• Turn client requirements into clear briefs and manage scope changes.
• Brief, direct and check the work of internal engineers and external contractors to Subco's standards.

Team and standards

• Support and mentor graduate and mechanical engineers, reviewing their work and sharing practical design knowledge.
• Help improve Subco's engineering templates, standard calculations, design guides and quality documentation.

How the two levels differ

The exact balance of either role may vary depending on the individual, their technical discipline, assigned projects and clients, and business need.

What we're looking for

For both levels

• Experience owning mechanical or multidisciplinary engineering projects, delivering to scope, schedule and quality.
• Strong ability to produce and check engineering calculations, analyses, CAD models, drawings and technical documentation.
• Good knowledge of engineering design principles, design codes, materials, manufacturing methods and practical design constraints.
• Confidence managing client communication, including design reviews and progress updates.
• Experience coordinating internal engineers and external contractors, and effective time management of your own work and that of others.
• Experience supporting or guiding less experienced engineers.
• A clear, professional communication style and sound engineering judgement.
• Chartered Engineer status is preferred, or working towards it.

Additionally, for Lead level

• Strong experience leading complex, multidisciplinary projects from proposal through to close-out.
• Proven ability to cost, plan, resource and manage engineering work through a structured delivery platform or equivalent system.
• Experience acting as a technical authority and signing off engineering deliverables.
• Experience holding key client accounts and leading proposals.
• Experience line-managing engineers and a strong understanding of checking processes and design assurance.

How to apply

Apply using our online application form, where you can upload your CV and add a short message.

In your message, tell us whether you see yourself at Senior or Lead level (or if you're unsure), and briefly describe a project you've owned that you're proud of. We'll use this to start an open conversation about the level that suits you best.