SDA Technical / Quality Engineer

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, and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence.
Here you’ll 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 different backgrounds and perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.
Discover more about our work:
We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of around 27%, to help work work for you.
Nationality, visas and vetting: For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country. 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 have 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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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., SDA Principal Naval Overseers (PNO) are a team of circa 50 staff, predominantly engineers, based in Barrow-in-Furness providing independent assurance that submarine build activities are conducted and meet the necessary requirements of the contract. The PNO team also ensure that Project and Engineering Risks and Opportunities that are identified within the build environment are effectively mitigated and/or realised.
PNO undertake risk based surveillance of vessels during build and provide waterfront and build support and advice to delivery teams. The team ensure correct standards are maintained by promoting the Governance, Assurance and Improvement (GAI) of acquisition, engineering and logistics support activities.
We are keen to speak to and support those candidates that are motivated and driven to progress their careers, with support to upskill and develop their knowledge of the systems, and the build and commissioning, of Nuclear Submarines.
Please be aware that there is a requirement to be able to climb ladders as you need to access the boats to be able to fulfil your role.
At the SDA, we champion flexible ways of working. Due to the nature of this role you will be required on site full time.
PNO have a number of Overseer roles with specialisms including Quality Assurance, Nuclear Propulsion, Submarine Systems, Weapons Engineering and Shipbuilding. When looking at the best team fit for you, we will take into consideration your skills, career goals, interests, and engineering specialism.
As an overseer you will be expected to advise on technical problem solving and conduct Assurance and Acceptance surveillance activities across the Submarine Build within your discipline ensuring compliance with build standards and contract adherence. You will be involved in a variety of high profile and technically complex submarine defence programmes, making these roles both exciting and challenging.
As a motivated and forward-thinking self-starter, you will engage with people confidently, working with a high degree of autonomy, and be as comfortable operating independently as you are working within a team in a project environment.
What you’ll be doing
+ Supporting the Equipment System Owner representative to provide approval, evaluation and acceptance of documentation pertaining to the manufacture, testing and commissioning of a variety of submarine systems.
+ Conducting and managing the delivery of surveillance in support of risk management, supplier oversight/assurance, verification, validation and acceptance for submarine build programmes.
+ Undertaking verification and validation of the Submarine Design and Build against the contracted requirements.
+ Develop Surveillance Plans and undertake build surveillance to gather independent assurance over product build quality and contractual conformance - ladder access will be required in the majority of areas when undertaking surveillance onboard submarines.
+ Determining quality management and assurance approaches ensuring technical risks are understood and managed.
+ Providing advice and guidance to delivery teams concerning technical and supplier risk., 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.
1. 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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Offering at a lower level
If you’re 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, you’ll be scored against criteria for the lower-level role and offers will be made in merit order. If you accept this position, you’ll 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.

+ Professionally Registered status or has demonstrated equivalent knowledge, skills and experience to meet registration criteria
+ Experience of providing technical advice and delivery of successful engineering outcomes
+ Technical experience in your discipline or specialist area in a variety of contexts
In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:
+ EFCF 4 Technical Decision Making – Supervised Practitioner
+ EFCF 5 Technical Risk Management – Supervised Practitioner
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Making Effective Decisions

£36,100 - £39,000
per annum (pro rata), plus generous benefits and an average 27% employer pension contribution. Existing civil servants should refer to the Further Information document for salary details.
A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
GBP, Alongside your salary of £36,100, Ministry of Defence contributes £9,747 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 King’s birthday
+ Flexible options
+ Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 27%
+ 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.
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