Defence Equipment and Support
Naval Overseers - Power and Propulsion Lead
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Organisation: Defence Equipment & Support
Salary: £46,400 Grade: Professional II Working Pattern: Full time, Job Share, Flexible Working Contract Type: Permanent
Job Summary
At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.
DE&S has recently been integrated into the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. The NAD Group brings together key Ministry of Defence (MOD) organisations to unite expertise across science, technology, procurement, infrastructure, and support to provide integrated capabilities faster and more efficiently for our armed forces and our allies. This is an exciting new opportunity to enable better ways of working and empower greater collaboration across Defence. For further information about the NAD Group, please visit: National Armaments Director Group - GOV.UK
We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work work for you.
This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels]. 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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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.
Job description
This is your opportunity to join a flagship defence programme and be at the forefront of delivering the backbone of the Royal Navy’s future frontline surface fleet.
As a Naval Overseer working alongside industry partners in a dynamic shipyard environment, you will provide on-site technical oversight and assurance across naval vessel construction and trials, ensuring contractors meet contractual, quality, and performance requirements. Providing a visible National Armaments Director Group presence, you will cultivate a strong and collaborative working relationships with our industry partners working together to drive improvement in shipbuilding performance whilst maintaining independent assurance. As the local technical authority, you will identify and address defects or quality issues at the earliest opportunity, maintain continuous oversight of shipbuilding and maintenance activities and be empowered to make decisions on a local level to support programme delivery. You will play a key role in managing delivery and indemnity risks, ensuring due diligence is applied throughout the build and support lifecycle, while also contributing technical expertise to testing, acceptance, and assurance activities to support the successful delivery of naval capability. The role offers the opportunity to participate in sea trials, spending time at sea and seeing first-hand how your work contributes to operational capability.
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The Type 26 frigate is a strategically important acquisition programme, contributing to the UK's defence prosperity agenda and strengthening international collaboration. This role offers excellent development opportunities for professional growth and to build experience supporting long-term career progression. The role will provide exposure to the broadening of engineering expertise, establishing productive stakeholder relationships, fostering the communication, and influencing skills required to operate effectively across Government and industry, and strengthening leadership capability.
If you enjoy tackling complex engineering challenges, finding practical solutions and thrive in a hands-on environment this is an exceptional opportunity to make a tangible contribution to the future capability of the Royal Navy. Join a programme that will leave a lasting legacy for UK Defence.
Working environment
This role is based within operational shipbuilding facilities and requires regular attendance aboard vessels under construction and trials. Successful candidates must be able to safely access all areas of a ship, including climbing ladders, negotiating narrow access routes, entering confined spaces, and working around scaffolding and temporary structures. Whilst the role is not primarily physically demanding, it requires a suitable level of mobility, agility, and resilience to safely undertake inspection, assurance, and oversight activities within an industrial maritime environment.
This is an on-site position based at the BAE Systems facility on South Street, Scotstoun, Glasgow, G14. The role offers a compressed working pattern of 8-hour days Monday to Thursday and a shortened day on Friday (37 hours/week), and there will be opportunities to support occasional night and weekend working.
What you'll be doing
- Lead professional engineering oversight of ship construction and trials within the assigned technical area, acting as a senior MOD/National Armaments Director Group representative in the shipyard and helping to ensure delivery to the required contractual, technical, and quality standards.
- Coordinate and direct on-site assurance and inspection activity, ensuring defects, quality shortfalls and emerging issues are identified early, prioritised appropriately, and progressed with the shipbuilder and MOD project team.
- Provide leadership in the application of engineering judgement, supporting local decision-making, making clear recommendations, and escalating issues where needed to maintain delivery tempo while managing risk effectively.
- Lead or support key acceptance and assurance activities, including inspections, tests, trials, and readiness events, ensuring the required evidence is available to demonstrate compliance with agreed requirements.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with industry partners, ship’s staff, and MOD stakeholders, using influence and clear communication to align priorities, manage delivery risks and support continuous improvement.
- Set a positive example for safe, compliant, and professional working in shipyard and trials environments, supporting the management of safety, environmental and indemnity risks and helping others understand their responsibilities.
Person specification
To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:
- Lead criterion: Can demonstrate previous experience in:
- Delivery of maritime projects; or
- Ship or offshore oil/gas structures construction; or
- Ship or offshore oil/gas structures maintenance / refit / upgrade; or
- Ship or offshore oil/gas structures operation.
- Can demonstrate experience of providing technical advice and leading the delivery of successful Mechanical outcomes.
- As a minimum hold Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Incorporated Marine Engineer (IMarEng) registration, or an equivalent professional registration recognised by a licensed Professional Engineering Institution. Candidates who can demonstrate equivalent professional competence may be appointed, subject to achieving IEng (or an approved equivalent) by 31 December 2027. Overseas registrations are acceptable where they are recognised under the International Professional Engineers Agreement/Accord.
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Please see the Professional Engineering Institution Equivalences [https://des.mod.uk/media/zqse2sex/nad-group-professional-engineering-institution-equivalences.pdf] for a list of approved equivalent professional registration as per the requirements listed above.
Applicants should also consider their ability to work effectively and comfortably within an operational shipbuilding working environment.
In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:
- Core Behaviour 1: Making Effective Decisions (CSBC3)
- Core Behaviour 2: Leadership (CSBC3)
- Technical Competence 1: ECF 1.3 - Setting Technical Requirements, Evaluation and Acceptance (Practitioner)
- Technical Competence 2: ECF 3.4 - Technical Decision Making (Practitioner)
Offered benefits
- 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
- Volunteering days
- Huge range of discounts
- 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 [https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-principles/]
- 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 [https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/the-code/]
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.
Disability Confident:
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
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