Job description for Safety Engineer

Are you are fascinated by cutting edge technology and excited by the opportunity to work first hand with on military platforms and programmes? If so, the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) require a Safety Engineer to join the Astute Delivery Team (ADT) at MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol. This is an important and rewarding role that would be well suited to a Safety Engineer or a Safety Professional with comprehensive knowledge, understanding and experience using a range of safety tools and techniques.

The Safety Manager is a crucial member of ADT’s platform engineering team, responsible for making key engineering and safety decisions for Astute Class submarines during their building and commissioning phases. This role includes involvement in sea trials and analysis before the submarines are handed over to operational authorities. As the Safety Manager, you will own, maintain, and improve ADT’s safety engineering and management systems to ensure the platforms are approved for key events such as Launch and Exit from Barrow. You will work closely with in-service counterparts to ensure the robustness of safety and environmental arguments.

This post may be eligible for the NSQEP Recruitment Retention Allowance of up to £4000 per annum. This allowance is discretionary and will be dependent on a candidate’s ability to successfully demonstrate the necessary competency, qualifications, and experience to an independent panel of Subject Matter Experts.

You may have the opportunity to travel to various UK locations, including shipyards, dockyards, suppliers’ sites, and submarines. You may also be involved in trials, international engagement, and collaboration as part of your role.

The SDA encourages personal development in a fair and ethical environment. As a responsible employer operating in a niche area, the SDA can offer unrivalled opportunities for promotion as well as specialist technical training to support your career in engineering. Our projects span the whole submarine life cycle, from concept design through to build and in-service support. As a result, our projects can last decades, meaning we offer exceptional job stability alongside career 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. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

Nationality, visas and vetting: For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

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

• Working with colleagues at all levels to ensure compliance with relevant UK legislation and regulations, SDA and MOD policy and regulations
• Providing specialist advice on the application of safety management systems
• Leading the production and contributing to safety management plans and arrangements
• Leading and supporting the development and management of safety cases
• Contributing to the development and maintenance of policy and process to satisfy the SDA corporate standards for safety management and regulations
• Providing safety management leadership to the SDA and supporting a diverse grouping of internal and external stakeholders, with possible line management responsibilities
• Supporting safety assurance activities within the Astute Delivery team

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 a relevant engineering discipline, or have equivalent relevant experience
• Have experience of providing safety advice and/or delivery of safety products or services in an engineering environment
• Chartered or Incorporated Engineer (or equivalent) status, or the ability to obtain within 9 months of appointment
• Have experience in the use of safety management tools and processes

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

• Compliance with Policy – Practitioner
• Adoption of safety risk management – 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 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

• 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.