Principal Operability and Crewing Engineer

Navantia UK is a new force in British industry, supporting the UK’s defence, energy and maritime ambitions. We’re doing this by creating state-of-the-art sovereign defence capabilities, investing in the UK to modernise industrial facilities, and bolstering the nation's energy security. Established in 2022, Navantia UK is a subsidiary of Navantia SA, a Spanish state-owned company with over 300 years of naval shipbuilding history. In January 2025, Navantia UK completed the acquisition of Harland & Wolff and its four historic facilities in Belfast, Appledore, Methil, and Arnish. By combining Harland & Wolff’s proud heritage and facilities with Navantia’s global expertise, Navantia UK is well-positioned to strengthen Britain’s defence, maritime and energy industrial capabilities, supporting jobs and economic growth across the UK.

Job Description

Principal Operability and Crewing Engineer 

Design ships that are ready for the missions of tomorrow.

Navantia UK is hiring a Principal Operability and Crewing Engineer to shape how operability, automation and digital capability are engineered into complex naval and government vessels from day one. You’ll turn operational concepts (CONOPS) into practical, testable requirements that reduce workload, optimise roles, and credibly enable reduced-crewing and uncrewed concepts.

What you’ll do

• Lead operability and crewing/operator strategy across multiple ship design programmes.
• Develop CONOPS and run operational vignette workshops to stress-test concepts and technology choices.
• Define user-centred, mission-focused requirements that shape layout, accessibility, maintainability, workflow, human factors, and automation/digital systems.
• Develop and champion crew reduction/elimination concepts through human–machine integration and emerging digital technologies.
• Work closely with designers, suppliers, operators and stakeholders to embed operator solutions early and gain buy-in.
• Contribute to trade studies and cost/capability analyses so operator impact is visible in key decisions.
• Support safety and regulatory compliance, contributing to hazard identification and risk-based approaches for novel technologies.
• Represent Navantia UK with customers and cross-functional working groups, and mentor developing engineers.

What you’ll bring

• Significant experience in naval operations and/or naval ship design, with a focus on systems, operability and crewing.
• Experience developing crewing models and workload assessments, with a working knowledge of automation and digital technologies.
• Ability to influence across disciplines and translate operational needs into clear engineering requirements.
• Degree in Engineering (e.g., Systems, Mechanical, Marine, Human Factors) or equivalent operational experience.
• Eligibility for BPSS; the ability to obtain SC may be required depending on the programme.

Interested? Apply now, or message to discuss how you could shape operability and crewing for future Navantia UK platforms.

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Additional Information

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Hybrid working, typically three days per week in the office
• Career development opportunities within a global organisation
• The chance to lead ILS activities on strategically important naval and government programmes
• A collaborative and inclusive workplace where expertise makes a direct impact
• Company pension
• 31 days holiday
• Life assurance

We are an Opening Doors employer, committed to equal opportunity and an inclusive workplace. Our approach, shaped by our values of service, trust, excellence, agility, dedication, and you, we focus on removing barriers and recognising potential. We are committed to fairness at every stage, including providing reasonable adjustments and actively working to eliminate discrimination.

We believe talent is everywhere, and by widening access to opportunity and welcoming diverse experiences, we aim to create a workplace where every person feels valued and has an equal chance.

If you experience difficulties or are unable to apply for a role on-line please contact us at View email address on jobs.smartrecruiters.com and one of the team will be in contact to help you.