About the job

Job summary

Are you looking for an opportunity to apply your engineering skills in direct support of the Royal Navy (RN) front line? The RN Maritime Capability, Trials and Assessment (MCTA) organisation is looking for hard-working engineers and technicians to join our highly professional team of Trials Officers to go onboard ships in harbour and at sea, around UK and occasionally overseas, to inspect RN Combat Management Systems in readiness for operations worldwide. This trials officer role is an exciting one conducting inspections on the sophisticated Combat and Information systems in RN warships, from the DNA system, through to the OPNET system on T23 Frigates, T45 Destroyers and Queen Elizabeth Class. There are also opportunities to get involved in future RN ships and technologies, such as the new T26 and T31 frigates. 

MCTA is a fast-paced team of Military and Civil Servants led by a Royal Navy Captain, who face a constantly evolving vista of work carrying out assessment and assurance of equipment on aircraft carriers, warships, and smaller military vessels. 

This role would suit applicants of an engineering / technical background with an interest in maintaining standards in Combat and Information Systems and associated equipment, with opportunities to broaden into other equipment’s and systems assessed by MCTA. For external applicants the post is available as a permanent Navy Command Headquarters (NCHQ) civilian position.

The position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

This role delivers the duties of an MCTA Trials Officer for all relevant system related activities, including the maintenance of professional standards through training and development to deliver trials assessments as required by NCHQ, DE&S and Naval Authority. This needs to be supported by the ability to work independently, and good leadership and communication skills that have been proven in a team working environment. This is a challenging but rewarding role that also provides the opportunity for personal development and the ability to improve and progress your career.

Whilst based in Victory Building in Portsmouth, the role is required to visit other locations around the UK and on occasions abroad to conduct assurance visits and progress meetings. Weekend working and nights away at sea and in other locations may be required.

The main tasks of the Trials Officers are:

To be capable of:

• conducting inspections as a professional engineer with an extensive knowledge of the operation and performance of the systems relevant to the role.
• applying general engineering perspective to all trials.
• compiling trials related defect lists, discussing with the shipbuilder/refitting authority/ ship to establish content, priority, and liability.
• attending post trials meetings to assist in the agreement of responsibilities for defect rectification and outstanding trials, and to acquaint those authorities concerned with the assessment, conclusion, and subsequent actions necessary to complete those inspections and trials.
• leading and assisting in the compilation of Trials Reports on completion of trials, including proofing of section trial reports before sending for staffing.
• providing advice on trial contents and conducts to relevant authorities and ship staffs.
• conducting trials beyond the role’s primary area in support of the wider Weapons Systems group (WS Group) on, once qualified, other systems covered by the Sensors Systems team including new systems being introduced into service, or (again once qualified) on other systems covered by WS Group.
• interacting with a wide range of authorities and personnel to resolve problems and ensure that current MOD policies are followed in the conduct of day-to-day business.

The post holder is expected to have an informed opinion on matters that affect MCTA and the Directorate as a whole and contribute to initiatives to improve the conduct and cost of business activities.

Defence Engineers – Give it all you are

My Lived Experience as a Civilian Defence Engineer

Person specification

Applicant will be required to hold a minimum HNC / D or equivalent in Electronic or Electrical Engineering

 Person must hold a Manual UK Driving Licence

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,290, Ministry of Defence contributes £9,528 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 and Experience.

Selection for interview will be based on CV.

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours.

• Leadership 
• Making effective Decisions  

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours:

• Leadership 
• Making effective Decisions
• Communicating & Influencing 
• Managing a Quality Service 

Interview will be face to face in HM Naval Base Portsmouth

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical.

The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk 

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights. 

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (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.