Navy Command - Senior Design Engineers (Mechanical, Electrical and Civil / Structural)

Job summary

At Navy Command, we lead, support, and sustain the Royal Navy across every theatre of operations. We coordinate the people, platforms, and missions that keep the Fleet ready for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Together, we uphold centuries of naval tradition while driving innovation that ensures the Royal Navy’s readiness to protect our nation and secure our future.

As the authority for the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine capability, the Submarine Directorate oversees one of the most complex and critical elements of UK defence. Covering everything from in‑service management to long‑term fleet modernisation, the directorate ensures the Submarine Flotilla remains safe, reliable, and ready to meet national security requirements.

You'll be based at HMNB Clyde, home to the UK Submarine Service. It sustains the nation’s continuous at-sea deterrent and supports the Royal Navy’s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. As a centre of excellence for submarine operations, Clyde plays a critical role in national security and global stability

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Are you ready to take on a pivotal role in ensuring the safe operation of critical nuclear activities? We are seeking Senior Design Engineers (Mechanical, Electrical and Civil / Structural) to join our team. This is a unique opportunity to work in a high-hazard environment, where your expertise will directly contribute to the safety and success of our operations.

As the Senior Design Engineer, you will play a key role in producing and managing engineering design substantiation for Waterfront facilities within the Faslane site of HMNB Clyde. You will ensure compliance with nuclear regulations, maintain critical safety functions, and support the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programme (NNPP), including the Continuous At-Sea Deterrent (CASD). This is a challenging and rewarding position that offers the chance to make a real impact while working alongside a team of dedicated professionals.

Why Join Us?

• Make a Difference: Your work will directly contribute to the safety and success of critical nuclear operations.
• Career Development: We are committed to your professional growth, offering opportunities to develop your skills and advance your career.
• Collaborative Environment: Join a team of experts who are passionate about what they do and work together to achieve excellence.
• Unique Challenges: Work in a high-profile, high-hazard environment where no two days are the same.

Job description:
As the Senior Design Engineer, your responsibilities will include:

• Leading Design Substantiations: Authoring, developing, assessing, maintaining, and overall management of the suite of Waterfront nuclear engineering substantiation for infrastructure, ensuring compliance with industry best practices, legislative requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Ensuring ALARP Compliance: Ensuring engineering substantiation provides the evidence layer to the Claims and Arguments within Nuclear Safety Cases and demonstrating that risks associated with authorised activities are tolerable and As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).
• Developing Examination, Inspection, Maintenance and Testing (EIMT) Strategies: Producing and developing EIMT Schedules to satisfy engineering requirements through life.
• Acting as Intelligent Customer (IC): Overseeing third-party engineering substantiations and providing direction and advice to current and future infrastructure projects at HMNB Clyde.
• Delivering Periodic Safety Reviews (PSR): Delivering the PSR for Waterfront engineering substantiation and supporting infrastructure, ensuring compliance with Clyde Policy and Authorisation Conditions.
• Applying Safety Management Systems (SMS): Complying with all Design Authority and site arrangements in relation to ensuring adequacy of safety justification and engineering substantiation.
• Promoting Safety Culture: Actively fostering a strong Nuclear Safety and Security Culture, ensuring compliance with the ALARP principle and promoting best practices in the development of engineering substantiation and the selection of solutions through option studies.

Person specification

Essential

• Proven experience in managing and delivering complex Mechanical, Electrical or Civil /Structural engineering design substantiation
• Broad knowledge of engineering design codes and standards, regulatory frameworks, and compliance requirements.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.

Desirable

• Minimum HNC, or equivalent qualifications and experience, in Mechanical, Electrical or Civil / Structural Engineering or similar relevant engineering discipline required upon entry.
• Incorporated Engineer status with an appropriate professional institute or equivalent experience and standing.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Nuclear Competence 4.4 - Nuclear Infrastructure Concept, Assessment, Design, Modification and Life Extension Through Life (Level 2).

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 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).

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Market-leading employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Personal & professional development
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to a confidential, professional support service
• Discount schemes
• Bicycle / season-ticket loans
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Special paid leave to volunteer (up to 6 days a year)
• Assisted Travel scheme

HMNB Clyde offers an impressive range of facilities set within one of the most picturesque regions of Scotland. With on‑site parking, a helpful internal bus service, and an assisted travel scheme, getting around is easy. Enjoy multiple cafés and convenience stores, an on‑site gym, and nursery provision. Extra touches such as a barbershop, access to worship spaces, and the Activities Hub offers a welcoming and supportive community feel.

In Navy Command we believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you’ll be supported through your learning journey and your career. This can include working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking an apprenticeship as part of your role.

You’ll have access to a variety of qualifications pathways ranging from GCSE/A-Level equivalent all the way up to master’s degree, depending on your role, your previous skills and your experience. Some qualifications even include “on-the-job” training which means minimal disruption to your working day but maximum impact.

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 Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

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.

Candidates will be required to complete an online CV template to include job history, full details of education and qualifications.

Candidates will be required to complete a Personal Statement of Suitability of no more than 500 words. This should set out your motivation for applying and show how your skills and experience meet the essential requirements for the role.

At sift, you will be assessed against your CV and Personal Statement of Suitability and the following Technical skills.

Technical Skills:

• Nuclear Competence 4.4 - Nuclear Infrastructure Concept, Assessment, Design, Modification and Life Extension Through Life (Level 2).

At interview, you will be assessed against success profiles of experience, behaviours and technical.

Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
  
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical Skills:

• Nuclear Competence 4.4 - Nuclear Infrastructure Concept, Assessment, Design, Modification and Life Extension Through Life (Level 2).

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.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

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. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It 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.

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.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

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

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 : NavySM-DirWorkforceMgmnt@mod.gov.uk
• Email : NavySM-DirWorkforceMgmnt@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

20260413 - Navy Command Candidate Application Guide-O Opens in new window (pdf, 1595kB)Navy Candidate Attraction Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 7954kB)Document in 26-06 Defence Internal Brief notice for inclusion of all adverts and issued alongside Posting Notices_O Opens in new window (docx, 25kB)Clyde_Nuclear_Competence_Framework Opens in new window (pdf, 1752kB)