Junior Weapons Engineer

 

Main characteristics

Location

Ratfyn, Wiltshire

Company

Defence Equipment & Support

Salary

£36100 - £39000/annum

Employment type

Permanent

Category

Engineering

Job summary

Are you an Engineer who is passionate about the defence of the United Kingdom and looking to develop your skills? At Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), we're looking for Junior Weapons Engineers to join our teams. We're dedicated to supporting our people to learn, progress, and take that next career step - so let us know your ambitions and we'll be with you every step of the way. This is a brilliant opportunity to launch your career in Weapons Engineering and take on a meaningful and rewarding role supporting UK Defence.

You will be joining our Weapons Operating Centre which encompasses munitions and weapon systems ranging from small calibre ammunition through to strategic missile systems supplied to all of the UKs military customers. The Weapons Systems team covers all areas of Ordnance Munitions and Explosives (OME) and Lasers across Air, Land and Sea domains. You could be working first hand with rocket launch systems, laser technology and fire control systems.

DE&S is also responsible for procuring much of the UK military support being sent to Ukraine. During 22/23, DE&S has procured £1.3 billion of equipment and support for Ukraine the UKs largest movement of ammunition since the Second World War. The UK was the first European country to provide weapons to Ukraine. With the conflict in Ukraine now in its second year, it is critical that DE&S continues to assist the Ukrainians with the sustainment of their battle-winning equipment. This is even more important as the Ukrainian counter offensive begins. Our weapons engineers are pivotal in ensuring the equipment provided is safe and suitable for its service use by UK and Ukrainian forces.

You choose your location:

* MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol

* Defence Munitions Beith, Ayrshire

* MOD Boscombe Down, Salisbury

* Defence Munitions Gosport, Hampshire

Regardless of which location you choose, there will be at least monthly travel to Bristol required. If Bristol is not your Permanent Duty Station, travel costs will be accommodated. There will be regular domestic travel to other UK sites involved and the potential for international travel.

Responsibilities

* Support the planning, witnessing and execution of trials for platforms or Ordnance Munitions and Explosives (OME)

* Work directly with our military customers to develop and manage technical requirements

* Provide professional technical advice, guidance, and platform/equipment support to stakeholders within and outside DE&S which may include support on OME

* Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Engineering developments, technical standards, policy and opportunities for application within the business

* Ensure that DE&S and other MOD customers comply with statutory and MOD regulations, safety standards and best practice, supporting delivery teams in the assessment and management of Land/OME Safety risk

* Identify, assess and exploit emergent technologies to support the delivery of cutting-edge capability

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

* Hold a HNC (i.e., Level 4 or higher) qualification in a relevant engineering or science discipline or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience

* Experience of providing technical advice and delivery of successful engineering outcomes

* Experience with system/equipment/project safety

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

* Application of Analytical Techniques (Supervised Practitioner)

* Technical Requirements, Evaluation & Acceptance (Supervised Practitioner)

* Communicating and influencing

* Making effective decisions

Benefits

* 25 days annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the Kings birthday

* Flexible and hybrid working wherever possible, to support your work-life balance (though some attendance to the stated site is required)

* Market-leading employer pension contribution of around 27%

* Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards

* Access to specialist training and funded professional qualifications

* Support for progression

* Huge range of discounts

* Volunteering days

* Enhanced parental leave schemes