UK Ministry of Defence
SDA Nuclear Propulsion Sensors Technical Lead
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MOD Abbey Wood, Filton, Bristol, BS34 8JH
Job Summary
The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) is a part of the Ministry of Defence responsible for the procurement, in-service support, and disposal of the UK’s nuclear submarines. Our work is of unparalleled strategic importance nationally and internationally, ensuring the security of the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent (CASD), and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence. At least one of four nuclear-armed submarines, supported by smaller attack submarines, is on patrol at all times: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
At the SDA, we strive to Support, Deliver and Aspire and put our values at the heart of our recruitment process. We believe that everyone should feel comfortable to be themselves and be supported to do their best work. As part of a diverse and inclusive workforce, our team will find a community to belong to. We believe that, by celebrating different backgrounds and different perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
The primary delivery location for this position is Bristol Abbey Wood.
Please note, due to the level of security, this role is reserved for UK nationals only.
Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this post but will need regular workplace attendance due to security constraints. Candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before submitting an application.
This post attracts the NSQEP recruitment retention allowance of up to £14,000 per annum. This allowance is discretionary and is dependent on a candidate's ability to successfully demonstrate and evidence their competence, qualifications, and experience to an independent panel of Subject Matter Experts.
Job Description
Within the SDA, the Nuclear Propulsion team is responsible for the provision of capable, available, and safe nuclear reactors which power Royal Navy submarines.
In this role, you will be responsible for the sensors used within Royal Navy submarine nuclear reactors. This includes submarines which are in design, build, and in-service. This involves working closely with our suppliers, other teams within SDA responsible for the wider submarine, and the Royal Navy.
As the Sensors Technical Lead, you will approve the design and key documentation for the sensors used within nuclear reactors on submarines. You will also lead on the resolution of emergent issues during design, build, and in-service, including design change, obsolescence resolution, and approving concessions.
Support will be provided to develop your competence within nuclear, submarines, and safety through formal training and on-the-job learning. When you have demonstrated you are fully competent in the role, you will be given a delegation, which will give you a significant level of responsibility and authority to approve documentation, design change, and concessions across submarine classes.
This post is on the MOD Civilian Nuclear Post Control List (PCL) and may attract the Nuclear Recruitment and Retention Allowance (RRA). This is a discretionary allowance. The post being listed on the PCL does not mean that the post holder will have an automatic entitlement to receive the RRA. The Nuclear Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel (NSQEP) RRA is not a contractual allowance and can be amended or withdrawn without notice in line with MOD Main and Submarine Delivery Agency policy.
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As the post holder will have access to very sensitive information, there are limitations on travelling to a small number of countries, and we will undertake additional security checks as part of the recruitment process. Applications from candidates with close connections to certain countries may take considerably longer to process, or in some cases result in a withdrawal of an offer of employment. Further details will be provided at the conditional offer stage.
If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by the SDA Recruitment Team. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria:
- IEng, CEng, or equivalent relevant professional registration or ability to obtain within twelve months in post.
- Relevant Level 4 (or higher) qualification (e.g., HNC) or equivalent experience.
- Extensive experience working with safety critical sensors in a highly regulated industry, including (but not limited to) nuclear, maritime, aerospace, oil and gas, and rail.
- You will need to understand technical risks to make sound engineering decisions based on available information and to ensure that the impact of your decisions is proportionate.
- You will need to be able to work closely with others, forming collaborative relationships with others within the team and across the wider enterprise to successfully deliver your responsibilities. This will include presenting complex technical information to other engineers and an ability to communicate relevant information to colleagues in other professions.
- Wide-ranging depth and breadth of technical experience working with safety critical sensors.
- Experience of providing technical advice and leading the delivery of successful engineering outcomes.
- This role has additional security restrictions. You must meet these requirements in order for your application to be successful.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Changing and Improving
- Leadership
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
Technical Skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- EFCF 3 Technical Requirements, Evaluation & Acceptance (Practitioner)
- EFCF 4 Technical Decision Making (Practitioner)
- EFCF 5 Technical Risk Management (Practitioner)
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:
- EFCF 4 Technical Decision Making (Practitioner)
- EFCF 5 Technical Risk Management (Practitioner)
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £47,600, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,789 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides here.
- 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%
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.
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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:
- Personal Statement - This should be a maximum of 1000 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills, experience, job history, and qualifications meet the essential and desirable requirements for the role.
Behaviours:
- Communicating and Influencing - CSBC3
- Leadership - CSBC3
Technical Competencies:
- EFCF 4 Technical Decision Making - Practitioner
- EFCF 5 Technical Risk Management - Practitioner
At Interview, you will be assessed against the following:
Experience:
- Personal Statement/Experience - The panel will ask questions about your personal statement. Exploring your past experiences, key achievements, or qualifications.
Behaviours:
- Changing and Improving - CSBC3
- Leadership - CSBC3
Technical Competencies:
- EFCF 3 Technical Requirements, Evaluation & Acceptance - Practitioner
- EFCF 4 Technical Decision Making - Practitioner
- EFCF 5 Technical Risk Management - Practitioner
Please refer to the Civil Service Behaviours here and the Technical Skills Framework and Success Profile documents attached.
Interviews will be conducted over Microsoft Teams.
The sift will be completed within 10 working days of the vacancy closing date. Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.
Requests to work flexibly and/or part-time will be considered, taking into account business needs. Please note the salary will be pro-rata where part-time hours are undertaken.
All employees joining Ministry of Defence who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period (unless otherwise advised) effective from the employment start date.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
The post does NOT offer relocation expenses (move of home, excess fares or temporary transfer). Non-Standard move applicants will be eligible for the full package, subject to eligibility.
This vacancy is part of the A Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. Making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for Veterans - GOV.UK
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
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