About the job

Job summary

Join an integral part of the UK's defence and discover a rewarding professional career as part of the organisation responsible for the design, build, 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.

The SDA is looking for talented, motivated, and creative potential engineers to join our Level 6 Nuclear Engineering Apprenticeship Scheme and become our Engineers of the future.

Job description

Successful applicants will undertake a comprehensive program of study associated with the Nuclear Scientist and Nuclear Engineer standard ST0289: Nuclear scientist and nuclear engineer (integrated degree) / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. This is a four-year apprenticeship starting in September 2024.  

During the four-year scheme, your Permanent Duty Station will be MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol, however, year one of the scheme will be full time in college, based in the National College for Nuclear, Cannington, Bridgwater, Somerset.

Following a successful Gateway Interview, at the end of Year One, you will proceed to the next phase of your apprenticeship.

During Years Two and Three you will have the opportunity to carry out a number of work-based technical placements and defence specific nuclear training at any of these locations: Barrow-in-Furness, Bristol, Helensburgh, Plymouth, Rosyth.

Whilst in placements, you will continue with your foundation degree with block release attendance at the National College for Nuclear.

On successful completion of Year Three and following a further successful Gateway Interview, you will progress onto the final stage of the apprenticeship to complete your full degree, whilst continuing to undertake work-based technical placements across defence.

 On successful completion of the scheme and End Point Assessment at the end of Year Four you will be appointed to a role within the Defence Nuclear Enterprise, and you may be given the opportunity to permanently relocate to one of our waterfront locations listed above.

This apprenticeship offers a permanent contract which is bound by successful completion of the scheme.

Due to the secure nature of these positions, posts will be reserved for UK Nationals only and may require you to obtain Developed Vetting clearance once in post. Further information on Nationality Requirements is available here. 

Your Responsibilities:

Throughout your scheme, you will be supported by your Apprentice Manager, as well as a Placement Supervisor 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 as well as a peer mentoring scheme, 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.

Person specification

You will be assessed against the following essential qualifications, behaviours and technical skills listed below.

Interviews will be held throughout April 2024, and following completion of all pre-employment checks successful candidates can expect to start employment in September 2024.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £25,270, Ministry of Defence contributes £6,823 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, and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.

Stage 1: Initial application 
 
Complete a full application and upload your CV, which clearly demonstrates the following areas (which you will be assessed against in a CV sift): 
 
• Key Achievements. 
• Relevant Experience. 
• Applied Knowledge and Skills. 
 
For additional guidance on writing a CV for SDA please click here 
 
Stage 2: The top scoring candidates will be invited to a formal interview to discuss your Key Achievements, Relevant Experience and Applied knowledge & Skills. In addition to the above, you'll also be assessed against a technical skills and competence and the listed behaviours, aligned to the role.

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

Interviews will be held throughout April 2024, and following completion of all pre-employment checks successful candidates can expect to start employment in September 2024.

Please note offers of employment are subject to achieving satisfactory pre-employment and security checks. These include an Occupational Health Assessment and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). As part of this you will need to confirm your identity, employment/education history, nationality and any criminal record (unspent convictions only). 

The level of security needed is Security Check (SC) and you should usually have been continuously resident in the UK for 5 years immediately before clearance action commences. If you have lived overseas or travelled extensively during this period, it may affect the length of time to obtain full security clearance and this may affect your offer of employment. It is essential that ALL requests for information are completed fully and timely, as incomplete information may result in significant delays. Offers of employment are also subject to candidates achieving acceptable grades where predicted. 

Nationality Requirements - Further Information for Candidates  

1. This post is classed as ‘Reserved’ as per Civil Service Nationality Rules Section 3. In accordance with these rules, ‘only UK nationals may be employed in reserved posts in the Civil Service’1 (Paragraph. 3.1).  

UK National Definition  

1. The definition of a ‘UK National’ can be found at Paragraphs. 1.4-1.8 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules.  

Dual Nationals  

1. As per Paragraph. 1.41 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules:  

1. ‘Candidates with dual nationality are in principle eligible for employment in the Civil Service provided that they meet the requirements in relation to one of their nationalities [i.e. UK National]. They may not be eligible, however, for employment in certain reserved posts where additional nationality requirements are imposed.’  

Additional Restrictions for Reserved Posts  

1. As per Paragraphs. 3.10-3.11 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules:  

1. ‘…departments and agencies are entitled to impose additional requirements in reserved posts if this is considered necessary. This could include, for example, requirements as to the residency of the applicant or the nationality of one or both parents of the applicant.’  

1. If you are a Dual National who possesses UK Nationality and wish to check your eligibility for the post, please contact our recruiting team at the details below. Please be advised that we will not be able to provide a justification for our decision for security reasons.  

1.Irish nationals and Commonwealth citizens are also eligible for employment in reserved posts if they were in the Civil Service at 31 May 1996 or before, or were appointed from a recruitment scheme with a closing date for receipt of applications before 1 June 1996. (Paragraph. 3.1)   

No application can be accepted after the closing date.  

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.