About the job

Job summary

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of around 27%, to help work, work for you.

Nationality, visas and vetting: For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you have been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

Job description

Do you have experience in systems, electronics or communications engineering and would be fascinated by the chance to work with maritime platforms and systems whilst supporting the Royal Navy? If so, we have a fantastic opportunity to join our Situational Awareness Command and Control (SACC) team which forms part of our wider Integrated Battlespace Operating Centre (IBOC), here in Portsdown Technology Park!

You will have the chance to board vessels whilst in port and support the integration and delivery of secure military communication standards which exchange tactical data between platforms and commands, known as Tactical Data Links (TDLs). The SACC team supports the in-service TDLs and is delivering a project to upgrade the TDL capability on several maritime platforms.

We will support you in learning about the equipment through training and courses whilst giving you the chance to adopt a hands-on approach. You will be required to support engineering related activities of the Tactical Data Link Projects, which includes both upgrade and in-service support tasks. You will be working on the Type 45 Destroyers, Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carrier, Type 23 Frigates and Landing Platform Docks. In your role as a Junior Engineer, you will contribute to delivery of an enhanced operational capability to the Royal Navy, enabling them to interoperate with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and other coalition partners.

At DE&S, we champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.There will also be regular travel to other UK Naval bases required for this role. Occasional travel abroad may also be required for training, or in support of international collaboration.

Please note, this role requires full-time Monday to Friday therefore we can not accept part-time hours due to operational defect rectification critical to the live operations of the platform and safety reasons.

What you’ll be doing

• Delivering to & supporting maritime Tactical Data Link (TDL) fitted platforms to ensure situational awareness and operational capability is maintained
• Managing engineering aspects and supporting Project Managers at all stages of the equipment life cycle (CADMID), including new and emerging technology
• Hands on testing & integration of emerging technology for future platforms for the Royal Navy
• Testing of system requirements in accordance with verification & validation requirements matrix (VVRM)
• Producing and delivering in accordance to Engineering Management and Specialist Engineering Plans
• Diagnosing, fault-finding and analysis in support of operational defects on maritime platforms

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Hold a minimum of a Level 4 qualification (HNC or higher) within a relevant discipline, or have the equivalent experience
• Experience of providing technical advice and delivery of successful engineering outcomes
• You will demonstrate technical experience in your discipline or specialist area in a variety of contexts, such as but not limited to communications, electronics or systems engineering

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Technical Decision Making (Supervised Practitioner)
• Technical Risk Management (Supervised Practitioner)
• Communicating and influencing
• Seeing the bigger picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,100, Ministry of Defence contributes £9,747 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift - We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
2. Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills

Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.

3. Interview - If you're invited to interview, you'll be assessed against the Sift categories listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.