Naval Architect - SALMO in Plymouth

Salary: £46,400 per annum (plus generous benefits)

Working Pattern: Full time, Part time, Job Share, Flexible Working

Contract Type: Permanent

Why join SALMO? SALMO is the MOD’s centre of excellence for marine operations, salvage, and emergency response. Our multidisciplinary team, ranging from Master Mariners and Naval Architects to Environmental Scientists and Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV) / Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) Operators, delivers critical support to UK Defence operations around the globe. Whether it’s locating downed aircraft on the seabed, surveying wrecks, towing warships, or conducting emergency response drills, our work is as varied as it is vital.

As a Naval Architect you will provide professional expertise in support of DE&S’ Salvage and Marine Operations team. The role will involve delivering technical solutions for marine operations, including towing, heavy lift, salvage, wreck removal, emergency response, and other specialist marine operations, ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards, and supporting the effective management of maritime assets.

DE&S Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO) is the Ministry of Defence's operational delivery team for marine operations, salvage and emergency response, providing expertise to recover disabled vessels and aircraft from the marine environment, carrying out marine operations moving Royal Navy vessels, manage potential pollution from wrecks, and provide underwater engineering support. The highly specialised SALMO team includes master mariners, naval architects, marine engineers, and divers, using cutting-edge technology such as stability analysis tools and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to manage global response and operations.

We champion flexible ways of working. Regular in-person attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 60% of your working week) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance and business need. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site.

What’s in it for you? This is more than just a job; it’s a chance to make a real impact. The role is operationally critical and comes with additional allowances under SALMO Terms and Conditions, reflecting the importance and intensity of the work you’ll be doing.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead in the generation of naval architecture technical requirements and analysis for marine operations, defining technical deliverables/artifacts and updating other documentation (such as stability assessments, performance criteria and draft specifications), including the considerations to in-service support and associated costs.
• Create and authorise technical data input and changes to support the management and maturity of engineering solutions and documentation, focusing on successful technical outcomes.
• Identify and analyse complex technical hazards/operational impacts and contribute to the identification and evaluation of risk reduction measures, ensuring adequate documentation and evidence.
• Manage the system test, verification, validation, and evaluation process.
• Manage the technical aspects, support, and modification to a maritime salvage operation.
• Monitor and implement governance and assurance policies and procedures.
• Provide operational support to manage the technical decisions surrounding the disposals and decommissioning of ships and boats.

Person specification:

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

• Lead Criterion – Demonstration of a wide-ranging depth and breadth experience providing technical advice and delivery of successful Naval Architecture outcomes.
• Demonstrate experience of providing technical advice and leading the delivery of Naval Architecture outcomes.
• As a minimum be professionally registered as either:
  • Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or
  • Incorporated Marine Engineering (IMarEng)

Note: Alternatives to qualifications listed above (which cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland only), is the Scottish SCQF or international equivalent qualification backed up by a statement of comparability from UK ENIC.

This role is subject to Retained Grade Terms and Conditions and differ from the DE&S standard Terms and Conditions. For SALMO Retained Grade seeking promotion, please refer to Part 2, Section 10.2 of the SALMO Retained Grade Handbook.

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 – CSBC3
• Technical Competence 1: ECF_01 Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking – Practitioner (1.3)
• Technical Competence 2: ECF_03 Supportable Technical Solutions – Practitioner (3.3)

Full time staff employed for less than 5 years are entitled to 26.5 days’ annual leave per year, rising to 31.5 days per year after 5 years of service.

Flexible and hybrid working options.

Market-leading employer pension contribution of around 28.97%.

Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards.

Access to specialist training and funded professional qualifications.

Support for progression.

Huge range of discounts.

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 new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of - and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.