Job description for Deca Project Engineer

Are you looking for career progression or a new challenge? Here at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S): Defence Electronics and Components Agency (DECA) we have an exciting opportunity as a Project Engineer in the Managed Services Team (MST).

Do you have an enthusiastic, tenacious, dynamic attitude and the ability to work autonomously within a Team environment? This role will allow you to develop your knowledge and skillset to enhance capability to in the aims of delivering exceptional outputs. Project Engineers are accountable for delivering acquisition and non-acquisition projects through a tailored Prince2/APM methodology.

You can be based in either MoD Sealand or MoD Stafford. Deca MST is a centre for subject matter expertise. you will work closely with other engineering and scientific teams throughout defence.

Interviews will take place face-to-face at MoD Sealand or MoD Stafford, and will commence in the week commencing Monday 27th August 2025 (please note this is subject to change).

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. Please note, there is an organisational requirement to travel to other defence sites and customer locations including, but not limited to, MoD Abbey Wood (Bristol), Andover & HMNB Portsmouth.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead the management of projects, including but not limited to planning, organising and overseeing all project activities.
• Responsible for the development and maintenance of system requirements including in-service support.
• Effective creation of business cases, with consideration of strategic context, economic analysis, commercial approaches, financial cases, and management approaches
• Participate in identification, selection, evaluation, performance verification and demonstrations within their technical area.
• Maintain safety risk as low as reasonably practicable for the equipment they manage working in partnership with the equipment Engineering Authority.
• Financial Management. Support product Forecast of Outturn, In-Year Management, and Annual Business Cycle reporting.

Person specification

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

• Relevant Level 4 (or higher) qualification or equivalent experience, for example; Electronics or electrical engineering apprenticeship or equivalent with demonstrable avionic and/or electronics engineering experience.
• Member of a relevant Professional Engineering/Science Institute or equivalent body.
• Hold a clean, full UK manual driving licence.

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

• Core Behaviour 1: Leadership (CSBC 3)
• Core Behaviour 2: Communicating and Influencing (CSBC 3)
• Technical Competence 1: Technical Requirements, Evaluation & Acceptance (Supervised Practitioner)
• Technical Competence 2: Project / Programme Initiation (Supervised Practitioner)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,800, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,660 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.

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.

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.

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