SDA Future Software Capabilities Manager

Job summary

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 (CASD), and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence. At least one of four nuclear-armed submarines, supported by smaller attack submarines, is on patrol at all times: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

At the SDA, we strive to Support, Deliver and Aspire and put our values at the heart of our recruitment process. We believe that everyone should feel comfortable to be themselves and be supported to do their best work. As part of a diverse and inclusive workforce, our team will find a community to belong to. We believe that, by celebrating different backgrounds and different perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

The primary delivery location for this position is MOD Corsham, Westwells Road, Corsham, Wiltshire, SN13 9GB.

Please note, due to the level of security, this role is reserved for UK nationals only.

Due to security constraints, this post is exempt from hybrid working requests. Requests for flexible and condensed working patterns can be considered but may be limited. Candidates should consider this and must discuss with recruiting line manager before submitting an application.

Job description

Help Shape the Future of the UK's Nuclear Deterrent!

Are you an experienced engineer, scientist, analyst or technical specialist looking for a role with real strategic impact?

We are seeking a highly capable Senior Software Capability Engineer to play a pivotal role in the development, assurance and integration of next-generation operation software capabilities that underpin the UK's strategic nuclear deterrent.

This is a unique opportunity to work at the forefront of national defence, supporting mission-critical programmes that directly contribute to the safety, security and operational effectiveness of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE). Operating within a highly specialised environment, you will collaborate with leading experts across Defence, industry and international partners to deliver advanced operational capabilities in response to rapidly evolving global security challenges.

The Role

Working alongside senior engineers and subject matter experts, you will provide essential technical leadership across the lifecycle of new nuclear software and modelling development, from requirements development and concept evaluation through to verification, validation, integration and operational deployment.

You will act as a trusted technical adviser to key stakeholders, ensuring that future capabilities are robust, assured and fit for operational use. The role offers significant exposure to cutting-edge analytical methods, defence technologies, systems integration activities and strategic decision-making.

Your work will directly influence the successful delivery of software upgrades and capability enhancements that are fundamental to maintaining the UK's nuclear deterrent advantage.

Key Responsibilities

As the Senior Software Capability Engineer, you will:

• Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing software engineering team.
• Own software delivery from planning and development through to verification, release and lifecycle support.
• Establish and maintain robust software engineering standards, processes and best practices.
• Provide technical leadership, collaborating with stakeholders including Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), Defence Science Technology Laboratories (Dstl) and international partners, ensuring that solutions are reliable, maintainable, scalable and fit for purpose.
• Develop software roadmaps and manage priorities, resources, risks and technical debt.
• Communicate effectively with senior stakeholders across DNE stakeholders, providing clear updates on progress, risks, resource requirements and priorities.
• Promote a culture of innovation, conducting horizon scanning and encouraging the adoption of appropriate new technologies, tools and engineering practices.

As the post holder will have access to very sensitive information, there are limitations on travelling to a small number of countries and we will undertake additional security checks as part of the recruitment process. Applications from candidates with close connections to certain countries may take considerably longer to process, or in some cases result in a withdrawal of an offer of employment. Further details will be provided at the conditional offer stage.

Reasonable Adjustments

We welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions. Due to the designated working area level for this role known as Information Protection Zone (IPZ) permission will need to be sought for any medical devices or assistive technology to be used in the IPZ. This is because the type of technology used is prohibited due to security. Permission is granted on a case by case basis and it is an essential function of the role to be able to work in the designated IPZ area.

We encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

Please note, the working environment for this role is situated in an underground facility and therefore, for health & safety reasons the successful applicant must be physically able to climb thirteen flights of stairs in the event of an emergency.

If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by the SDA Recruitment Team. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team via the Help link.

Person specification

In order to be successful in your application, please show evidence of the following essential criteria:

• Chartered or Incorporated Engineer or equivalent relevant professional registration.
• Member of a relevant Professional Engineering / Science Institute or equivalent body.
• Relevant Level 4 (or higher) qualification or equivalent experience
• Experience of providing technical advice and leading the delivery of successful engineering outcomes.
• Wide ranging depth and breadth of technical experience in own specialism with a broad understanding of the interdependencies between your work and related systems.

Qualifications

Chartered or Incorporated Engineer or equivalent relevant professional registration.

Evidence of the Qualification/Licence/Membership will be required at interview.

All qualifications/licences/memberships declared must be held at point of application and be in date.

Memberships

Member of a relevant Professional Engineering / Science Institute or equivalent body.

Evidence of the Qualification/Licence/Membership will be required at interview.

All qualifications/licences/memberships declared must be held at point of application and be in date.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

• EFCF 3 - Technical Requirements, Evaluation & Acceptance-Practitioner
• EFCF 4 - Technical Decision Making-Practitioner

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £48,700, Ministry of Defence contributes £14,108 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
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD:

https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

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.

At Sift, you will be assessed against the following;

Experience:

Personal Statement - This should be a maximum of 1000 words that sets out your motivation for applying and shows how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable requirements for the role. Candidates will be required to provide job history and qualification details.

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing (CSBC3)
• Changing and Improving (CSBC3)

Technical Competencies:

• EFCF 3 - Technical Requirements, Evaluation and Acceptance (Practitioner)
• EFCF 4 - Technical Decision Making (Practitioner)

At Interview, you will be assessed against the following;

Experience:

Personal Statement/ Experience - The panel will ask questions about your personal statement. Exploring your Past Experiences, Key Achievements or Qualifications.

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing (CSBC3)
• Changing and Improving (CSBC3)

Technical Competencies:

• EFCF 3 - Technical Requirements, Evaluation and Acceptance (Practitioner)
• EFCF 4 - Technical Decision Making (Practitioner)

Please refer to the Civil Service Behaviours here and the Technical Skills Framework and Success Profile documents attached.

Interviews will be conducted on site.

The sift will be completed within 10 working days of the vacancy closing date. Interviews will be held on a date to be confirmed.

Requests to work flexibly and/or part time will be considered, taking into account business needs. Please note the salary will be pro-rata where part time hours are undertaken.

All employees joining Ministry of Defence who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period (unless otherwise advised) effective from the employment start date.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting.

To be considered for this role, qualifications and/or memberships detailed must be held in full, prior to submitting your application.

The post does NOT offer relocation expenses (move of home, excess fares or temporary transfer). Non-Standard move applicants will be eligible for the full package, subject to eligibility.

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.

Please note the Civil Service Nationality Rules will also need to be met. The Civil Service Nationality Rules operate independently and in addition to the UK Immigration Rules and must be met before an individual can take up employment in the Civil Service. The Civil Service Nationality Rules do not apply to UK, Irish and Commonwealth nationals, or to those who are eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme but do apply to all other nationalities- including EU/EEA nationals who are ineligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

This vacancy is part of the A Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. Making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for Veterans - GOV.UK

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.

If you need to advise us that you need additional help or reasonable adjustments for the recruitment process, please contactDBSFPCP-SRMResourcingSDA@mod.gov.uk

SDA Reward Offer - Working for SDA - Submarine Delivery Agency - GOV.UK

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.

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. 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.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (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 : SDA Resourcing Team
• Email : SDA-HR-WorkforceResourcePlanning@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSFPCP-SRMResourcingSDA@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please see Further Information document.

Attachments

20240927_Professional Engineer_PII_SDA Success Profiles_FINAL-O Opens in new window (pdf, 140kB)20250604-Engineering Competence Framework-O Opens in new window (pdf, 198kB)20241009 - Further Information - External (1) Opens in new window (docx, 38kB)Terms and Conditions (TACOS 2014) (2) Opens in new window (docx, 55kB)