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 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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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

Are you interested in becoming a Safety Engineer, excited by the opportunity to shape and define some of the biggest and complex defence programmes in the UK today? The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) are currently seeking an enthusiastic and driven Safety Engineers to join our teams at Bristol.

One of our roles is in the Combat System Delivery Team (CSDT). Working in the CSDT team as a Safety Engineer, you will be involved across the CADMID cycle (Concept, Assessment, Demonstration, Manufacture, In-Service, Disposal) assisting the Delivery Sections in ensuring that the Combat Systems equipment and systems supplied to the Royal Navy Submarine Flotilla are Safe to Operate. Along with other day to day tasks you could find yourself assessing the impact of equipment changes, safety alerts and safety justifications to help support the commissioning and approval of equipment to representing CSDT at internal and external meetings.

Our other post is in the Platform Equipment Delivery Team (PEDT) Safety Manager. Working in PEDT Specific you will find yourself facilitating the maintenance of PEDTs Safety Management System, being the point of contact and subject matter expert for all matters of acquisition safety, providing guidance and advice to the engineering team. Whilst also supporting the engineering team with the maintenance and management of the equipment safety cases and to facilitate Safety forums, working groups, panels and committees as required and facilitate the engineering team in the delivery of hazard management activities and the upkeep of hazard management artifacts.

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 (Bristol) 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 remote sites; however, expenses will be paid from your Primary Duty Station.

What you’ll be doing

• Reviewing and assessing new and existing safety documentation against Safety Policy, including safety case reports and safety management plans.
• Assessing impact of equipment changes, safety alerts and safety justifications to support the commissioning and approval of equipment.
• Advising internal personnel, industry safety teams and senior management on safety matters.
• Delivering audits and lending support to regulated inspection.
• Representing the team at internal and external meetings, for example change boards, safety related working groups, safety committees, and other safety meetings.

Person specification

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

• Professionally Registered status or has demonstrated equivalent knowledge, skills and experience.
• Member of or work towards becoming a member of the Professional Safety Institute or equivalent body.
• Experience in the use of System Safety Management Tools & Processes.
• Level 4 NQF in a relevant engineering discipline.
• Experience of providing technical advice and delivery of safety products or services.

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

• SYSSAF2 - Complies with the principles of System Safety management - Practitioner
• SYSSAF4 - Adoption of safety risk management process – Practitioner
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving

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.