Job description for Salvage Engineer

Ready to dive into a career like no other?

If you’re driven by innovation, thrive in high-stake environments, and inspired by the idea of working with cutting-edge subsea technology, then this is your moment. The Ministry of Defence’s Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO) is on the lookout for a passionate and skilled Salvage Engineer to support operations at the forefront of underwater engineering and marine recovery.

As a Salvage Engineer, you will be responsible for the management of engineering capability of the Marine Salvage Unit based in Devonport to enable the coordination of complex maritime recovery operations to safeguard Defence assets and maintain operational capability. Operating in high-pressure environments, you will apply specialist knowledge, strategic judgement, and resilience to protect national interests and ensure the integrity of MOD maritime platforms and infrastructure.

Why join SALMO? SALMO is the MOD’s centre of excellence for marine salvage and emergency response. Our multidisciplinary team, ranging from Master Mariners and Naval Architects to Environmental Scientists and Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV) / Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) Operators, and delivers critical support to UK Defence operations around the globe. Whether it’s locating downed aircraft on the seabed, surveying wrecks, towing warships, or conducting emergency response drills, our work is as varied as it is vital.

The role includes periods of operational tasking, training, and deployments, which may take place within the UK or overseas depending on organisational requirements. When not deployed, you will work within the Marine Salvage Unit, supporting day-to-day activity and maintaining operational readiness.

What’s in it for you? This is more than just a job; it’s a chance to make a real impact. The role is operationally critical and comes with additional allowances under SALMO Terms and Conditions, reflecting the importance and intensity of the work you’ll be doing.

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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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

• Leading and participating in maritime operations including salvage, diving, underwater engineering, towing, mooring, and seamanship/boat operations.
• Driving and operating the full range of unit vehicles and boats and where necessary conducting lifting (rigging and slinging) and forklift truck operations.
• Working in a highly regulated area, maintaining awareness of changes in maritime legislation design & safety criteria used across MOD/Commercial.
• Operating and being fully conversant with all unit equipment and procedures, instilling best practice in operations as well as the shore-based management.
• Providing project management and leading an operation as directed by management and ensuring that they are conducted in a proper manner in accordance with laid down procedures and policy.

Person specification

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

• Lead Criterion – Have experience of providing technical advice and leading the delivery of successful engineering outcomes in small scale task and projects; and
• Have a wide-ranging and relevant technical experience in subsea activities or marine operations; and
• Experience managing marine operations with evidence of technical problem-solving and risk management; and

Hold (as minimum) : 

• STCW (1) Second Engineer (Unlimited)

And: 

• Be a Sole UK National
• Hold a Full UK Driving Licence

Be able to satisfy requirements of:

• 2-Yearly ENG1 Seafarers Medical (2), and
• Be enlisted as a Royal Navy Sponsored Reserve (2),
• Annual HSE Dive Medical (2)
• Dive Aptitude test (2)
• HSE Surface Supplied Diving Qualification

(1) STCW = International Convention of Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for seafarers.

(2) For recruitment purposes, external candidates do not need to hold these (including no prior commercial diving experience) but must have no known reasons not to achieve this within 6 months of employment.

This role is subject to Retained Grade Terms and Conditions and differ from the DE&S standard Terms and Conditions.

For SALMO Retained Grade seeking promotion, please refer to Part 2, Section 10.2 of the SALMO Retained Grade Handbook.

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

• Core Behaviour 1: Making Effective Decisions – CSBC3
• Core Behaviour 2: Leadership – CSBC3
• Technical Competence 1: ECF_01 Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking – Supervised Practitioner level
• Technical Competence 2: ECF_03 Supportable Technical Solutions – Practitioner level

Offered Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Ministry of Defence contributes £15,469 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Full time staff employed for less than 5 years are entitled to 26.5 days’ annual leave per year, rising to 31.5 days per year after 5 years of service
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading employer pension contribution of around 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded professional 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 
• SALMO Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/SALMO-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