HM Specialist Inspector of Health and Safety (Mechanical Engineering) (Band 3/SEO)

Job summary

The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Science Engineering and Analysis Division (SEAD) provides professional engineering support to all of HSE's frontline regulatory divisions, meaning that the range of industry sectors, equipment and processes we come into contact with is huge, from fairground rides to lifting operations, manufacturing to product safety. HSE’s Mechanical Engineering Specialists help essential industries work safely, from micro businesses to whole industry sectors.

We are looking for a high calibre Mechanical Engineer who can, in pressurising situations, think strategically, identify underlying issues, and engage effectively at different levels: with colleagues, plant operators; site technical staff and at the most senior levels within an organisation. You will be able to influence organisations to bring about improvements and be decisive and clear about what is needed. In many cases you will need to be able to publicly explain and defend your findings and opinions against robust and occasionally aggressive challenge, in Criminal Courts or at Coroner’s Inquest. You will need to be able to remain professional whilst dealing with potentially challenging circumstances at the scenes of incidents.

This is a frontline specialist engineering post. You will need to apply your experience and knowledge to identify immediate risks (often from first principles) and underlying issues at incident sites, make effective decisions on the adequacy of existing control measures and persuade and influence people at all levels to achieve compliance with the law.

Working Pattern

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

Job description

Key Responsibilities:

• Inspect a variety of workplaces with your regulatory colleagues, to make sure that engineering risks are being actively managed and reduced, driving improvements and gaining commitment to comply with the law.
• Undertake forensic analysis of mechanical engineering related incidents to identify the causes and where necessary.
• Lead the technical aspect of the investigation, calling in other scientific support and supporting enforcement action where necessary.
• Provide specialist opinion in formal written reports to guide regulatory decisions.
• Provide expert witness evidence at tribunals, inquests, and criminal court proceedings in support of prosecutions.
• Secure intelligence; share information and advice towards policy, research, and guidance to benefit other Government departments, the public, industry, professional bodies and trade associations.

Training Programme

Whilst working for the HSE and in order to fully understand the legal and enforcement requirements of this role, you will be expected to develop your expertise by completing role specific training.

Person specification

Essential Skills and Criteria:

• A broad range of technical experience in mechanical engineering. This should include practical experience/ knowledge in areas such as general workshop machinery, risk assessment and hazard analysis of mechanical systems, plant maintenance systems and techniques, hydraulics and/ or pneumatic systems, process machinery, failure analysis and deterioration, weld processes/ non-destructive testing techniques.
• Experience applying mechanical engineering expertise to support sound technical decision-making, to a professional standard.
• Ability to use appropriate theoretical and practical methods and apply first principles to analyse problems, with an understanding of initial integrity, safe design and use, failure mechanisms, risk assessment, degradation of materials and life extension; experience of trouble shooting, fault finding, and of hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
• Review and assess available information and evidence, considering potential failure modes and possible causes, and identify appropriate lines of enquiry to support a thorough investigation.
• Assimilate complex technical information and convey this to a variety of audiences, both technical peers and lay persons.
• Communicate clearly and appropriately, taking into account individual needs and circumstances.
• Analyse, plan and prioritise work effectively, using appropriate analytical and planning skills.

Hybrid Working

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.

Travel

HSE regulates sites across the whole of Great Britain. The Mechanical Engineering team is a national team which also supports Local Authorities and other regulators. You will be expected to spend periods working away from home anywhere in the country, which will include overnight stays.

Licences

A full driving licence that enables you to drive in the UK is essential.

Qualifications

Applicants should hold an Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering. Please ensure that your application clearly confirms this qualification.

Memberships

Applicants are required to be Chartered Engineers and full members of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). Please ensure that your application clearly confirms your current professional status and membership, as this information will be used to assess your eligibility for the role.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Apply technical and scientific knowledge - Government Science and Engineering Career Framework - Building and Applying Knowledge - Applying knowledge - Experienced.

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 (opens in a new window).

• 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
• 185 hours annual holiday increasing to 222 hours after 5 years' qualifying service, plus public holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave (recorded as 7.4 hours in addition to your annual leave balance)
• 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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Information

As part of your application, you will be invited to complete an anonymised CV which should include your career history, experience, and qualifications. Please ensure you tailor your CV to match the Essential Skills and Criteria as listed within the advert.

You will also be asked to complete an anonymised Personal Statement, of no more than 1000 words which demonstrates how you meet the Essential Skills and Criteria of the job advert.

When describing your career history and experience, please provide an indication of your responsibilities and the range of technical topics you have worked with or encountered in your roles.

Application Guidance

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Personal Statement How to Apply

Sift Information

The sift will take place week commencing Monday 2nd of November 2026 where you will be assessed on your CV and Personal Statement.

Interview Information

Interviews will take place week commencing Monday 23rd of November 2026 where you will be assessed against the Behaviours, Experience and the Technical skills detailed within the job advert, alongside Strength-based questions.

As part of the interview you will be required to deliver a short pre-prepared presentation, and will then be asked questions based both on scenarios and previous experience. The interview topic will be shared with candidates invited to interview. Following the presentation, you will be asked about the breadth and depth of your experience with reference to those areas detailed in the Essential Skills and Criteria, and wider areas of mechanical engineering

Please access the links below for guidance on the interview process, including information on the Strengths Questions and the Government Science and Engineering Career Framework. These resources will help you understand the interview format and the key criteria you will be assessed against.

• Success Profiles: Strengths - GOV.UK)
• Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Career Framework, November 2021 (Version 2)

You will also be required to provide evidence of your Identity, Qualifications, Chartered status and membership of the IMechE during the interview (for example, relevant certificates or documentation).

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

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 basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.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

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 : Emma Puckrin
• Email : emma.puckrin@hse.gov.uk

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

HSE Terms and Conditions - CSJ Advert Annex Opens in new window (pdf, 516kB)