About the job

Job summary

Government Digital , Data & Technology Cluster: QAT - QAT Analyst. Role: Quality Assurance Tester.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work in support of an operational unit within a front line command, as part of the mixed military, civil servant and embedded contractor team who are the technical quality assurance testers for our range of mobile communications equipment.

This role requires a technically inquisitive individual with an appetite for learning. You will be supported to develop your mobile communications and radio frequency knowledge to develop into an experienced technical quality assurance tester.
We are looking for someone with self-motivation, attention to detail, accurate record keeping, the ability to manage your workload to meet the variable operational business outputs and excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. 

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Strategic Command is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to improve the way the Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, all posts within Strategic Command Headquarters and in time the wider organisation, are/will be subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities.  Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions.

Job description

The key requirements of this post are:

• To provide technical quality assurance testing of mobile communications handsets utilising computer test rigs and test equipment.
• To produce detailed technical testing records, conduct local fault rectification, escalation for deep repair and processing of serviceable assets back into the supply chain.
• To assist with and conduct equipment trials, producing technical evaluation reports and participating in evaluation meetings.
• When necessary liaise with other organisations and commercial companies representing the department and organisation as a technical subject matter expert.
• Proactively enforce security, fire and health & safety within the quality assurance testing facility.
• The job holder will on occasion be required to travel independently to other locations for training and work.

Person specification

Applicants should list all experience and skills, including those not directly related to this vacancy. A short technical assessment will be conducted immediately after the interview.

Essential Skills:

• Technical qualifications or equivalent experience in information and communications technology or electronic engineering or radio communications or technical testing. Experience in precise data recording.
• The Skills for the Information Age (SFIA) framework Version 7 category SFIA 4.3.5 RFEN - Radio Frequency engineering at foundation level describes the desired technical skills and knowledge that will be required for this position.

Qualifications:

• ONC/OND/Foundation Diploma qualification or equivalent experience in Information and Communications Technology or Electronic Engineering.
  

Desirable Skills:

• Working knowledge of workshop environments incl Health and Safety.
• Working knowledge of technical test equipment.
• Working knowledge of MS Office applications, specifically Word and Excel.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £27,160, Ministry of Defence contributes £7,333 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.

 Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include: job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours and Technical Skill:

• Making effective decisions
• Managing a quality service
• The Skills for the Information Age (SFIA)

Applicants who are successfully sifted at the application stage will be asked to attend an interview in Hereford and to participate in a short technical assessment. The technical assessment will be conducted immediately after the interview.

At interview, you will be assessed against the following Behaviours and Technical Skill:

• Making effective decisions
• Managing a quality service
• The Skills for the Information Age (SFIA)

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.
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 

This vacancy is part of the A Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative Making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

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.