{"id":3029836,"url":"https://alion.io/job/thales-group-principal-mechanical-engineer","title":"Principal Mechanical Engineer","company":{"id":143,"name":"Thales Group","domain":"thalesgroup.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/thales","size_band":"5000+","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":91,"open_postings":48,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.354,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":52,"computed_at":"2026-10-21T05:46:15Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Belfast, United Kingdom"],"countries":["GB"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":62000,"max_usd":103000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":102},"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"ANSYS","optional":false},{"name":"CATIA","optional":false},{"name":"GD&T","optional":false},{"name":"SolidWorks","optional":false},{"name":"Verification & Validation","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-12T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-12","last_verified_at":"2026-10-22T03:00:00Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":10,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":10},"description":"Location: Belfast, United KingdomThales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.\nPrincipal Mechanical Engineer\nLocation: based in Belfast, minimum 3 days/ week in office (hybrid), with Other: permanent, full-time\nJoin Thales as a Principal Mechanical Engineer and take the lead in delivering cutting-edge defence technologies, combining technical excellence, leadership and innovation to help protect and defend what matters most.\nWhat the role has to offer\nShape the Future of Defence Engineering - work on complex Weapon Systems, Missile Systems and Platform products, applying engineering first principles to develop innovative solutions that directly contribute to national and international security\n\nLead, Influence and Mentor - play a pivotal leadership role within a large Mechanical Design team, driving engineering best practice, influencing technical direction and developing the next generation of engineering talent\n\nThrive in a Growing Business with Outstanding Flexibility - join a business experiencing significant growth, with hybrid working, a half-day finish every Friday, performance bonus and a comprehensive benefits package that supports both your career and wellbeing\n\nOur Opportunity\nWe are looking for a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead the development of advanced defence technologies across our Integrated Airspace Systems portfolio.\nWorking within a multidisciplinary engineering environment, you'll deliver innovative mechanical solutions for Weapon Systems, Missile Systems and Platform products, applying engineering expertise to solve complex technical challenges and drive successful programme outcomes. As a senior technical leader, you'll champion engineering best practice, influence key design decisions and mentor engineers across the team, helping to build capability as our business continues to grow.\nThe ideal candidate will bring extensive mechanical design and hardware development experience, strong technical credibility and a proven ability to deliver robust, cost-effective solutions while leading and inspiring others.\nBuilding a Future, we can all trust.\nIntegrated Airspace Protection Systems (IAS) - our main purpose is to protect and defend. We provide rapid integrated solutions for detection, coordination, fire control, engagement and support. We cover three sectors: Surface Attack & Air Defence (UK), Air Defence (International) and Air Operations & Services as well as Space.\nWhat we offer you\nWe offer a competitive salary and benefits package designed to support our employees’ wellbeing and professional growth, which includes:\nPerformance-related bonus\n\nHalf day every Friday, usually finishing around 13:00\n\n28 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) with opportunity to buy up to 40 hours/year (pro rata)\n\n24 hours volunteering paid for\n\nPrivate healthcare\n\nPension scheme\n\nLife cover\n\n24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app\n\nEmployee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers\n\nGym membership discounts\n\nKey Responsibilities and Tasks\nLead Mechanical Design & Development - Deliver detailed mechanical designs and engineering solutions for new and existing products, applying engineering first principles and utilising appropriate CAE tools, analyses, simulations, prototypes and testing methods\n\nDrive Technical Excellence & Decision Making - Analyse complex mechanical engineering challenges, evaluate options, and propose justified technical, technological and methodological solutions aligned with approved architectures, performance requirements and customer needs\n\nManage Product Definition & Documentation - Create and maintain accurate engineering documentation, including technical drawings to BS 8888 standards, product specifications, development plans, data packs and configuration-controlled design records\n\nSupport Product Lifecycle & Change Management - Lead engineering change activities, ensuring the integrity of Bills of Materials (BOMs), manufacturing data, product configurations and associated engineering processes throughout the product lifecycle\n\nCollaborate Across Functions to Deliver Manufacturable Solutions - Work closely with engineering, production, procurement and other stakeholders to develop robust, cost-effective and manufacturable design solutions that meet quality, cost and schedule objectives\n\nPlan, Monitor & Improve Engineering Delivery - Organise and oversee mechanical engineering activities, monitoring technical progress, compliance with target costs and lead times, and driving continuous improvement in engineering quality, performance and delivery\n\nProvide Technical Leadership & Mentoring - Mentor, guide and support engineers within the team, promoting best practice, sharing knowledge, and fostering a culture of technical excellence and professional development\n\nAbout You\nAt Thales, we are committed to equal opportunities and welcome all talented individuals to consider joining our team. So even if you don't match every statement below but feel you have some of the experience, knowledge or skills needed for this role, we encourage you to apply. It will take all of us working together to deliver solutions to the world’s most critical challenges.\nAcquired a degree (or equivalent qualification) in an engineering discipline, preferably Mechanical Engineering\n\nProven proficiency in 3D CAD design, particularly Creo and/or CATIA, with extensive experience producing detailed mechanical designs and engineering drawings to BS 8888 standards, including the application of GD&T principles\n\nDemonstrated experience using PLM systems (such as Windchill), managing product structures, Bills of Materials (BOMs) and engineering change processes whilst maintaining configuration and process integrity\n\nProven ability to apply Design for Manufacture (DfM), DFX methodologies and continuous improvement principles to develop cost-effective, robust and manufacturable design solutions\n\nDemonstrated experience applying international and industry standards, with knowledge of Defence Standards and environmental testing methodologies to support product verification and validation activities\n\nProven capability in solving complex engineering problems, making sound technical decisions and utilising analysis, simulation and CAE tools (e.g. Ansys, Creo Simulate, SolidWorks Simulate) to support design development\n\nDemonstrated success working within multidisciplinary project and product teams, managing multiple priorities and delivering engineering outputs against programme milestones, cost targets and schedules\n\nProven ability to lead projects, teams and technical activities, including planning, monitoring and reporting progress to ensure successful delivery of engineering objectives\n\nDemonstrated strong communication, stakeholder management and collaboration skills, with experience working effectively with customers, suppliers and cross-functional teams\n\nProven commitment to developing others through mentoring, coaching and technical leadership, fostering capability growth and engineering best practice across the team\n\nIf you're an experienced Mechanical Engineering leader ready to make an impact on some of the world's most advanced defence programmes, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today and help us build a future we can all trust!\nSecurity Clearance Requirement:\nDue to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires Security Clearance (SC). It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment.\nTo be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.\nPlease visit the UKSV website for further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.\nAt Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.\nWe are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.\nIf this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.\nJoin Thales in the UK - Innovate with us and shape the future!","description_format":"text","description_chars":9335,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":3,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Annual leave","Gym membership","Health insurance","Hybrid work","Professional development"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United Kingdom","iso":"GB","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Identity Management","Satellite Manufacturing","Electronic Warfare","Avionics & Flight Control"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-21T20:08:53Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":84,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.841,"p_room":1,"age_days":10,"expected_fill_days":52,"reasons":["conf:0","win:early","comp:brand"],"computed_at":"2026-10-22T03:33:58Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/thales-group-principal-mechanical-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/thales-group-principal-mechanical-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-22T03:33:58Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":3401,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-23T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":143},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=143"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fthales-group-principal-mechanical-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fthales-group-principal-mechanical-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fthales-group-principal-mechanical-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/thales-group-principal-mechanical-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fthales-group-principal-mechanical-engineer"}]}