Job Description:

Job Title: Principal Hardware Engineer

Location: Stafford

Salary: Up to £65,000 (dependent on experience)

Hours: Hybrid working: 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home, Monday-Thursday 8am-4.30pm Friday 8am-12.30pm

Permanent

Office Based

Start Date: ASAP

About the Role

Technical Partners are seeking a Principal Hardware Engineer to lead engineering activities across a portfolio of projects. This is a senior leadership role with full technical ownership, responsible for delivering projects on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality and client satisfaction.

You will provide technical direction, mentor and develop engineering teams, and ensure adherence to best practices and project delivery standards. A strong focus on innovation, continuous improvement, and compliance with relevant ISO standards and legislation is essential. This opportunity is ideal for someone who combines deep technical expertise with strong leadership skills and a passion for driving engineering excellence.

Benefits

• Basic salary up to £65,000 DOE
• 25 days annual leave, 8 Bank Holidays, plus the ability to buy and sell up to 5 days per year
• Flexible start and finish times, including flexi-Fridays
• Competitive Employee Referral Award Scheme
• Private Medical Insurance after 6 months service
• Life Assurance
• Pension
• Payment of professional membership fees
• Healthy Extras - Employee Assistance Programme, access to a practising GP, Confidential Advice
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Training opportunities to develop your career path
• Supportive working environment
• Access to a wellbeing support

Key Responsibilities

You will:

• Lead the successful delivery of allocated projects, ensuring financial performance, compliance, and customer satisfaction
• Oversee day-to-day project team activities to ensure smooth execution
• Report contract performance, risks, and opportunities to senior management
• Lead, develop, and manage engineering teams to maintain a high-performing workforce
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Ensure compliance with ISO standards (9001, 14001, 45001) and legal requirements
• Provide strategic input on market trends and business direction
• Delegate and supervise engineering work, driving performance and accountability
• Support business growth through technical input into bids, proposals, and new initiatives
• Lead preparation of technical and contractual documentation, including tender responses
• Communicate the impact of technological and market changes and recommend solutions
• Work closely with sales and business development teams on specifications and proposals
• Interpret client requirements to ensure technical, commercial, and regulatory alignment
• Coordinate with clients, contractors, and internal teams on technical and commercial matters

Requirements

• Degree-qualified in a relevant engineering discipline, holding a minimum 2:1
• MOD security clearance (or ability to obtain)
• Minimum 4 years' experience in hardware development
• Proven track record of delivering successful engineering projects
• Experience in functional safety systems (ideally within nuclear or regulated industries)
• Strong understanding of systems integration and cybersecurity
• Experience working within ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 frameworks
• Ability to drive efficiency, cost reduction, and continuous improvement

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must:

• Pass DBS and BPSS checks
• Hold a minimum 2:1 degree
• Be a UK national (no dual nationality)
• Have lived in the UK for the past 5 years
• Have no unspent criminal convictions
• Be willing to work within the nuclear defence sector
• Experience in regulated industries is desirable

Core Values

We are looking for individuals who:

• Deliver on commitments
• Prioritise safety and security
• Demonstrate technical excellence
• Embrace continuous learning
• Work collaboratively
• Drive innovation and challenge the status quo

About the Organisation

Our client is a specialist engineering organisation delivering system and design services to highly regulated sectors including nuclear and defence. With a highly experienced team, they provide control and functional safety system solutions across the full project lifecycle, from requirements capture and design through to build, testing, installation, and commissioning.

As part of a wider global engineering group with over 50 years of industry experience, the organisation operates across the UK, Europe, and North America. It focuses on delivering innovative, technology-driven solutions that support safe, secure, and sustainable operations.

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