Are you ready to be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking organisation at the forefront of defence innovation? At DE&S, every day brings new challenges and opportunities to make a real difference.

As an Expert Services – Systems Engineer (ES-SE), you will play a pivotal role in delivering the future of Systems and Mission Systems Engineering. Collaborating with colleagues and clients, you will scope and deliver critical activities while responding to emerging challenges across a range of technical and environmental areas, including Land, Maritime, Air, Weapons, and Space.

Working in Expert Services you will provide effective Engineering and Safety support and guidance to Safety critical tasks and activities by identifying issues early in the project life-cycle. Those issues are managed through engineering processes, creating strong controls and mitigations for technical risks. Through this you will be a part of balancing the Cost, Effectiveness and Safety of the equipment the National Armaments Director (NAD) delivers to the Armed Forces.

You will have the opportunity to work across the entire project life-cycle and be instrumental in helping pan-National Armaments Director Group clients solve complex problems in Defence. Some of the activities that you will lead on are the development, tailoring and alignment of systems engineering products, including innovative system and capability architecture, requirements at both User and Function level, integrated test and evaluation plans and Engineering planning, ensuring that these products meet your client’s needs and addresses the unique situation that each project faces. You will drive some of the most complex and critical programmes forward, making a real difference to lives in the UK and abroad, and advancing state of the art systems engineering.

You will provide support to a wide range of technologies and environments by delivering critical tasks to some of the UKs most high-profile and technologically advanced programmes. These include the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), Future Complex Weapons, RFA Proteus, P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Protector Remote Piloted Air Systems, Autonomous Systems, Submarines, Guided Weapons, Challenger 3, Space and Land based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and MOD Prioritisation Strategy Analysis against Strategic Defence Review.

You will be based out of Bristol and will need to attend this site to support business needs (nominally 1 day per week). However, we endeavour to provide flexible and offer smarter working. These roles do have some travel expectations, including overnight stays, depending on the ES-SE Team or Client needs; however, this is typically limited to UK locations and comes with advance notice.

What you’ll be doing

• Scope systems engineering tasks based upon the risk and complexity of the system and acquisition approach. Form accurate costed proposals for tasks, negotiate and gain approval for resource commitment and deliver high quality products to stringent levels of time, cost, and quality.
• Responsible for evaluating the problem space, collecting, and analysing data and delivering problem resolution. Supports the implementation of recommendations to deliver the high value benefits predicted.
• Identifies and analyses technical hazards/project impacts then contributes to the identification and evaluation of risk reduction measures, ensuring that these are adequately documented and managed.
• Provide expert advice and support to clients and other stakeholders, helping them to understand and correctly frame their requirement. Develop and select appropriate tools, processes or methods in unclear situations based on experience and expertise. Identify opportunities to implement best practice.
• Manage and participate in assurance, audit, and reviews activity.
• Provide technical leadership and expert guidance to clients and other stakeholders to enhance the capability and effectiveness of the deliverable. Ensure that the proposed solutions are properly understood and appropriately exploited.

Person specification

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

• Lead Criteria: Have wide ranging depth and breadth experience of providing technical advice and delivery of successful Systems Engineering outcomes
• Demonstrate experience of providing technical advice and leading the delivery of successful Systems Engineering outcomes
• As a minimum be professionally registered as either:
•      IEng (or alternative) or equivalent experience.
•      Expectation that IEng (or alternative) will be achieved within 12 months of joining permanently.

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

• Core Behaviour 1: Leadership
• Core Behaviour 2: Delivering at Pace
• Technical Competence 1: PMPC Stakeholder Management – Practitioner
• Technical Competence 2: ECF_01 Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking – Practitioner

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,400, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,442 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

• 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.

Disability Confident

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.’

Conflicts of Interest

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed behaviours and competencies below:

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

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise the Lead criterion, and/or and additional assessment.

Things you need to know

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.

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 

Ready to join us as an Expert Services Systems Engineer Apply now!