About the job

Job summary

DE&S Deca is a specialist part of Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) tasked with supporting a vast range of defence avionics, electronics and components to provide high-quality, cost-effective support to the UK Armed Forces. We have a rich heritage as the MOD’s in house repair, maintenance, overhaul and upgrade service provider by offering innovative solutions to guarantee best value for Defence.

The Test Solutions Department provides innovative, test solution products and services that enable the effective maintenance and repair of Defence electronic assets, to agreed cost, specification and timeframes. 

Working as part of a specialist team, you will support, advise and deliver test solutions to facilitate the repair of equipment. You will provide subject matter expertise on all aspects of Automatic Test Systems (ATS) including the ability to develop new testing regimes from inception.

Being mindful of the scrutiny on Public Sector pay and in accordance with Civil Service Terms and Conditions, salary on appointment is normally at the minimum point of the salary range and this should therefore be the expectation. Existing Civil Servants will be appointed in line with the normal Civil Service pay rules.

Job description

The role involves testing a broad range of equipment, from single Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) to complete Line Replacement Units (LRUs). This equipment employs analogue, digital, RF and hybrid technology which may be new technology being introduced into service or old equipment in service over 50 years. 

You will provide ad-hoc advanced repairs or full Test Program Set (TPS) development using either Approved Source Information (ASI), Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) documentation. This may require you to draw upon your electrical engineering expertise to reverse engineer the equipment and provide the required documentation for the task.  

Person specification

Responsibilities of the role include:

• Design, develop, test, implement and document ATS Test Program Sets.
• Responsible for the implementation and delivery of the TPS development schedule and budget adherence.
• Provide ongoing through life support of developed TPS.
• Design and manufacture of TPS hardware and test verification documentation.
• Provide subject matter expertise to customers for resolution of Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs) for equipment without Original Equipment Manufacturer support.
• Carry out reverse engineering process to create Approved Source Information.
• Undertake the migration of ATS test solutions from obsolete platforms to currently supported platforms.

Essential criteria:

• Qualified to at least Level 4 in electronic engineering (such as HNC or HND) Exceptionally, appropriate industry experience may be deemed sufficient
• Recognised relevant electronic engineering apprenticeship or similar accredited training
• Proven track record in electronic repair on various systems
• In-depth knowledge of electronic test methodologies
• Analogue and Digital testing techniques including RF Engineering and Electrical/Electronic Engineering
• Ability to solve complex and non-routine problems, including design and development
• Confidence to make reliable and consistent judgements with minimal guidance and will take a proactive approach to customer relationships, standards, continuous improvement and management of work within a team context

Desirable Criteria:

• High degree of computer literacy including experience in at least one high-level language
• Be able to satisfy the competence standards set by ECUK(Engineering Council United Kingdom) for registration as Incorporated Engineer or Engineering Technician
• Friendly, approachable with good team working skills
• Calm, logical, methodical, analytical approach to problem solving
• Proficient in the use of MS products, including Excel and Teams
• Knowledge and experience of Test Stand interfaces would be advantageous

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,678, DE&S Deca contributes £9,363 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.

At application you will need to provide your CV and a personal statement of up to 500 words evidencing against the essential criteria, as well as your overall suitability for the role.

At interview you will need to provide specific competency examples against the following behaviours:

• Developing Self and Others
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together

You will also be assessed against the following technical skills:

• Digital Electronics
• Analogue Electronics
• Equipment Systems and sub-systems

All employees joining DE&S Deca who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period, which will be effective from the employment start date.

All relevant ATS training will be delivered in-house and final acceptance into the role of TPS Developer relies on the successful completion of all ATS training.

A smoke-free organisation As of 31st December 2022, we’re a completely smoke-free organisation, with the use of all tobacco products, e-cigarettes and vaping devices prohibited on DE&S Deca sites.

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

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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.