Job description for Naval Architect

Why join SALMO? SALMO is the MOD’s centre of excellence for marine operations, 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, 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.

As a Naval Architect you will provide professional expertise in support of DE&S’ Salvage and Marine Operations team. The role will involve delivering technical solutions for marine operations, including towing, heavy lift, salvage, wreck removal, emergency response, and other specialist marine operations, ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards, and supporting the effective management of maritime assets.

DE&S Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO) is the Ministry of Defence’s operational delivery team for marine operations, salvage and emergency response, providing expertise to recover disabled  vessels and aircraft from the marine environment, carrying out marine operations moving Royal Navy vessels, manage potential pollution from wrecks, and provide underwater engineering support. The highly specialised SALMO team includes master mariners, naval architects, marine engineers, and divers, using cutting-edge technology such as, stability analysis tools, Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to manage global response and operations.

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.

• HMNB Devonport, Plymouth, Devon PL2 2BG
• MOD Abbey Wood, Filton, Bristol BS34 8JH

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 10 years and obtain Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you have 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 DV security clearance can be a lengthy process. You’ll join us once Security Check (SC) clearance is obtained, and then the more enhanced DV checks will continue after you’ve started your employment. If SC clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months, we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead in the generation of naval architecture technical requirements and analysis for marine operations, defining technical deliverables/artifacts and updating other documentation (such as stability assessments, performance criteria and draft specifications), including the considerations to in-service support and associated costs.
• Create and authorise technical data input and changes to support the management and maturity of engineering solutions and documentation, focusing on successful technical outcomes.
• Identify and analyse complex technical hazards/operational impacts and contribute to the identification and evaluation of risk reduction measures, ensuring adequate documentation and evidence
• Manage the system test, verification, validation, and evaluation process.
• Manage the technical aspects, support, and modification to a maritime salvage operation.
• Monitor and implement governance and assurance policies and procedures.
• Provide operational support to manage the technical decisions surrounding the disposals and decommissioning of ships and boats.

Person specification

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

• Lead Criterion – Demonstration of a wide-ranging depth and breadth experience providing technical advice and delivery of successful Naval Architecture outcomes.

• Demonstrate experience of providing technical advice and leading the delivery of Naval Architecture outcomes.

As a minimum be professionally registered as either:

• Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or
• Incorporated Marine Engineering (IMarEng)

Note: Alternatives to qualifications listed above (which cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland only), is the Scottish SCQF or international equivalent qualification backed up by a statement of comparability from UK ENIC.

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 – CSBC 3
• Core Behaviour 2: Delivering at Pace – CSBC3
• Technical Competence 1: ECF_01 Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking – Practitioner (1.3)
• Technical Competence 2: ECF_03 Supportable Technical Solutions – Practitioner (3.3)

Offered 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.

• 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