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.

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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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

The SDA has an exciting career opportunity for an experienced and motivated Submarine Structures Engineer to join our team to support some of largest and most complex engineering programmes in the world. You will work at the forefront of marine technology to oversee engineering challenges unique to this industry, whilst contributing to project success and providing support to the Royal Navy.

You will act as the intelligent customer and delegated authority for your area of responsibility whilst working with key suppliers and stakeholders to ensure a safe, fit for purpose submarine is delivered for the Royal Navy. You will be delegated to deliver these activities, providing subject matter expertise and making decisions and recommendations on Complex Problems relating to the structural design. 

You will support SDA teams to provide specialist structural engineering insight to in-build and in-service submarines focusing on early stage detailed design and requirements elicitation. You will lead on key deliverables, interfacing as the intelligent customer to our prime contractors to ensure the design and integrity of submarine structures meet contractual requirements. 

By joining the SDA, you will have defined progression routes and opportunities to prosper as a professional. There are opportunities for expensed support in your route towards becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng) and training to stay abreast of emerging technologies can be funded and is readily available via our Engineering Upskilling policy. 

This post may be eligible for the NSQEP Recruitment Retention Allowance of up to £12000 per annum. This allowance is discretionary and will be dependent on a candidate's ability to successfully demonstrate the necessary competency, qualifications, and experience to an independent panel of Subject Matter Experts.

At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

What you’ll be doing

• Manage delivery of structural designs as defined in assignment specification or objectives, including managing acquisition safety aspects
• Provide expert advice and guidance to solve complex technical problems and identify application risks relating to design, integrity and assurance of submarine structures
• Manage the technical requirements for the acquisition lifecycle stage of one or more project, programme, service or system
• Monitor and implement any governance and assurance policies and procedures to ensure the ‘safe & professional’ status of the area led
• Lead on the development of requirements related structures including acceptance plans, performance criteria and draft specifications
• Interface with industry as the intelligent customer, both in a scrutiny role and supporting the identification of application risks
• Likely to hold Safety responsibilities via delegation

Person specification

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

• A minimum of a HNC qualification (e.g. Level 4) in an Engineering or Science subject, or equivalent relevant experience
• Experience of designing submarine structures
• Experience of providing technical advice and leading the delivery of successful engineering outcomes within a cross functional engineering team
• Chartered or Incorporated Engineer status or has demonstrated equivalent knowledge, skills and experience and will achieve professional registration within 6 months of appointment

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

• Technical Decision Making – Practitioner
• Application of Analytical techniques- Practitioner
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,400, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,798 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

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.