Job description for Naval Architect

Are you a naval architect looking to work on cutting-edge defence projects?

This is an exciting opportunity to join Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), where you will play a pivotal role in delivering critical capabilities for the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

You will be part of a dedicated team of engineers tackling unique technical challenges and introducing innovative methods and technologies to support naval operations. You will work within a specialist skills group and be assigned to high-profile projects based on organisational priorities and your development goals. These may involve ship acquisition or in service support, giving you exposure to a broad range of naval architecture assignments.

You will shape and support whole ship design and operation, ensuring ships and small craft are integrated, safe, and able to meet demanding performance requirements. You’ll apply your technical expertise across the acquisition lifecycle, managing risk, setting standards, and guiding both MOD teams and industry partners to deliver assured, compliant, and capable platforms.

Depending on your background, you may work in areas such as concept design, ship structures, hydrodynamics, stability, ship repair and construction, survivability, small craft design, maritime escape and evacuation, or emergency response and salvage. Across these domains, your leadership, communication, and influencing skills will be essential to building strong relationships, sharing critical information, and securing successful outcomes.

You may travel to sites across the UK and occasionally overseas, including visits to ships, shipyards, and dockyards.

We offer flexible working arrangements, with an expectation of at least three days a week on site to support collaboration and team cohesion. During your initial weeks, additional time on site may be required as you get to know the team and environment.

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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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

• Provide expert technical advice on ship structures, hydrostatics, and hydrodynamics, supporting design decisions and assurance processes.
• Identify and analyse complex technical hazards and project impacts, contribute to risk reduction measures, and ensure these are fully documented and understood.
• Apply legislation, policy, and standards to guarantee safety, security, environmental compliance, and interoperability across systems in a highly regulated environment.
• Produce and review technical documentation, models, layouts, and reports as part of assurance and acceptance activities.
• Collaborate closely with the Naval Authority and Technology Group (NATG) and Classification Societies to establish and maintain certification.
• Mentor and support the development of junior naval architects and entry-level talent.

Person specification

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

• Lead Essential Criteria (Lead criterion) – Demonstrable wide-ranging depth and breadth experience of providing technical advice and leading the delivery of successful Naval Architecture outcomes
• Hold a Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Mathematics based qualification at RQF Level 4
• Belong to a relevant Professional body/institution related to your discipline, be professionally registered as either:

Incorporated Engineer (IEng), or higher

or

Incorporated Marine Engineering (IMarEng), or higher

Note: Alternatives to RQF 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.

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

 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.

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• 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.

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