About the job

Job summary

DE&S Deca is a specialist operating centre within Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S). An integral part of UK Defence, we are tasked with supporting the maintenance, repair, overhaul, upgrade, procurement and managed services provision of a vast range of defence avionics, electronics and general equipment to ensure the UK Armed Forces can operate safely and effectively.

The Industrial Technician (Machine Shop) will undertake the manufacture, repair and modification of varied and complex components for aviation, general engineering and Ground Support Equipment for MoD Tri-Service and also provide machining support to other sections within DE&S Deca as required.

Being mindful of the scrutiny on Public Sector pay and in accordance with Civil Service Terms and Conditions, salary on appointment is normally at the minimum point of the salary range and this should therefore be the expectation. Existing Civil Servants will be appointed in line with the normal Civil Service pay rules.

Job description

The successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

• The safe selection and competent use of all conventional and CNC machinery and tools used in the Machine Shop.
• Manufacture to the strict tolerances and standards required in aviation.
• Understand the structure, properties and characteristics of materials used in the machine shop for manufacture, maintenance and repair of aircraft components and ground equipment.
• Read, interpret and understand engineering data, drawings and Air Publications.
• Provide other engineers with support and solutions for manufacturing issues.
• Plan tasks efficiently to produce machined parts on time with the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Carry out job surveys for Customer Services, consisting of capability of carrying out the task, required material quantities and specifications, spares and consumables, timescales and tooling.
• Certify that tasks are carried out in accordance with work instructions.
• Maintain and store correctly and safely materials including metal, spares and POL.
• Undertake further specialised and mandatory training to fulfil role.
• Understand the importance of Compliance in Aviation Engineering.
• Carry out before use inspection of all machinery and calibrated measuring equipment.
• Monitoring of coolant quality for bacterial contamination to the relevant machinery.
• Ensure all work undertaken follows the quality and organisational procedures as defined in the DE&S Deca business system documentation and complies with all statutory COSHH, occupational health and safety, and environmental protection instructions.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• A recognised Engineering qualification or demonstrated time served.
• Experience and knowledge in the manufacture of Aircraft Components within a tool room or machine shop.
• Experience of programming and running CNC machines.
• Good overall knowledge and experience of engineering principles.
• IT literate to level of MS office and programmes used on machinery.
• GCSE Mathematics Grade C/4 or equivalent.

Desirable Criteria:

• EITB ONC in Production & Mechanical Engineering. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,245, DE&S Deca contributes £7,356 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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Candidates will be required to complete a CV and personal statement of up to 250 words evidencing against the essential criteria, as well as overall suitability for the role.

At interview you will be expected to provide specific examples of how you meet the following behavioural competencies:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

You will also be asked to evidence against the following Technical Skills:

• Technical Drawings and Third Angle Projection
• CNC Programming
• Working to Tight Tolerances

Probation - All employees joining DE&S Deca who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period, which will be effective from the employment start date.

A smoke-free organisation As of 31st December 2022, we’re a completely smoke-free organisation, with the use of all tobacco products, e-cigarettes and vaping devices prohibited on DE&S Deca sites.

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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.