UK Ministry of Defence
Defence Electromagnetic Authority (DEMA) Principal Engineer
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
The successful candidate will be based at Blandford Camp (DT11 8RH) for much of the working week, with duty station flexibility outside of this time.
Job Summary
Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) generates and operates specialist capabilities, ready to fight across all domains to make the UK secure at home and strong abroad. Always on, we are across every UK operation, delivering the capabilities you don’t usually see - or those you can’t. From cyber warriors and medics to intelligence analysts, special forces, educators, and Defence attachés, our collective expertise delivers the warfighting edge Defence needs to deter threats and secure the nation today, and prepare for tomorrow. CSOC unites Defence’s cyber and specialist capabilities under a single, military command alongside the Royal Navy, British Army, and the Royal Air Force - acting as the UK’s fourth Military Command.
The newly established Defence Cyber and Electromagnetic Force is seeking an exceptional Principal Engineer to lead the Defence Electromagnetic Authority (DEMA). This is a rare opportunity to shape a critical Defence function at the forefront of cyber and electromagnetic operations, ensuring the UK Armed Forces retain assured access to the electromagnetic spectrum across training, operations, and future capability development. As Head of DEMA, you will provide engineering leadership across Defence's electromagnetic activities, influencing policy, capability development, operational delivery and spectrum management at strategic levels. You will work closely with senior Defence leaders, government departments, regulators, NATO partners and international allies to ensure Defence remains effective in an increasingly contested electromagnetic environment.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job Description
Are you an experienced engineering leader with a passion for delivering operational advantage through the effective management and protection of the electromagnetic spectrum? Do you thrive in complex environments, leading organisational change while developing high-performing teams? If so, this role offers an exceptional opportunity to influence Defence capability and operational effectiveness at a national and international level. You will:
- Provide strategic leadership to a multidisciplinary civilian and military workforce, delivering engineering excellence across complex Cyber-Electromagnetic (CyEM) and multi-domain challenges.
- Act as Defence's senior engineering authority for electromagnetic management and protection services, shaping capability acquisition and enabling operational success.
- Contribute to the development and evolution of CyEM concepts, doctrine, and associated strategies.
- Identify risks, opportunities, and emerging trends within the CyEM environment, ensuring informed decision-making and effective delivery.
- Build and sustain influential relationships with senior leaders across Defence, government, industry, NATO and allied partners.
- Drive innovation, continuous improvement and organisational transformation to enhance capability, productivity and operational effectiveness.
- Create an inclusive, high-performing culture that empowers people, develops talent and encourages constructive challenge.
- Support organisational change and adapt effectively to evolving priorities and operational requirements.
Role
Are you an experienced engineering leader with a passion for delivering operational advantage through the effective management and protection of the electromagnetic spectrum? Do you thrive in complex environments, leading organisational change while developing high-performing teams? If so, this role offers an exceptional opportunity to influence Defence capability and operational effectiveness at a national and international level. You will:
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
- Provide strategic leadership to a multidisciplinary civilian and military workforce, delivering engineering excellence across complex Cyber-Electromagnetic (CyEM) and multi-domain challenges.
- Act as Defence's senior engineering authority for electromagnetic management and protection services, shaping capability acquisition and enabling operational success.
- Contribute to the development and evolution of CyEM concepts, doctrine, and associated strategies.
- Identify risks, opportunities, and emerging trends within the CyEM environment, ensuring informed decision-making and effective delivery.
- Build and sustain influential relationships with senior leaders across Defence, government, industry, NATO and allied partners.
- Drive innovation, continuous improvement and organisational transformation to enhance capability, productivity and operational effectiveness.
- Create an inclusive, high-performing culture that empowers people, develops talent and encourages constructive challenge.
- Support organisational change and adapt effectively to evolving priorities and operational requirements.
Person specification
Technical And Professional Experience
- A proven engineering leader with experience delivering outcomes in complex, multi-domain environments.
- Deep expertise in electromagnetic spectrum management and protection.
- Strong understanding of the operational and strategic application of electromagnetic capabilities.
- Authoritative knowledge of the CyEM domain.
- A track record of influencing CyEM concepts, doctrine, policy, strategy or capability development.
Qualifications
- A Level 6 qualification in Science or Engineering.
Memberships
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) is essential; working towards may be considered by exception.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Leadership
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- GSE - Developing science and engineering capability at Leader (L4)
- GSE - Broad thinking at Leader (L4)
- GSE - Technical oversight and management at Leader (L4)
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £72,840, Ministry of Defence contributes £21,101 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
- A market skills allowance of up to £9k per annum may be applicable, paid in increments upon reaching agreed criteria.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
At sift, you will be assessed against the following Experience:
- CV. A CV outlining your job history, full qualification details and previous skills and experience.
- Personal Statement. A Personal Statement (maximum 1250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience that meets the Person specification.
Applications will be sifted against the Technical and Professional Experience and Qualifications through your CV and Personal Statement.
At Interview, You Will Be Assessed Against The Following
Behaviour
Leadership
Presentation
Deliver a (10min) presentation on a subject that will be confirmed in the invite to interview.
Technical Skills
- GSE - Developing science and engineering capability at Leader (L4)
- GSE - Technical oversight and management at Leader (L4)
- GSE - Broad thinking at Leader (L4)
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand,
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills