Job description for Technical Engineer

Working for the Principal Naval Overseers (PNO) you will join a team of predominantly 50 engineers, who provide independent assurance to their project team clients (Dreadnought Alliance and Submarine Production – Astute Class), ensuring that submarine build activities meet the necessary requirements of the contract.

PNO undertake risk based surveillance of vessels during build and provide waterfront and build support and advice to delivery teams. The team ensure correct standards are maintained by promoting the Governance, Assurance and Improvement (GAI) of acquisition, engineering and logistics support activities.

We are keen to speak to and support those candidates that are motivated and driven to progress their careers, with support to upskill and develop their knowledge of the systems, and the build and commissioning, of Nuclear Submarines.

PNO have a number of Overseer roles with specialisms including: Nuclear Propulsion, Submarine Systems, Weapons Engineering and Shipbuilding. When looking at the best team fit for you, we will take into consideration your skills, career goals, interests, and engineering specialism.

As an overseer, you will be expected to advise on technical problem solving and conduct Assurance and Acceptance surveillance activities across the Submarine Build within your discipline ensuring compliance with build standards and contract adherence. You will be involved in a variety of high profile and technically complex submarine defence programmes, making these roles both exciting and challenging.

As a motivated and forward-thinking self-starter, you will engage with people confidently, working with a high degree of autonomy, and be as comfortable operating independently as you are working within a team in a project environment.

Please be aware that there is a requirement to be able to climb ladders as you need to access the boats to be able to fulfil your role; in addition, due to the nature of these roles, you will be required to be on site full-time.

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

• Supporting the Equipment System Owner representative to provide approval, evaluation and acceptance of documentation pertaining to the manufacture, testing and commissioning of a variety of submarine systems
• Conducting and managing the delivery of surveillance in support of risk management, supplier oversight/assurance, verification, validation and acceptance for submarine build programmes
• Undertaking verification and validation of the Submarine Design and Build against the contracted requirements
• Develop Surveillance Plans and undertake build surveillance to gather independent assurance over product build quality and contractual conformance – ladder access will be required in the majority of areas when undertaking surveillance onboard submarines
• Providing advice and guidance to delivery teams concerning technical and supplier risk

Person specification

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

• Professionally Registered status or has demonstrated equivalent knowledge, skills and experience to meet registration criteria
• Experience of providing technical advice and delivery of successful engineering outcomes
• Technical experienced in your discipline or specialist area in a variety of contexts

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
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Bigger Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,100, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,747.87 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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Offering at a lower level

If you’re not successful at interview, we may offer you a role at a lower level if this is a match for your skills and experience. If this applies to your application, you’ll be scored against criteria for the lower-level role and offers will be made in merit order. If you accept this position, you’ll be able to take advantage of opportunities to develop your career as part of our team.