Job description for Mechanical Engineer – Aircraft Arrestor Systems and Crash Recovery Equipment

Are you a Mechanical Engineer seeking your next role in a rewarding career? Apply now to join us at Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S).

You will be the Engineering Authority for Aircraft Arrestor Systems and Aircraft Crash Recovery Equipment across Defence. You’ll provide specialist engineering support, ensure ongoing airworthiness, deliver safety management outputs, and lead the technical governance of an ageing but critical equipment portfolio. You will identify equipment issues, manage safety reporting, develop technical documentation, and support wider team capability through mentoring and engineering process knowledge.

You’ll work within Core, our largest area, which focusses on the acquisition and support equipment systems and within the Air Environment.

We operate within a matrix-managed organisation. As a Mechanical Engineer, you’ll be part of a dedicated Engineering Skills Group that aligns with your technical expertise. You’ll collaborate with fellow engineers in the Mechanical Engineering discipline, as well as professionals from other technical backgrounds. Together, you’ll contribute across various phases of the acquisition lifecycle and engage with different support and enabling entities.

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. You may be expected to travel to operational bases and/or manufacturers premises.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading engineering support for Aircraft Arrestor Systems and Aircraft Crash Recovery Equipment, ensuring compliance with regulation and wider DE&S engineering policy.
• Producing, reviewing, and publishing Safety Assessment Reports for all equipment types within the portfolio, ensuring 5 yearly updates.
• Reviewing, investigating, and responding to Occurrence Reports, liaising with unit maintenance teams to identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Assessing, and processing changes and improvements to technical publications, ensuring accuracy, legality, and continued compliance.
• Providing expert advice to front-line user organisations, contractors and internal DE&S stakeholders on equipment safety, performance, and maintenance issues.
• Collating evidence and leading Hazard Review Boards to assess and manage equipment risk.
• Applying systems safety knowledge to ensure safe operation, modification and through life management of equipment.
• Providing mentoring and guidance to team members on DE&S engineering processes and safety management.
• Building and maintaining effective working relationships with users, contractors and engineering partners, improving communication and collaborative problem solving.
• Supporting the continual improvement of technical data, engineering process adherence, and documentation standards.
• Contributing to long term equipment planning, capability sustainment, and risk reduction activities.

Person specification

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

• Lead Criterion – Experience of providing technical advice and delivery of successful Mechanical or Mechatronic outcomes.
• As a minimum hold either: A Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Mathematics based qualification at RQF Level 6;

OR

• A Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Mathematics based qualification at RQF Level 4, together with a current Engineering Technician (EngTech) professional registration (or higher level).

OR

• A Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Mathematics based qualification at RQF Level 3, plus extensive relevant professional experience, together with a current Engineering Technician (EngTech) professional registration (or higher level).

Note: Alternatives to RQF listed above (which cover England, Wales, and Northern Ireland only), are the Scottish SCQF; or an international equivalent qualification, which must be supported by a Statement of comparability from UK ENIC.

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: Changing and Improving – CSBC 3
• Technical Competence 1: ECF_02 – Safety Management – Awareness level
• Technical Competence 2: ECF_03 – Supportable Technical Solutions – Supervised Practitioner level

 Offered Benefits

• 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.’

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