Job description for Aeronautical Engineer

Are you an experienced Aeronautical Engineer looking for an exciting opportunity to apply your expertise in a dynamic and inspiring environment? We are seeking talented individuals to join our dedicated team, working alongside other engineers within the technical discipline of Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering. This is your chance to contribute to cutting-edge projects and make a real impact in the field.  

You will use your knowledge and experience to provide comprehensive advice and manage elements of acquisition and support for a wide range of complex equipment. Your work will span across traditional fixed and rotary wing aircraft, as well as advanced Uncrewed Air Systems. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of critical projects, applying your expertise to some of the most innovative technologies in the aerospace sector.  

The role offers the opportunity to specialise in a variety of technical areas. These include military air system certification, airworthiness integrity management, air vehicle design, and aerodynamics and performance. You may also focus on air vehicle structures, spacecraft positioning and altitude determination, or hypersonic aerodynamics. Additionally, there are opportunities to work on aircraft launch integration and the integration of air systems with ships, ensuring seamless operation across platforms.  

This is a unique opportunity to work on advanced technologies and systems that are at the forefront of aeronautical and aerospace engineering. If you are passionate about engineering and eager to contribute to the development and support of complex systems, we would love to hear from you. Join us and take your career to new heights!  

We champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 60% of your working week) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance and business need. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role. You may be expected to travel to operational bases and/or manufacturers premises. Please note some of the roles available are open to sole UK nationals only.   

 What you’ll be doing

• Requirements – Own the generation of technical requirements, defining technical deliverables/artifacts and updating other documentation for aeronautical or aerospace systems, including the considerations to in-service support and associated costs.  

• Technical Data – Authorise technical data input and changes to support the management and maturity of engineering documentation, focusing on successful technical outcomes.  

• Legislation/Policy – Working in a highly regulated area, using Military Aviation Authority (MAA) regulatory publications. Educate others with relevant legislation, regulation, policy, processes, and standards to deliver technical documentation for an aeronautical or aerospace system. This includes the essential relation to quality, safety, security, and sustainability, of the system, and the interoperability with other sub-systems.  

• Risk – Identifiy and analyse technical hazards/project impacts then contribute to the identification and evaluation of risk reduction measures, ensuring that these are adequately documented and managed.  

• Personal Development – Own your career progression and professionalisation. This includes engaging with your People Coach, maintaining membership and registration level, with a relevant Professional body, keeping an up-to-date career development plan, conducting relevant learning and development in timely fashion, and keeping current with modern engineering technologies.  

Person specification

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

• A wide ranging depth and breadth of experience of providing technical advice and delivery of successful aeronautical engineering outcomes  
• Demonstrate aeronautical experience of providing technical advice and leading the delivery of successful engineering outcomes  
• Professionally registered as Incorporated Engineer (IEng) with a relevant Professional body/institution  

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

• Core Behaviour 1: Making effective decisions  
• Core Behaviour 2: Delivering at pace  
• Technical Competence 1: Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking – Practitioner  
• Technical Competence 2: Supportable Technical Solutions – Practitioner  

 Offered Benefits

• 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

• Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles – Civil Service Commission
• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-Terms-and-Conditions
• Civil Service Code: The Code – Civil Service Commission

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here.

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.

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 (CV Review) listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. 

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the relative importance of the assessed competencies as per the hierarchy below:

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1
• 2nd: Core Behaviour 1
• 3rd: Technical Competencies
• 4th: CV Review

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise an additional assessment.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: DESHR-WSC-PMOCOMPLAINTS@mod.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints – Civil Service Commission