Job description for Lead Naval Architect

Are you an experienced naval architect looking to apply your expertise to major platform systems? If so, the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) want to hear from you! We are looking for a lead naval architect to join our Submersible Ship Nuclear (SSN) AUKUS Team at MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol.

The defence partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS), will see the first generation of AUKUS nuclear submarines built in the UK equipped for intelligence, surveillance, undersea warfare and strike missions. The aim is to successfully develop and demonstrate a range of underwater capabilities that are crucial to ensuring safety and security in the region and more broadly.

You will be at the forefront of submarine safety and engineering outcomes. Supporting the deputy chief engineer, you’ll make critical, evidence-based decisions that shape the future of our platform designs. Your blend of technical problem-solving and management skills will be key in providing technical advice to senior staff and stakeholders.

You’ll benefit with the chance to work on high profile projects with the opportunity to travel to other submarine establishments across the UK and overseas on occasion.

At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required (this is expected to be a minimum of 40%) 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

• Lead and manage a team of naval architects and designers to deliver the totality of SSNA naval architecture outputs
• Manage risks to achieving a balanced design within the approved performance, cost and time envelope
• Steer the system designers and spatial designers to achieve a balanced and fully integrated design at maturity levels, commensurate with key design reviews, design freeze and ready-for-manufacture milestones
• Manage and deliver SSNA’s naval architecture design to ensure the submarine will meet the warfighting capability and safety requirements
• Provide naval architecture technical leadership to solve complex problems with innovative solutions to support improved performance and enhance capability
• Advise and report to the deputy chief engineer on naval architecture and overall design integration issues
• Delivery of naval architecture products and services as set out in the engineering management plan, including managing acquisition safety and certification aspects
• Be a responsible engineer holding formal safety responsible delegation (subject to assessment in role) for decision making on submarine design throughout all phases
• Responsible for a range of outputs including safe operating envelopes, stability assessments, trim polygons, weight and space management artefacts, formal technical decisions and their records, general arrangement, whole boat design metrics and more

Person specification

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

• Hold a minimum level 6 Qualification in Naval Architecture or have equivalent relevant experience
• Hold professional registration at Incorporated Engineer status or higher, or demonstrate suitable equivalent experience to achieve this within 9 months
• Demonstrable experience working with submarines
• You will have recent experience in at least one of the following; submarine safe manoeuvring envelope development and tools (i.e Artemis or S4) or whole platform design integration including decision making and trade-offs, margins management, general layout, spatial design, baseline crew requirement, human factors and platform functional performance

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

• Technical Decision Making – Expert
• Technical Risk Management – Expert
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £63,400, Ministry of Defence contributes £18,366 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of – and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Candidate Information Pack: http://bit.ly/SDA–Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-SDA-Terms-and-Conditions

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.