Job description for Systems Engineer

As a Systems Engineer, you will support Delivery Teams by offering expert advice and guidance across a wide range of specialisms. These include requirements engineering, standardisation management, and system architecture. You’ll also be involved in performance analysis and design, technical evaluation, verification and validation, as well as testing and evaluation. Your role will extend to overseeing systems integration activities across various environmental and technological domains.

DE&S is a dynamic, forward-looking organisation at the forefront of defence innovation where every day brings new challenges and opportunities. As a Systems Engineer, you’ll contribute to some of the UK’s most high-profile and technologically advanced programmes. Examples of this include the Voyager, Future Capability Innovation, Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear (CBRN), Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Protector Remotely Piloted Air Systems, Autonomous Systems, Submarines, Tactical Data Links, Guided Weapons, Challenger 2 LEP, Skynet, Air Defence Systems, and Land based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance.

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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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

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 and business need. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

What you’ll be doing

• Requirements – Scope systems engineering tasks based upon the risk and complexity of the system and acquisition approach. Form accurate costed proposals for tasks, negotiate and gain approval for resource commitment and deliver high quality products to stringent levels of time, cost, and quality.
• Technical Data – Responsible for evaluating the problem space, collecting, and analysing data and delivering problem resolution. Supports the implementation of recommendations to deliver the benefits predicted.
• Risk – Identifies and analyses technical hazards /project impacts then contributes to the identification and evaluation of risk reduction measures, ensuring that these are adequately documented and managed.
• Stakeholder Management – Provide expert advice and support to clients and other stakeholders, helping them to understand and correctly frame their requirement. Develop and select appropriate tools, processes or methods in unclear situations based on experience and expertise. Identify opportunities to implement best practice.
• Assurance – Manage and participate in assurance, audit, and reviews activity.
• Technical Discipline – Provide technical leadership and expert guidance to clients and other stakeholders to enhance the capability and effectiveness of the deliverable. Ensure that the proposed solutions are properly understood and appropriately exploited.

Person specification

• Have wide ranging depth and breadth experience of providing technical advice and delivery of successful Systems Engineering outcomes
• Demonstrate experience of providing technical advice and leading the delivery of successful Systems Engineering outcomes
• As a minimum be professionally registered as either IEng (or alternative) or equivalent experience. Expectation that IEng (or alternative) will be achieved within 12 months of joining permanently.

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: Communicating and Influencing – CSBC 3
• Technical Competence 1: ECF_01 Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking – Practitioner
• Technical Competence 2: ECF_03 Supportable Technical Solutions – Practitioner

 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