Electrical and Control Engineering Specialist (Band 3/SEO)

Job summary

This is a frontline specialist Electrical and Control Engineering post focussing on safety, risk, and legal compliance. You will apply your experience and knowledge of Electrical Distribution Systems and Complex control systems to identify risk and underlying issues on site across a wide range of industries (often from first principles). You will make effective decisions on the adequacy of existing control measures; determine if risk is being adequately managed and influence people at all levels to achieve compliance with the law

We are looking for high calibre engineers who can, under challenge, think strategically, identify underlying core issues, and engage at different levels both with colleagues, site technical staff and at the most senior levels within an organisation. You will be able to influence those organisations to bring about improvements and be decisive and clear about what is needed.

Due to the nature of the work involved this role is only suitable for full time working.

Job description

Using your electrical engineering knowledge, you will:

• Investigate workplace electrical / electrical control system fatalities and other serious incidents to identify the cause and act to prevent reoccurrence. Where necessary, support enforcement action and hold those responsible to account.
• Inspect workplaces to make sure that electrical / control system risks are being effectively managed, driving improvements where necessary to achieve compliance with the law.
• Prepare technical reports and act as a specialist/expert witness at inquests and in Court during legal proceedings.
• Contribute to intervention strategies and plans for industry sectors to reduce the dangers from electricity and improve safety through appropriate designs and use of control systems.

From day one, you will be supported by your manager and colleagues to understand your role in HSE, develop your skills and support you in your continuing professional development. For the legal requirements of the role, you will receive appropriate training.

Person specification

The ideal candidate will hold practical experience of having worked in the field of electrical and control system engineering (preferably in a senior role) with detailed knowledge in the relevant areas listed below:

Essential Skills & Criteria;

• Distribution and use of electricity at both high and low voltage, including safe systems of work and where applicable, compliance within BS7671.
• Electrical, electronic, programmable and safety-related control systems as applied to process control equipment and machinery including risk assessment, design, installation, testing, maintenance and modification with application of ISO 13849, IEC 62061 and IEC60204-1 where relevant.
• The application and use of electrical equipment in hazardous atmospheres.
• Good communication skills to influence change at all levels in the organisations we regulate.
• Sound analytical skills to identify underlying gaps and deficiencies related to risk management.
• Initiative and decisiveness, making sound decisions based on available evidence.
• Proven organisational and planning skills taking responsibility for delivering expected outcomes on time and to the required standard.
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team, maintaining positive professional working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.
• The ability to write effective technical reports and present complex technical information in a clear and concise way for a non-technical audience.

At HSE, we are proud to be able to offer our people the opportunity to work in a hybrid way which combines working from home and the office. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement, and your allocated office will be your contractual place of work.

There will be a requirement to travel to the office for various activities, e.g., collaborative working, supporting and training colleagues. If hybrid working is suitable for you and your role, you will be expected to attend the office, or other business-related site, for 60% of your working week. The arrangements will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account.

Therefore, we would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office is a feasible distance to travel before making an application. Please note that if you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.

Licences

Full driving licence for allowing driving in UK is essential

Qualifications

Chartered Engineer through the IET, and / or an Honours degree in Electrical/Control Engineering or closely related subject.

Memberships

It is a requirement of the role that applicants should already be registered with the engineering council as a Chartered Engineer or have the necessary skills and experience to become chartered through the IET (or other acceptable professional body) and attain that
status within one year of taking up the post. If you are in that position and think you could become Chartered, we would encourage you to start the process and seek confirmation from the IET that you have the ability to become Chartered as soon as possible. We will need you to confirm this if you are selected for interview.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Presentation - Electrical (LV and HV) and control systems

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £55,063, Health and Safety Executive contributes £15,951 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

We invest in our people with:

• Competitive rates of pay.
• Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 28.97% far more than in the private sector.
• Family friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career.
• Carer friendly policies to help create a supportive working culture.
• 25 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave.
• Parental leave benefits.
• As a member of HSE you will gain access to a wide range of fantastic benefits that you can take advantage of such as the Cycle to Work Scheme, E-Gift Cards, and Vouchers via our partner EdenRed.

