About the job

Job summary

The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) is a part of the Ministry of Defence responsible for the procurement, in-service support, and disposal of the UK’s nuclear submarines. Our work is of unparalleled strategic importance nationally and internationally, ensuring the security of the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent, and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence.

Here you’ll find a community to belong to – whether that’s alongside project teams with a shared vision or as part of an employee network of like-minded individuals. We believe that, by celebrating different backgrounds and perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.

Discover more about our work:

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.

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 10 years and obtain Developed Vetting (DV) 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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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 DV security clearance can be a lengthy process. You’ll join us once Security Check (SC) clearance is obtained, and then the more enhanced DV checks will continue after you’ve started your employment. If SC clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months, we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made.

Job description

Are you a Quality Assurance Engineer excited by the opportunity to shape and define the some of the biggest and complex defence programmes in the UK today? The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) are currently seeking an enthusiastic and driven Quality Assurance Engineer to join our team at MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol.

As a Lead Quality Assurance Engineer, you will play a key role in providing the Trident Systems Project Team (TSPT). This role will see you provide robust quality assurance regime in support of the project team’s strategic aims which are the delivery of the effective through-life support of the Strategic Weapon System and Strategic Weapons Support System, Dreadnought build programme, and the Continuous at Sea Deterrent.

Want to hear what a L3 in the team thinks?

“Joining SDA has been seamless, and my manager has taken the time to understand me and my requirements which has made my first weeks in the group easy. Developing and having the opportunity to gain qualifications that are pertinent to my role is readily available and it’s great to work with a manager that takes my development seriously. I’m looking forward to working for a higher purpose and playing a key role in something that our nation requires.”

In this role you will be responsible for establishing TSPT’s level of compliance, by means of audit and inspection, for all quality-related obligations stated in documented technical arrangements; quality policy; and local codes of practice.

In addition, you will manage the day-to-day activities of the group’s two quality assurance engineers in support of the above responsibilities. Other work activities could include determination and implementation of the audit programme, coordination of government quality assurance (GQA) for UK acquisition projects, investigation of any quality-related failure and performing root-cause analysis, participation in the UK Facilities and Technical Proficiency Evaluation Programme, and supporting wider programme initiatives e.g. deep maintenance periods at HMNB Devonport and UK Shipyard Installation Test Programme at BAE Systems Submarines Barrow-in-Furness, etc.

Growing your career as part of the SDA, we will provide you with diverse opportunities at the forefront of ensuring the delivery of crucial and significant projects. This could include supporting the Acquisition, Transition into Service and In-Service support of submarines in BAE Barrow. You will be supported by your manager and wider team to achieve your career goals and aspirations with mentoring available to fulfil your potential and funding for industry-recognised qualifications.

At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working to support work-life balance. Regular in-person attendance is required at your Primary Duty Station (Abbey Wood), approximately 3 day a week, however this may vary to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, your team and role. You will also be required to attend our HMNB Clyde site, however expenses will be paid from your Primary Duty Station.

Successful applicants for this role may be eligible for a Trident Specialist Allowance (“TSA”) or Trident Chartership (“TCA”) if eligibility criteria are satisfied. TSA and TCA are non-contractual, non-consolidated, discretionary payments which may be withdrawn at any time.

What you’ll be doing

• Provide line management and leadership to the group’s two quality assurance engineers.
• Develop and administer the project team’s audit programme.
• Lead audits and inspections at defence establishments and supplier premises.
• Stand-up a pool of internal auditors sourced from within the project team and provide stewardship to those selected.
• Perform government quality assurance for the project team’s UK acquisition projects.
• Engage and coordinate surveillance activities performed by other registered Government Quality Assurance Representatives.
• Conduct quality failure investigations and perform root cause analysis as and when required.

Person specification

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

• Demonstrable applied knowledge of Quality Assurance within an acquisition environment supported by expertise in a quality-related specialist area e.g. configuration management.
• Breadth of Quality Assurance experience gained from direct participation in high technology/high-value projects, including supply chain stakeholder management.
• Demonstrable experience of people management, mentoring, and coaching.
• ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor (Chartered Quality Institute (CQI)/IRCA-certified course) qualification is deemed as essential to the role.
• Whilst Practitioner membership of the CQI is deemed as essential to the role, Chartered Quality Professional status is deemed to be highly desirable.

It will also benefit your application if you are able to demonstrate the following desirable criteria:

• Engineering-related qualification at Regulated Qualifications Framework Level 4 (and above) or equivalent experience in an engineering-related subject.

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

• EFCF 3 – Technical Requirements, Evaluation, and Acceptance - Practitioner
• MQ4 – Acquisition Assurance – Practitioner
• Communicating and influencing.
• Leadership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,500, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,015 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.

Ready to join us as a Lead Quality Assurance Engineer? Apply today.

Security

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.