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About the job
Job summary
The Submarine Delivery Agency is responsible for the procurement, in-service support, and disposal of the UK’s nuclear submarines. Our work is of unparalleled strategic importance, ensuring the security of the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent, and delivers some of the most technically complex programmes in defence.
As part of a diverse and inclusive workforce, our team will find a community to belong to – whether that’s alongside project teams with a shared vision or as part of an employee network of like-minded individuals. We believe that, by celebrating diverse backgrounds and different perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.
The SDA is looking for talented, motivated, and creative university graduates to join our Technical Engineering Graduate Scheme and become our Engineers and Scientists of the future.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Job description
Throughout your scheme, you will be supported by your Graduate Manager, as well as a Placement Supervisor and Mentor to reach your full potential and become a real asset to the SDA Engineering Function and beyond.
You will participate in various professional and personal development opportunities and workshops, with plenty of opportunities to participate in structured training and to gather experience and knowledge through several work-based placements, to learn and then apply nuclear engineering/scientific concepts and principles in a defence environment.
You will initially be based in Bristol and will undertake various work-based placements across SDA, the Defence Nuclear Organisation, Navy Command and with Industry Partners to support personal development, scheme completion and Initial Professional Development towards Incorporated or Chartered status.
There is also potential to undertake further academic study through our upskilling programme (MSc/MEng), and opportunity to access technical training and continuous professional development.
Depending on the placements you are allocated to, hybrid working may be available but there is an expectation that employees will be in the workplace on a regular basis.
Once you’ve successfully completed the Scheme you’ll be assigned to a role within either SDA or the Defence Nuclear Organisation and there may be opportunity to relocate to one of the following locations: Barrow-in-Furness, Bristol, Helensburgh, Plymouth, Rosyth. You’ll also continue to be supported towards gaining professional registration.
As part of this role, you'll be providing support to engineering staff across the business assisting with technical activities, while continually developing yourself. You’ll be involved in the following:
- Undertaking a structured technical training programme based around our platforms and systems to develop capabilities in a defence context.
- Solving engineering problems through the through the full lifecycle of the equipment and developing upgrades to ensure it continues to provide the battle-winning "edge" our customers need.
- Delivering engineering products/services against agreed objectives to develop knowledge and experience and adding value to the team and wider business.
We have a range of exciting opportunities available within the following Engineering and Science disciplines:
- Maritime / Nuclear Engineer (15 roles)
- Nuclear Scientist or similar (5 roles)
- Naval Architects (5 roles)
Person specification
Your CV must demonstrate the following essential criteria:
You must already have or be expected to achieve this year a minimum of 2.2 in an Engineering or Science related Honours Degree (or equivalent).
Due to the secure nature of positions, posts will be reserved for UK Nationals only and may require you to obtain Developed Vetting clearance once in post.
For more information on Civil Service nationality rules please see the attached candidate information pack.
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Application of Analytical Techniques (Awareness)
- Technical Requirements Evaluation and Acceptance (Awareness)
Benefits
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
- Flexible working arrangements so that your work fits in with your lifestyle.
- 25 days holiday a year, increasing one day a year to 30 days after five years.
- A competitive remuneration package.
- A wide variety of high street discounts and savings.
More detail on the benefits offered by SDA are available here.
Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.
The post does not offer relocation expenses.
External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
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.
Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.
Simply click on the Apply button to create an account and upload your CV. For additional guidance on writing a CV, please click here.
Your application will go through several stages of assessment which are outlined below:
- Pre-sift - We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed above.
- Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills
- Interview - If you're invited to interview, you'll be assessed against the Sift categories and the technical competences and behaviours listed above. More details about our Behaviours can be found attached at the bottom of the page. You'll also be asked to prepare a short presentation to be given at interview.
At interview, you will be assessed against the following Success Profiles Behaviours
- Communication and Influencing
- Working together
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
There will be no reimbursement for any travel expenses (where incurred) for the interview.
Interviews will take place throughout April and May 2024 and following completion of all pre-employment checks candidates can expect to start employment in October or November 2024.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .
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.
The role currently being advertised has not been assessed as business critical and 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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