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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Application information

You must provide an online CV (to be completed within the application form), setting out your professional qualifications, professional memberships and a full employment history, with details of any key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure that you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. Please note: Your CV is NOT to be provided as an additional attachment.

Please ensure you tailor your CV to match the Essential Skills and Criteria as listed within the advert.

Application Guidance

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/ and guidance on Civil Service technical frameworks Success Profiles: Technical - GOV.UK

Sift information

The sift will take place in the week commencing 1st June 2026 when you will be assessed on the evidence you have provided within your CV. We will be assessing you against your experience, to select those demonstrating the best fit to the Electrical and Control Engineering Specialist role.

Interview Information

Interviews will take place in the weeks commencing 15th and 22nd June 2026

At the interview your behaviours, technical skills, and experience will be assessed against the requirements for this post, using a presentation and technical questions. Further details surrounding the interview will follow should you be successful at the sift stage.

Sponsorship

This role is not open to application from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship your application will be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment will be withdrawn.

Further Information

Due to the nature of security checks undertaken, applicants must have 3 years continuous residency in the UK up to the date of the application and, Home Office approval for indefinite leave to remain within the UK.

Please note that a Reserve List will be held for the period of up to 12 months. There is no guarantee you will be offered a role from our reserve lists, so if you see a vacancy on Civil Service Jobs that you are interested in, we recommend you apply.

HSE reserve the right to conduct additional checks, including Google and social media checks, when recruiting candidates into a role within HSE. These checks will be carried out in line with the Civil Service Commission Principles and, if used all candidates will be subject to these additional checks.

From 23rd June 2025, if you are successful at interview, as part of your pre-employment checks, HSE’s Recruitment Team are required to check your details against the Internal Fraud Hub (IFH), using your personal details – name, NINO, and date of birth. If you are included on the database, you will be refused employment. If you believe that there has been an error in the inclusion of your data and wish to make an appeal, please contact the CO email box internal.fraud@cabinetoffice.gov.uk .

Details of the types of internal fraud/dishonesty covered by this process are defined by the Cabinet Office and can be found here Internal Fraud Register privacy notice - GOV.UK

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful in their application. For a summary of HSE terms and conditions as part of Civil Service Reform, please see the attached HSE Terms and Conditions document.

Progression through pay ranges is subject to annual pay awards as permitted within annual Civil Service pay remit guidance and negotiations with Trade Unions.

HSE is proud to be a part of the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS). As a Disability Confident employer, we positively welcome applications from disabled people. We are committed to making workplace adjustments to ensure anyone can participate in the recruitment and selection process.

If, during the application or interview process, you require any assistance due to a disability or a medical condition, please contact us at the email address below to discuss how we can support you. For example if you have a disability, and you need an application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please contact: hr.resourcing-team@hse.gov.uk

If successful in securing your role, HSE can provide suitable workplace adjustments to support you throughout your career with HSE.

Any move to HSE 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 here

Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further; Formal discipline action, any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance or any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action.

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

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Darren Martin
• Email : darren.martin@hse.gov.uk
• Telephone : 07798882095

Recruitment team

• Email : hr.resourcing-team@hse.gov.uk

Further information

If you believe that Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition have not been met, you can raise a complaint by emailing: HR.Resourcing-Team@hse.gov.uk or by writing to HSE at the following address:

HR Resourcing Team, 2.3 Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 7HS. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact Civil Service commissioners:

https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/civilservicecode…

Attachments

Candidate Information Pack - Electrical and control spec - 2026 Rev 1 (2) Opens in new window (docx, 1133kB)HSE Terms and Conditions - CSJ Advert Annex Opens in new window (pdf, 116kB)