ROV Pilot Technician

Job description

Why join Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO)?

SALMO is the MOD’s centre of excellence for marine salvage and emergency response. Our multidisciplinary team, ranging from Master Mariners and Naval Architects to Environmental Scientists and Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV) / Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) Operators, delivers critical support to UK Defence operations around the globe. Whether it's locating downed aircraft on the seabed, surveying wrecks, towing warships, or conducting emergency response drills, our work is as varied as it is vital.

What makes this role different?

• Work on unique, non-commercial subsea operations that directly support UK Defence.
• Operate and manage state of the art AUV and ROV systems.
• A balanced role combining operational deployments (approx. 10–12 weeks per year) with shore based technical outputs.
• Be part of a highly respected, multidisciplinary team renowned for technical excellence.
• Long-term career stability, exceptional pension, and structured development.

‘Every day is different and I’ve had the opportunity to be part of some exciting projects: Bell from famous US destroyer sunk off Scillies returned to its owners [https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2024/february/13/20240213-bell-from-famous-us-destroyer-sunk-off-scillies-returned-to-its-owners]’

What will your job include?

As a Pilot Technician within SALMO Seabed Operations (SBO), you will join a dynamic and enthusiastic team to deliver a discrete capability within SALMO using cutting edge commercial ROV technology to provide deep water salvage outputs in support of SALMO and wider MOD objectives. You will be responsible for ROV operations, mobilising, operating and maintaining SALMO work class ROV systems both offshore and onshore.

The role offers a good work life balance, only deploying at sea for a maximum of 120 days per year with the remaining time taken against leave, training and office-based activity at HMNB Devonport.

We champion flexible ways of working. Whilst onshore, regular in-person on site attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 60% of your working week) 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.

The role is operationally critical and comes with additional allowances under SALMO Terms and Conditions, [https://bit.ly/SALMO-Terms-and-Conditions] reflecting the importance and intensity of the work you’ll be doing.

For clarity, the SALMO RG allowances you’ll be eligible for:

• Contactable Allowance £3,191.00 pa
• Sponsored Reserve Annual Bounty:
  • Year 1: £583.00
  • Year 2: £1,290.00
  • Year 3 & 4: £1,992.00
  • Year 5: £2,308.00

For deployed periods disturbance allowance applies:

• Week day - £94 per day.
• Weekend - £158 Per day

Sea-going-leave (SGL) is accrued at a rate of 4 Leave Days for each 7 days embarked (additional to your Annual Leave Entitlement)

What you’ll be doing

• Deploy, operate and maintain SALMO’s work-class ROV systems across onshore preparation, mobilisation, offshore operations and post-task recovery.
• Deliver safe and effective subsea operations, ensuring ROV systems are ready, compliant and available to support investigations, inspections and underwater interventions.
• Apply technical judgement in live operational environments, supporting problem-solving, fault diagnosis and risk-based decision making during ROV tasks.
• Maintain operational readiness of specialist ROV equipment, including planned maintenance, testing, configuration control and accurate technical records.
• Support mobilisation and demobilisation activity, ensuring equipment, spares, documentation and operating procedures are prepared for deployment.
• Operate in line with industry best practice, safety requirements and applicable regulations, helping to maintain SALMO’s professional standards and technical assurance.
• Act as Senior Pilot Technician or shift supervisor when required, providing direction to team members and supporting effective delivery during operations.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of the ROV capability, identifying lessons, process improvements and equipment enhancements following operational activity.

Person specification

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

• Lead Criterion – Have experience of providing technical advice and leading the delivery of successful engineering outcomes in small scale task and projects; and
• Have a wide-ranging and relevant technical experience in subsea activities or marine operations; and Experience of managing marine operations with evidence of technical problem-solving and risk management.

AND

• Hold (as minimum)
  • IMCA accredited certification as an advanced ROV Pilot/Technician Grade I or a recognised company equivalent, with at least 180 days of documented offshore experience and a minimum of 100 hours operating an ROV at Grade II level. All experience must be verifiable through a logbook.

AND

• Be a Sole UK National
• Full UK Driving Licence
• Be able to satisfy requirements