Job description for Submarine Structures Engineer

Are you inspired by advanced, complex, and high-volume engineering programmes? Do you aspire to work on some of the world’s largest and most intricate engineering projects? If so, we are seeking a Submarine Structures Engineer to help deliver safe, capable, and available submarines for operation by the Royal Navy and other vital services.

If you have a desire to learn, make a difference, and begin a long and varied career, you could be deployed to deliver within our busy and dynamic In-Service Submarines (ISM) team. ISM are tasked with the design intent of structural elements on in-service submarines, ensuring their structural integrity and operational readiness.

As our Submarine Structural Engineer, you will be responsible for setting design authority requirements for surveys, repairs, and concessions within the remit of structural strength and secondary structural areas. You will also review design changes for their impact on structural strength, advising on any concerns or design challenges related to secondary structures. This rewarding role involves managing design changes, deviations from design intent, and maintaining the hull surveillance requirements policy all while fostering effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders across the organisation.

This post may be eligible for the NSQEP Recruitment Retention Allowance of up to £4,000 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.

Please note that you will be required to travel between the Clyde and Devonport shipyards, as well as occasional visits to supplier premises.

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 will 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

• Manage submarine structures technical requirements (definition, architecture, integration, contract assessment and change management)
• Responsible for the development and maintenance of system requirements including in-service support
• Provide specialist advice on submarine structures
• Determine quality management and assurance approaches and ensure technical risks are understood and managed
• Participate in identification, selection, evaluation, performance verification and demonstrations in submarine structures

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 submarine structures advice and delivery of successful engineering outcomes
• Have Experience of delivering in an in-service environment OR experience of working at pace with competing priorities

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

• Technical Decision Making -Supervised Practitioner
• Technical Risk Management -Supervised Practitioner
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,600, Ministry of Defence contributes £11,472 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.