About the job

Job summary

We are Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S). We manage a vast range of projects to supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver 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, now and in the future.

Across our 12,500-strong organisation, we support all our people to be at their very best, fostering a family-friendly approach to flexible and hybrid working. After all, support is in our name.

Job description

Looking for a role with real-world impact? At Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), we're hiring talented Weapons Engineers to carry out vital work to support the defence of the UK. As part of our Weapons Operating Centre, you will help us deliver for our armed forces as they protect the UK, our interests, and our allies by working alongside our military colleagues, defence industry and subject matter experts.

The Weapons Operating Centre encompasses munitions and weapon systems ranging from small calibre ammunition through to strategic missile systems supplied to all the UK’s military customers.

You will be assigned to one of the following teams:

• Weapons Systems – covering all areas of Ordnance Munitions and Explosives (OME) and Lasers across Air, Land and Sea domains. You could be working first hand with rocket launch systems, laser technology and fire control systems.
• Operational support – building the UK’s energetic material manufacturing capability and developing new or updated missile systems providing vital support to UK and overseas military operations.

You will have unrivalled development opportunities, including an Ordnance Munitions and Explosives (OME) apprenticeship programme and post-graduate level training. Become part of a thriving and increasingly diverse community of OME Engineers from within DE&S and wider industry, serving those early on in their OME careers or exploiting DE&S’s strong links to the explosives sector for those more experienced.

Please note, if MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol is not your Permanent Duty Station, you will be expected to travel there monthly, with your travel and accommodation costs covered.

Due to the nature of security requirements, this role is open to sole UK nationals only.

Responsibilities

• Manage the engineering delivery within your munitions portfolio, working collaboratively with other functions to plan and execute programmes of work as well as managing the technical resources required to input into these projects
• Engage with a wide range of international stakeholders, chairing meetings and providing presentations to technical and non-technical stakeholders of all seniorities
• Lead project technical risk management activities including leading equipment trials and testing and making vital engineering decisions
• Undertake detailed design reviews to ensure system suitability and acceptability, holding defence industry to account and acting as intelligent customer on behalf of the armed forces
• Author and peer review Engineering and Safety Artefacts (including Engineering Management Plans and authorising Safety Cases) for the projects within your area of the portfolio
• Likely to hold formal Safety Responsible (SR) delegation
• Acting as a technical focal point for all queries relating to your area of the portfolio and managing a team of engineers through engineering delivery

Person specification

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

• Hold a HNC (i.e., Level 4 or higher) qualification in a relevant engineering or science discipline or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience
• Experience with system/equipment/project Safety Management
• Experience of leading the delivery of successful engineering outcomes or projects
• You will have experience of engineering in the context of weapons systems, ordnance or munitions

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

• Complies with Sys Safety requirements (Practitioner)
• Technical Decision Making (Practitioner)
• Leadership
• Communicating and influencing

Benefits

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working wherever possible, to support your work-life balance (though some attendance to the stated site is required)
• Market-leading employer pension contribution of around 27%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded professional qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

We believe in creating an inclusive environment where our people can grow, thrive, and be their authentic selves. We value diversity of thought and the ways in which it enriches our culture and our work. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of. And if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

More information can be found below:

• DE&S Little Book of Big Benefits: https://bit.ly/3FEb54v
• Further Information: https://bit.ly/3K26Xhl
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/3yUwcM1

#LI-Hybrid

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.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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.