Mechanical Engineer PII

Organisation: Defence Equipment & Support  

Salary: £46,200 per annum (plus generous benefits) 

Grade: PII 

Working Pattern: Full time, Part time, Job Share, Flexible Working 

Contract Type: Permanent 

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. 

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. 

Nationality, visas and vetting: 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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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. 

Job Description

Are you ready to take your engineering expertise to the next level and work on projects that make a real difference? We’re seeking talented and driven Mechanical and Marine Engineers to join our dynamic team, where you’ll play a pivotal role in developing cutting-edge military capabilities that safeguard national security. This is your chance to harness your expertise in engineering fundamentals such as; structures, dynamics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, tribology, and materials science—to tackle complex challenges and drive innovation at the forefront of defence technology. 

In these exciting roles, you’ll provide expert advice and guidance to both internal teams and industry partners, influencing the design and delivery and the provision of innovative solutions to complex Engineering challenges. With opportunities to work across a diverse range of groundbreaking platforms and programmes, you’ll have the flexibility to specialise in your area of expertise or thrive as a versatile generalist. You’ll also gain valuable leadership and management experience, with the potential for international travel to collaborate with strategic partners on a global scale. 

The successful candidates will bring a wide-ranging depth and breadth of experience in providing technical advice and delivering successful Mechanical or Marine outcomes. Your expertise will be instrumental in ensuring the development and implementation of robust, innovative, and effective engineering solutions that meet the highest standards of performance and reliability. 

If you’re ready to bring your expertise, creativity, and motivation to the forefront of defence innovation, we want to hear from you. Join us and help shape the future! 

We champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person 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. 

What you’ll be doing 

• Requirements - Own the generation of technical requirements, defining technical deliverables/ artifacts and updating other documentation for systems, including the considerations to in-service support and associated costs.
• Risk - Identifies and analyses technical hazards/ project impacts then contributes to the identification and evaluation of risk reduction measures, ensuring that these are adequately documented and managed.
• Design - Manage the design of a system, component or process that meets the customer requirement within realistic constraints of time, cost, and performance.
• Stakeholder Management - Collaborate and manage trade-offs with other sub-system teams and specialists, over technical requirements, and design compromises, to maximise successful system implementation and delivery.
• Support - Manage the support and modification to an operational system.
• Personal Development - Own your career progression and professionalisation. This includes engaging with your People Coach, maintaining membership and registration level, with a relevant Professional body, updating MyHR Career Development/Development Plan, conducting relevant learning and development in timely fashion, and keeping current with modern engineering technologies.
• Person specification 
• To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria: 
• Lead Essential Criteria #: Hold a Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Mathematics based qualification at RQF Level 4
• Essential Criteria #2: With a relevant Professional body/institution related to your discipline, be professionally registered as either:
• Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or   
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) or 
• Incorporated Marine Engineer (IMarEng)  

Note: Alternatives to RQF listed above (which cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland only), is the  Scottish SCQF or international equivalent qualification backed up by a statement of comparability from UK ENIC  

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview: 

- Core Behaviour 1: Leadership CSBC3 

• Core Behaviour 2: Making Effective Decisions CSBC 3
• Technical Competence 1: ECF_01 Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking Practitioner – Subsection Engineering Management Planning
• Technical Competence 2: ECF_03 Supportable Technical Solutions Practitioner – Subsection – Technical Decision Making

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 
• 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. 

#Li-Hybrid

Further Information

• Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles - Civil Service Commission  
• 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  

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 require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.’ 

Conflicts Of Interest:

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment. 

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. 

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed behaviours and competencies below:   

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1  
• 2nd: Core Behaviour 2  
• 3rd: Technical Competencies  
• 4th: CV Review  

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise the Lead criterion, and/or and additional assessment.   

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.  

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: DESHR-WSC-PMOCOMPLAINTS@mod.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints - Civil Service Commission 

Join an integral part of the UK's Defence and play your part in the procurement and in-service support of all our armed forces’ equipment, from fighter jets, armoured vehicles and aircraft carriers, to clothing, food, and ammunition. If you have the pride, passion and commitment to be part of an exciting organisation at the forefront of supporting our country's armed forces to deliver on operations at home and abroad, then apply online now!