24 Oct
Defence Nuclear Enterprise
Great Britain
Are you an experienced naval architect looking to apply your expertise to major platform systems? If so, the Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) want to hear from you! We are looking for a lead naval architect to join our Submersible Ship Nuclear (SSN) AUKUS Team at MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol.
The defence partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS), will see the first generation of AUKUS nuclear submarines built in the UK equipped for intelligence, surveillance, undersea warfare and strike missions. The aim is to successfully develop and demonstrate a range of underwater capabilities that are crucial to ensuring safety and security in the region and more broadly.
You will be at the forefront of submarine safety and engineering outcomes. Supporting the deputy chief engineer, youll make critical, evidence-based decisions that shape the future of our platform designs. Your blend of technical problem-solving and management skills will be key in providing technical advice to senior staff and stakeholders.
Youll benefit with the chance to work on high profile projects with the opportunity to travel to other submarine establishments across the UK and overseas on occasion.
At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required (this is expected to be a minimum of 40%) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.
What youll be doing
- Lead and manage a team of naval architects and designers to deliver the totality of SSNA naval architecture outputs
- Manage risks to achieving a balanced design within the approved performance, cost and time envelope
- Steer the system designers and spatial designers to achieve a balanced and fully integrated design at maturity levels, commensurate with key design reviews, design freeze and ready-for-manufacture milestones
- Manage and deliver SSNAs naval architecture design to ensure the submarine will meet the warfighting capability and safety requirements
- Provide naval architecture technical leadership to solve complex problems with innovative solutions to support improved performance and enhance capability
- Advise and report to the deputy chief engineer on naval architecture and overall design integration issues
- Delivery of naval architecture products and services as set out in the engineering management plan, including managing acquisition safety and certification aspects
- Be a responsible engineer holding formal safety responsible delegation (subject to assessment in role) for decision making on submarine design throughout all phases
- Responsible for a range of outputs including safe operating envelopes, stability assessments, trim polygons, weight and space management artefacts, formal technical decisions and their records, general arrangement, whole boat design metrics and more
Person specification
To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria :
- Hold a minimum level 6 Qualification in Naval Architecture or have equivalent relevant experience
- Hold professional registration at Incorporated Engineer status or higher, or demonstrate suitable equivalent experience to achieve this within 9 months
- Demonstrable experience working with submarines
- You will have recent experience in at least one of the following; submarine safe manoeuvring envelope development and tools (i.e Artemis or S4) or whole platform design integration including decision making and trade-offs, margins management, general layout, spatial design, baseline crew requirement, human factors and platform functional performance
In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:
- Technical Decision Making Expert
- Technical Risk Management Expert
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
Alongside your salary of 63,400, Ministry of Defence contributes 18,366 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- 25 days annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the Kings 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 youre 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 youll 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
- Candidate Information Pack: http://bit.ly/SDA--Candidate-Information-Pack
- Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-SDA-Terms-and-Conditions
Things you need to know
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.
Offering at a lower level
If youre not successful at interview,
we may offer you a role at a lower level if this is a match for your skills and experience. If this applies to your application, youll be scored against criteria for the lower-level role and offers will be made in merit order. If you accept this position, youll be able to take advantage of opportunities to develop your career as part of our team.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window) .
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window) .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Medical
Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .
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.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .
▶️ SDA Lead Naval Architect
🖊️ Defence Nuclear Enterprise
📍 Great Britain