Senior Underwater Signatures & Control Scientist

Job summary

The Underwater Systems and Operations Delivery Team delivers to a diverse and technically demanding programme of work, which provides acoustic capability in the Underwater Battlespace for UK Defence and its international partners.

Within the team you will use your knowledge and experience to work closely with industry, academia, and international partners to design, develop, test and demonstrate mathematical or physical models for the prediction and understanding of acoustic signatures, and acoustic signature control solutions, to maintain UK advantage in the underwater battle space. This work has a high impact on MOD decision-making for current and future Royal Navy platforms during a time of accelerated development of underwater science and technology and demands a commitment and willingness to learn new skills and knowledge and a strong desire to apply this learning for the benefit of defence and security.

You will join a group that is at the forefront of underwater acoustics science and technology and holds a unique position with unparalleled opportunities across a wide range of defence applications to develop world-class acoustics scientists.

Job description

This role requires collaboration with other government departments, agencies, industry and academia. Within the team you will have the opportunity to shape and drive your future career and become an expert in your field.

In this role you will:

• Engage with customers/stakeholders effectively to develop UK MOD's submarine signatures capability – accountable to the internal Dstl programme and its wider MOD stakeholders.
• Provide technical leadership of research and development projects to meet MOD's short, medium and long-term capability goals – accountable to the internal Dstl program
• Engage and work in a cross-cutting manner across Dstl as required. Collaborate with the UK's international partners to support MOD long term goals.

For more information on the job profile, see the job profile attached below

Person specification

You will hold an honours degree or masters (or equivalent recognised professional/vocational qualification) in a scientific, numerical or engineering discipline. You will have a strong scientific background and proactive approach to problem solving and the ability to work innovatively. You will be a strong communicator and have excellent interpersonal skills.

For more information on the essential criteria for this role, please see the job profile attached below

Qualifications

Essential
• Degree in Mathematics, Physics or Engineering.
Desirable
• PhD in a relevant scientific discipline

Memberships

Membership of a professional body/bodies is welcomed but not a prerequisite. Note that Dstl
currently supports membership fees for two professional bodies

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,431, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £12,002 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).

Benefits

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.

• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours (e.g. working a 4 day week/ 9 day fortnight), job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).

• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.

• Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.

• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.

• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid

• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.

• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.

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 and Experience.We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

If you are a current Dstl employee you must ensure your line manager is aware of your application and the potential situation regarding release dates.

At the application stage, we will assess your submitted application against the essential criteria set out in the job profile.

Sifting will take place from the 3rd November with interviews to be arranged from the 17th November, interviews will take place face to face at Dstl Porton Down.

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.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

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 : Dstl Recruitment Team
• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Further information

Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.

Attachments

L5, Senior Underwater Signatures & Control Scientist, Systems Integration, S&T Delivery Opens in new window (pdf, 148kB)Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 4978kB)