Naval Overseer - Naval Architecture/Marine Structures

Job summary

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

DE&S has recently been integrated into the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group. The NAD Group brings together key Ministry of Defence (MOD) organisations to unite expertise across science, technology, procurement, infrastructure, and support to provide integrated capabilities faster and more efficiently for our armed forces and our allies. This is an exciting new opportunity to enable better ways of working and empower greater collaboration across Defence. For further information about the NAD Group, please visit: National Armaments Director Group - GOV.UK

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work for you.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

Job description

Looking for more than just a job? Step into a role where your work truly matters and be part of cutting-edge defence projects shaping the future, supporting and protecting the UK’s interests.

We have an extraordinary opportunity for a leader with either naval architecture or marine structures background for the role of a Naval Overseer. Within our Support Ships organisation, the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) project is leading the charge in delivering three state-of-the-art ships, with construction well underway. The build strategy is for the aft section of each ship (including machinery spaces accommodation areas and the bridge) to be built in Spain, with full assembly, trials and commissioning in Belfast. These ships will play a vital role in supporting the Royal Navy’s global operations, and we need your expertise to help bring them to life.

As a Naval Overseer, you are a leading member of our shipyard oversight, assurance, and acceptance team. You will ensure that the integration and commissioning of the FSS ships being assembled at the prestigious Harland & Wollf in Belfast will meet the highest standards of quality, design, and operational excellence.

In this role, you will apply your technical and leadership experience to oversee and ensure that construction of the ship’s build meet contract specifications, design standards, and operational requirements. You will build strong, collaborative relationships with contractors, regulatory bodies, and stakeholders, fostering a spirit of cooperation and shared success. Monitoring and reporting on build progress with accuracy and insight will be a key part of your responsibilities, as will representing the MOD effectively at working group meetings and progress reviews. When technical issues arise, you will take a proactive and solution-focused approach to resolve them rapidly, ensuring the best outcomes for the project.

You will gain experience in a fast-moving project, using modern design techniques and acquiring knowledge to support your career development within the NAD Group that will be transferable to any ship design, build or support project. Whether you’re looking to deepen your expertise or broaden your horizons, this role will set you on a path to continued professional growth.

Due to the nature of the role, this is a full time only post.

What you’ll be doing

• Provide professional engineering oversight of Naval Architecture/Marine Structures aspects of ship construction and trials, acting as a MOD/NADG representative in the shipyard and helping to ensure ships are delivered to the required contractual, technical and quality standards.
• Undertake on-site ship build assurance and inspection activity, identifying and recording defects, quality shortfalls and emerging issues early, and supporting timely resolution with the shipbuilder and MOD project team.
• Use engineering judgement to support local decision-making, provide clear recommendations, and escalate issues where required to help maintain delivery tempo while managing risk appropriately.
• Support acceptance and assurance activities, including attendance at key inspections, tests, trials and readiness events, and contribute to the evidence needed to demonstrate compliance with agreed requirements.
• Work collaboratively with industry partners, ship’s staff and MOD stakeholders to maintain effective communication, understand delivery risks, and support continuous improvement and lessons from experience.
• Promote safe, compliant and professional working in shipyard and trials environments, supporting the management of safety, environmental and indemnity risks within the scope of the role.
• Provide a professional opinion on assurance documentation associated with major evolutions

Person specification

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

• Lead criterion - Experience of providing technical advice at a senior level and leading the delivery of successful Naval Architecture/Marine Structures outcomes.
• As a minimum be professionally registered as either:
• Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or have equivalent experience
• Incorporated Marine Engineering (IMarEng) or have equivalent experience

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

• Core Behaviour 1: Making Effective Decisions – CSBC 3
• Core Behaviour 2: Delivering at Pace – CSBC 3
• Technical Competence 1: ECF_01 Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking – Practitioner
• Technical Competence 2: ECF_03 Supportable Technical Solutions – Practitioner

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,400, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,442 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’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a