Job description for Mechanical Engineer

The SDA has an exciting career opportunity for an eager and motivated Mechanical Engineer to join our In-Service Submarines (ISM) team in Bristol. By joining ISM, you will integrate with highly skilled professionals 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.

As a Mechanical Engineer and an SDA representative, you’ll have delegated responsibility for the health and performance of engineering systems in your area, setting requirements, liaising with SDA and industry project delivery teams as well as the Royal Navy platform operators. You will apply your understanding of engineering principles and systems to offer specialist mechanical engineering advice and conduct assessments of defects and repairs. You will interface as an intelligent customer to our prime contractors, ensuring that design, performance and integration of systems into submarines meet contractual and legislative requirements and deliver the capabilities that Defence need.

Due to the nature of this work, working with project teams and suppliers is critical to success. You will therefore be required to uphold strong and productive relationships and provide subject matter expert advice to SDA teams and our contractors. You will be inducted into a dynamic working environment and occasional travel to dockyards, suppliers’ sites and alongside visits to Royal Navy Submarines will be required.

This post may be eligible for the NSQEP Recruitment Retention Allowance of up to £4,000 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.

At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required (minimum of 3 days per week) 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.

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’ve 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.

What you’ll be doing

Key responsibilities will include:

• Manage engineering technical requirements (maintenance requirements, work package definition, change management, contract scope, acceptance of deliverables, assessment of surveys and concessions)
• Responsible for the development and maintenance of system requirements including in-service support and response to emergent defects
• Provide specialist advice on the application of safety and environmental management systems
• Determine quality management and assurance approaches and ensure technical risks are understood and managed
• Contribute to Engineering Management Plans

In this role, you will have line management responsibilities for a junior engineer, ensuring their development. You will also be mentoring apprentices and graduates, guiding them through their early career stages and fostering their professional growth.

Person specification

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

• Hold a relevant HNC (i.e., Level 4 or higher) qualification in an engineering discipline, OR demonstrate equivalent experience.
• Have experience of providing technical advice and delivery of successful engineering outcomes
• Have technical experience in their discipline or specialist area in a variety of contexts

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

• Technical Requirements, Evaluation & Acceptance – Supervised Practitioner
• Technical Decision Making -Supervised Practitioner
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making effective decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,100, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,747 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: https://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. When two (or more) candidates are on equal interview scores, positions will be offered based on the scores assessed at interview, in this order – 1st) Technical competence, 2nd) CV Review, 3rd) Behaviour one, 4th) Behaviour two.

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