Senior Structural Engineer

Job summary

Do you want to work for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and care for the Defence Estate? DIO enables Defence to live, work, train and deploy, all with sustainability in mind. From net carbon zero accommodations to runways for the F35 fighter jets; our outputs are unique in the UK and across the globe!

Learn much more about DIO in our Candidate Information Guide attached.

DIO recognises that a diverse workforce is at the heart of different insights, ideas and innovation. A workforce diverse in background and life experience produces trusted public services and better decisions. We want our people to be curious and continuously strive for improvement, collaborative in an inclusive culture, ambitious and resilient and committed to Defence, empowered and able to challenge so you can play a key part in shaping the direction of our organisation.

About DIO

View our YouTube video to see more about our work

Why Join Us

DIO cares about the Defence estate. We are a dynamic organisation that responds to the evolving needs of our military personnel, the way in which they live and work. We are proud to be the expert partner Defence needs for all their infrastructure requirements. From large scale infrastructure to everyday facilities management, our activities focus relentlessly on our customers. We deliver value for money, and consistently innovate to find proactive solutions to meet their needs. We meet our objectives as one team; capable, curious, collaborative and committed.

About Technical Services

Technical Services comprises the following core areas:

• Building Engineering Team
• Infrastructure Contracting & Planning Team
• Infrastructure Engineering Team
• Environmental Management Protection and Sustainability
• Health & Safety
• Portfolio Office

Technical Services provides in-house consultancy to DIO and the wider MOD, the specialist skills available through the Technical Services team span Construction, Engineering, Health and Safety, Safety Systems, Environmental Management, Sustainable Development, Access and Recreation, Historic Environment and Natural Environment.

Job description

The Senior Structural Engineer is a key role within the Structures Team, providing specialist subject matter expertise to the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and supporting the assurance of structural safety across the MOD estate worldwide. The post forms an integral part of the MOD’s intelligent client function and delivers professional technical advice on the procurement, design, installation, maintenance, inspection, and refurbishment of a diverse portfolio of built infrastructure.

The role covers a broad range of structural assets, including historic pre‑World War constructions, modern Defence buildings, and contemporary modular systems. The post holder will also work closely with the Building Safety Team to support the review and assessment of higher‑risk structures under the Building Safety Act.

As part of the Structures Team, the Senior Structural Engineer contributes to policy development, safety assurance, and technical oversight to ensure the MOD meets its statutory duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The role involves participation in investigations into structural defects or failures, which may result in the preparation of Safety Alerts to inform the wider organisation.

The post holder will also be responsible for providing specialist structural support to the management of temporary works, including offering technical advice to ensure that temporary works are appropriately designed, assessed, implemented, and controlled in accordance with relevant standards and MOD requirements.

Person specification

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Experience with the design/construction of steel and/or reinforced concrete buildings.
• An understanding of masonry, timber and modular construction.
• Knowledge of sustainable construction practices.

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Knowledge of BS5975 and experience with temporary works.
• Experience with accident and incident investigations.

Licences

Full UK Driving Licence needed for site visits

Qualifications

Civil/Structural Engineering Degree BEng/MEng

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Knowledge and Understanding of Engineering Knowledge
• Design, development and solving engineering problems

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Highly competitive Pension Scheme
• Alternative working practices such as working from home
• 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Most sites have free car parking, Sports & Social Clubs, Gym, on site shops and subsidised canteens

To learn more about our full range of benefits, view our Candidate Information Guide attached.

Employment Hours

The post advertised is for 37 hours net, however the Ministry of Defence offers a range of flexibilities to enable a better work-life balance for employees. Flexible working, Part-time working and Job Share working patterns will be considered.

Where business needs allow, this role may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working, therefore you must consider if any of the above locations are within a reasonable travelling distance. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business (i.e., detached duty) or work in another MOD office, will also count towards this level of attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

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.

Please ensure that at the application and interview stages of the campaign you review the Success Profiles Framework and Competency Framework to assist you in the demonstration of your skills and experience. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit.

Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted on the personal statement.

Please provide your evidence for behaviours using the STAR Technique using the attached information on how to apply.

Situation: Describe the situation you found yourself in. You must describe a specific event or situation. Be sure to give enough detail for the job holder to understand. Where are you? Who was there with you? What had happened?

Task: The recruitment panel will want to understand what you tried to achieve from the situation you found yourself in. What was the task that you had to complete and why? What did you have to achieve?

Action: What did you do? The job holder will be looking for information of what you did, how you did it and why. Keep the focus on you. What specific steps did you take and what was your contribution? Remember to include how you did it, and the behaviours you used. Try to use “I” rather than “we” to explain your actions that lead to the result. Be careful not to take credit for something that you did not do.

Result: Don’t be shy about taking credit for your behaviour. Quote specific facts and figures easily understandable. What results did the actions produce? What did you achieve through your actions, and did you meet your goals? Was it a successful outcome? If not, what did you learn from the experience? Keep the situation and task parts brief.

At application you will be assessed against the following:

Experience:

• CV - detailing Job History, Full Qualification Details, Previous Skills and Experience
• Personal statement (500 Words)

Behaviours:

• Making effective decisions

At interview you will be assessed against the following:

Experience- CV/Personal Statement

Behaviours:

• Making effective decisions

Technical:

• Knowledge and Understanding of Engineering Knowledge
• Design, development and solving engineering problems

Application sifting is scheduled to take place on week commencing: 27/04/2026

Interviews are currently taking place remotely via MS Teams, this will be confirmed with the successful candidates who are invited to an interview and will be conducted week commencing: 11/05/2026

A minimum of 2 full working days’ notice will be provided for interviews. We endeavour to stick to these dates, but these are subject to change around business needs.

To assist with your application please find attached below:

1. DIO Candidate Information Guide
2. DIO Candidate Information Guide - Accessible Version
3. Competency Framework - engc.org.uk/media/a1yfae02/uk-spec-fourth-edition.pdf

For help and support with your application check out our Civil Service Careers Homepage and the How to apply section

We want to offer opportunities to all who are successful at interview for our roles, but this isn't always possible, so we do hold candidates on an active reserve list for 12 months.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is 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 contact: DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk .

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came in to 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 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 : Peter Simmons
• Email : DIO-TSStructuresTeam@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

uk-spec-fourth-edition Opens in new window (pdf, 878kB)Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)DIO Candidate Information Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 1963kB)MOD Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)