Job description for Sensors and Control Engineer

Are you ready to apply your control engineering expertise to some of the world’s most advanced platforms? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) as a Sensors and Control Engineer, based at Abbey Wood in Bristol.

As part of the SDA In-Service Submarines team, the platform chief engineer is tasked with ensuring the Royal Navy’s submarines, including the Trafalgar, Vanguard, and Astute classes, are safe to operate. In this role, you will be responsible for the steering and diving electrical control systems on the Astute class submarines. Leading a team of engineers specialising in software, control, and indication disciplines, you will work with cutting-edge technology and collaborate with various industry and Royal Navy stakeholders to support the UK’s national security interests.

This unique position offers the rare chance to engage directly with the control and instrumentation systems of in-service submarines. Additionally, you will oversee the engineering inputs for a defence project valued at over £20 million.

At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required (this is expected to be a minimum of 40%) 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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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

• Provide engineering assessments and reviews of major software and hardware design changes
• Manage a range of stakeholders to deliver a safe, reliable steering and diving duty control system to the Royal Navy
• Manage a team of engineers
• Develop and comply with technical and safety governance processes
• Responsible for development, testing and installation of steering and diving system design changes
• Engage with stakeholders to prepare for Dreadnought active vehicle control transition into service
• Working with stakeholders to ensure appropriate through life support of duty control systems

Person specification

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

• Hold a Relevant Level 6 (or higher) qualification or equivalent experience
• Experience working with air worthiness, software assurance or integration of complex computer networks
• You will have experience working with control and instrumentation systems, software and submarine control, or aircraft fly-by-wire systems
• You will have experience working on large defence projects

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

• Technical Requirements, Evaluation and Acceptance – Expert
• Technical Decision Making – Expert
• Communicating and influencing
• Changing and improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £60,300, Ministry of Defence contributes £17,468 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.