Principal Fire Safety Engineer (Assurance)

Job Advertisement: Principal Fire Safety Engineer (Assurance)

Agency Partner: Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency

Client: BAE Systems Submarines (Independent Nuclear Assurance Team)

Location: Barrow-in-Furness, United Kingdom (Full-time, on-site)

Position Type: Permanent Experienced Professional Contract

Salary: Circa £60,000 per annum (Dependent on Experience)

Relocation Support: Relocation packages available (subject to meeting eligibility criteria)

Application Closing Date: 4th October 2026 (Note: Vacancy may close early if sufficient applications are received)

About the Opportunity

Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency is proud to partner with BAE Systems—a global leader in defence, aerospace, and security—to source an accomplished and rigorous Principal Fire Safety Engineer (Assurance) for a permanent career opportunity in Barrow-in-Furness.

As part of the Independent Nuclear Assurance organisation, you will play a high-profile role providing independent evaluation of fire safety performance across facilities, plant equipment, and submarine platforms. This permanent position offers an extraordinary platform to ensure fire safety risks are effectively identified and controlled while engaging with external regulators, senior leaders, and peers.

Role Overview

Working on-site in Barrow-in-Furness, you will perform independent inspections and surveillance of company arrangements to evaluate fire safety compliance with UK legislation. You will assess fire prevention strategies, conduct regulatory inspections, oversee the 'Hold Point Control' process for submarine builds and site redevelopment, and communicate key findings clearly across all organizational levels.

Core Duties & Responsibilities

• Independent Surveillance: Perform independent inspection and surveillance of fire safety on facilities, plant equipment, on-board vessels, and on-site.

• Regulatory Inspections: Conduct regulatory inspections of company management systems with a strict focus on fire safety compliance and UK legislation.

• Hold Point Control: Inspect and assess the business's capability to progress submarine builds and Site Redevelopment Programme projects through the 'Hold Point Control' process.

• Risk & Strategy Assessment: Evaluate the adequacy of fire prevention strategies and facility fire risk assessments for both existing and new facilities in high-hazard environments.

• Stakeholder Communication: Clearly communicate inspection findings and conclusions in writing and verbally to external regulators, board members, senior managers, and business peers.

Key Requirements & Qualifications

• Professional Competency: Competent fire safety professional with a demonstrated working knowledge of UK fire safety legislation.

• Risk Methodologies: Strong understanding of fire safety principles, fire risk assessment methodologies, and the ability to evaluate risks in a high-hazard environment.

• Documentation Interpretation: Proven ability to interpret engineering and safety case documentation.

• Influencing Skills: Demonstrated experience engaging and influencing senior management and external regulators.

• Working Arrangement: Full on-site presence in Barrow-in-Furness.

• Security Clearance: All applicants must achieve, as a minimum, the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). Note: Due to security and export control restrictions, candidates must meet national identity, birthplace, and residency criteria (typically requiring continuous UK residency of 5 to 10 years for higher-level national security vetting).

Why Join BAE Systems?

• Meaningful Impact: Build a career with purpose, contributing to advanced technology-led solutions that protect what matters most and shape a safer future.

• Professional Growth: Access industry-developed training, specialized progression opportunities, and mentorship within a growing independent assurance function.

• Wellbeing & Rewards: Enjoy a competitive starting salary of circa £60,000 (DOE), relocation support packages (subject to eligibility), and flexible benefits tailored to support your financial and personal wellbeing.

• Inclusive Culture: Thrive in an environment that champions diversity, sustainable working practices, and a strong sense of shared purpose within a global workforce of over 110,000 colleagues.