DE&S Salvage Engineer

Ministry of Defence

HMNB Devonport, Plymouth PL2 2BG, UK

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in less than 4 weeks

Engineering

Flexible

£53,400 per year

Job summary

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 26.5+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of around 28.97%, 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.

SC clearance wording: 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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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

Ready to dive into a career like no other?

If you're driven by innovation, thrive in high-stake environments, and inspired by the idea of working with cutting-edge subsea technology, then this is your moment. The Ministry of Defence’s Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO) is on the lookout for a passionate and skilled Salvage Engineer to support operations at the forefront of underwater engineering and marine recovery.

As a Salvage Engineer, you will be responsible for the management of engineering capability of the Marine Salvage Unit based in Devonport to enable the coordination of complex maritime recovery operations to safeguard Defence assets and maintain operational capability. Operating in high-pressure environments, you will apply specialist knowledge, strategic judgement, and resilience to protect national interests and ensure the integrity of MOD maritime platforms and infrastructure.

Why join SALMO? SALMO is the MOD’s centre of excellence for marine salvage and emergency response. Our multidisciplinary team, ranging from Master Mariners and Naval Architects to Environmental Scientists and Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV) / Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) Operators, and delivers critical support to UK Defence operations around the globe. Whether it's locating downed aircraft on the seabed, surveying wrecks, towing warships, or conducting emergency response drills, our work is as varied as it is vital.

The role includes periods of operational tasking, training, and deployments, which may take place within the UK or overseas depending on organisational requirements. When not deployed, you will work within the Marine Salvage Unit, supporting day-to-day activity and maintaining operational readiness.

What’s in it for you? This is more than just a job; it’s a chance to make a real impact. The role is operationally critical and comes with additional allowances under SALMO Terms and Conditions, reflecting the importance and intensity of the work you’ll be doing.

What you’ll be doing

Leading and participating in maritime operations including salvage, diving, underwater engineering, towing, mooring, and seamanship/boat operations.
Driving and operating the full range of unit vehicles and boats and where necessary conducting lifting (rigging and slinging) and forklift truck operations.
Working in a highly regulated area, maintaining awareness of changes in maritime legislation design & safety criteria used across MOD/Commercial.
Operating and being fully conversant with all unit equipment and procedures, instilling best practice in operations as well as the shore-based management.
Providing project management and leading an operation as directed by management and ensuring that they are conducted in a proper manner in accordance with laid down procedures and policy.

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

Lead Criterion - Have experience of providing technical advice and leading the delivery of successful engineering outcomes in small scale task and projects; and
Have a wide-ranging and relevant technical experience in subsea activities or marine operations; and
Experience managing marine operations with evidence of technical problem-solving and risk management; and

Hold (as minimum) :

STCW (1) Second Engineer (Unlimited)

And:

Be a Sole UK National
Hold a Full UK Driving Licence

Be able to satisfy requirements of:

2-Yearly ENG1 Seafarers Medical (2), and
Be enlisted as a Royal Navy Sponsored Reserve (2),
Annual HSE Dive Medical (2)
Dive Aptitude test (2)
HSE Surface Supplied Diving Qualification

(1) STCW = International Convention of Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for seafarers.

(2) For recruitment purposes, external candidates do not need to hold these (including no prior commercial diving experience) but must have no known reasons not to achieve this within 6 months of employment.

This role is subject to Retained Grade Terms and Conditions and differ from the DE&S standard Terms and Conditions.

For SALMO Retained Grade seeking promotion, please refer to Part 2, Section 10.2 of the SALMO Retained Grade Handbook.

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

Core Behaviour 1: Making Effective Decisions – CSBC3
Core Behaviour 2: Leadership – CSBC3
Technical Competence 1: ECF_01 Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking - Supervised Practitioner level
Technical Competence 2: ECF_03 Supportable Technical Solutions – Practitioner level

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Ministry of Defence contributes £15,469 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Full time staff employed for less than 5 years are entitled to 26.5 days’ annual leave per year, rising to 31.5 days per year after 5 years of service
Flexible and hybrid working options
Market-leading employer pension contribution of around 28.97%
Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
Access to specialist training and funded professional 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.

Further Information

Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES_Candidate-Information-Pack
SALMO Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/SALMO-Terms-and-Conditions

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.

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.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

Pre-sift - We will check your application to ensure 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.
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.
Interview - If you're invited to interview, you will be assessed against the following:

CV Review
Core Behaviour 1
Core Behaviour 2
Technical Competencies

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

Reserve Lists

Where a competition identifies more appointable candidates than there are available vacancies, a Reserve List may be created for other similar roles in the Civil Service. This may be used for up to 12 months to fill the same role or other similar roles with closely matching essential criteria without further testing of merit.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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.

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 theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

Salary range

£53,400 per year