Job description for Engineering Manager

Are you an experienced Engineer with a passion for submarine infrastructure? Do you want to work on some of the largest and most complex engineering programmes in the world? If so, we are looking for an Engineering Manager with experience in disciplines such as Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Naval Architecture and/or Marine Engineering to help with the delivery and upkeep of safe, reliable, and capable submarine assets, essential for global defence operations.

Joining our In-Service Submarine Nuclear Infrastructure team (ISM) means becoming part of the Submarine Support Management Programme (SSMP), dedicated to the comprehensive support and maintenance of Vanguard-Class and Astute-Class submarines. This team plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe establishment of facilities to support the submarine maintenance programme whilst managing their transition into operational use and overseeing the dismantling of decommissioned nuclear submarines.

As one of our Engineering Managers, you will be maintaining and upgrading submarine infrastructure, working with cutting-edge technology and ensuring the timely delivery of infrastructure projects to support the operational phase of new facilities. You will use your exceptional leadership and communication and influencing skills to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders, including project teams, surveyors and contractors, to identify maintenance methods and requirements whilst developing recommendations for a safe-to-operate strategy as part of the infrastructure planning.

You’ll benefit from job stability and the chance to work on high profile projects with the opportunity to travel to other UK sites, warships and dockyards. At the SDA, we are passionate about professional development and welcome applications from those that hold or are currently working towards their IEng/CEng qualification. If you have not yet had the opportunity to pursue this, we are keen to support you in your continued professional development.

At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance.

What you’ll be doing

In this role, you will lead the development of requirements and act as the Engineering Governance Lead for complex submarine maintenance programs, providing subject matter expert advice to the SDA and the nuclear team.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Acting as the intelligent customer for all engineering aspects in area of responsibility as defined in the assignment specification or objectives
• Managing the technical requirements of one or more projects, programmes, services or systems
• Leading on the development of requirements related to own area of specialism including acceptance plans, performance criteria and draft specifications
• Working with the industrial partner to determine, agree, and implement a through-life strategy for transitioning new facilities into the operational phase, including assuring technical requirements for annual maintenance contractual agreements
• Collaborating with the boat maintenance and infrastructure planning teams and the industrial partner, to understand the Plant Safety Case and infrastructure requirements, agree on scope, identify gaps, and escalate risks to the programme for resolution

Person specification

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

• Hold a relevant HNC (i.e. Level 4 or higher) qualification in Engineering or have equivalent relevant experience
• Have experience of interfacing with the industry as a client both in a scrutiny role and supporting the identification of risks
• Have experience of providing technical advice using wide ranging depth and breadth of technical expertise
• Have experience of directing repair activity and defining design intent of systems structures or components

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

• Improve Engineering Capability Supervised Practitioner
• Technical Requirements, Evaluation & Acceptance Practitioner
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,600, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,210 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 27%
• 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

• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/SDA-Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-SDA-Terms-and-Conditions

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. When two (or more) candidates are on equal interview scores, positions will be offered based on the scores assessed at interview, in this order – 1st) Technical competence, 2nd) CV Review, 3rd) Behaviour one, 4th) Behaviour two.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.