About the job

Job summary

The Submarine Delivery Agency is responsible for the procurement, in-service support, and disposal of the UK’s nuclear submarines. Our work is of unparalleled strategic importance, ensuring the security of the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent, and delivers some of the most technically complex programmes in defence.

As part of a diverse and inclusive workforce, our team will 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 diverse backgrounds and different perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.

The SDA is looking for talented, motivated, and creative university graduates to join our Technical Engineering Graduate Scheme and become our Engineers and Scientists of the future.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Throughout your scheme, you will be supported by your Graduate Manager, as well as a Placement Supervisor and Mentor to reach your full potential and become a real asset to the SDA Engineering Function and beyond.

You will participate in various professional and personal development opportunities and workshops, with plenty of opportunities to participate in structured training and to gather experience and knowledge through several work-based placements, to learn and then apply nuclear engineering/scientific concepts and principles in a defence environment.

You will initially be based in Bristol and will undertake various work-based placements across SDA, the Defence Nuclear Organisation, Navy Command and with Industry Partners to support personal development, scheme completion and Initial Professional Development towards Incorporated or Chartered status.

There is also potential to undertake further academic study through our upskilling programme (MSc/MEng), and opportunity to access technical training and continuous professional development.

Depending on the placements you are allocated to, hybrid working may be available but there is an expectation that employees will be in the workplace on a regular basis.

Once you’ve successfully completed the Scheme you’ll be assigned to a role within either SDA or the Defence Nuclear Organisation and there may be opportunity to relocate to one of the following locations: Barrow-in-Furness, Bristol, Helensburgh, Plymouth, Rosyth. You’ll also continue to be supported towards gaining professional registration.

As part of this role, you'll be providing support to engineering staff across the business assisting with technical activities, while continually developing yourself. You’ll be involved in the following:

• Undertaking a structured technical training programme based around our platforms and systems to develop capabilities in a defence context.
• Solving engineering problems through the through the full lifecycle of the equipment and developing upgrades to ensure it continues to provide the battle-winning "edge" our customers need.
• Delivering engineering products/services against agreed objectives to develop knowledge and experience and adding value to the team and wider business.

We have a range of exciting opportunities available within the following Engineering and Science disciplines:

• Maritime / Nuclear Engineer (15 roles)
• Nuclear Scientist or similar (5 roles)
• Naval Architects (5 roles)

Person specification

Your CV must demonstrate the following essential criteria:
You must already have or be expected to achieve this year a minimum of 2.2 in an Engineering or Science related Honours Degree (or equivalent).

Due to the secure nature of positions, posts will be reserved for UK Nationals only and may require you to obtain Developed Vetting clearance once in post.

For more information on Civil Service nationality rules please see the attached candidate information pack.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,880, Ministry of Defence contributes £7,798 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.

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

Simply click on the Apply button to create an account and upload your CV. For additional guidance on writing a CV, please click here.

Your application will go through several stages of assessment which are outlined below:

1. Pre-sift - We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed above.
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
3. Interview - If you're invited to interview, you'll be assessed against the Sift categories and the technical competences and behaviours listed above. More details about our Behaviours can be found attached at the bottom of the page. You'll also be asked to prepare a short presentation to be given at interview.

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

• Communication and Influencing
• Working together

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

There will be no reimbursement for any travel expenses (where incurred) for the interview.

Interviews will take place throughout April and May 2024 and following completion of all pre-employment checks candidates can expect to start employment in October or November 2024.

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 .

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.

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 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.