Lead Project Engineer

About us 

Our purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. 24 hours a day, every day, RNLI lifesavers are ready to launch to the rescue. We’re looking for a Lead Project Engineer to join our Engineering Transformation team – a crucial role delivering cutting edge engineering projects that keep our lifesaving assets safe, available, and operational. This is an exciting time to join the RNLI’s engineering transformation team, with a number of high profile projects being delivered including the new Coastal Lifeboat, the Atlantic Mk4 updates and the implementation of the SIMS replacement.

Some of the benefits 

• Salary £49,492 to 58,226 (dependent on experience) 
• Flexible working 
• 26 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays 
• Competitive pension scheme 
• Life assurance 
• Health and dental cashplan

Your role 

As a Project Engineering Lead, you’ll be responsible for the successful engineering delivery of a broad range of technical projects - supporting the full asset lifecycle from concept through to disposal. You’ll lead technical input, manage engineering outputs, and work with internal and external stakeholders to ensure project outcomes are delivered safely, efficiently, and to high quality standards. 

Key responsibilities include: 

• Lead the end-to-end engineering delivery of assigned projects, including design, integration, modification, and support. 
• Act as the central technical contact, resolving complex engineering challenges while aligning activity with operational priorities. 
• Collaborate across departments—Project Management, In-Service Support, Procurement, Estates, Construction/Refit—to ensure smooth project execution. 
• Coordinate planning and risk management across engineering workstreams, ensuring timely delivery of all technical documentation and milestones. 
• Monitor budgets, schedules, and compliance with SHE (Safety, Health, Environment), engineering governance, and quality standards. 
• Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned, stakeholder feedback, and the development of improved tools and processes. 
• Maintain up-to-date engineering knowledge and actively support your own professional development. 

About you

We’re looking for a proactive and detail-oriented engineer who can thrive in a complex and fast-paced environment. You’ll have a track record of managing engineering delivery across projects and teams - ensuring quality, efficiency, and technical excellence at every step. 

Essential: 

• Degree-level education (or equivalent) in a relevant engineering discipline. 
• Significant experience leading technical delivery within multidisciplinary or integrated teams. 
• Strong background in project engineering and lifecycle management. 
• Proven ability to assure quality and compliance against policies, standards, and processes. 
• Confident communicator, able to influence stakeholders and balance technical, operational, and commercial priorities. 
• A team player with a pragmatic, calm approach to problem-solving and workload management. 

Desirable: 

• Chartered Engineer (CEng) status or working towards it. 
• Familiarity with marine engineering or search and rescue environments. 

Safeguarding

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).

Diversity at the RNLI

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.