Salvage and Marine Operation Specialist in Plymouth

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.

We offer 26.5+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of around 28.97%, to help work work for you.

For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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.

Why join Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO)?

SALMO is the MOD’s centre of excellence for marine 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.

What makes this role different?

• Supporting challenging underwater operations that directly contribute to UK Defence outputs.
• Develop specialist marine salvage, diving safety and operational leadership skills.
• Be part of a highly respected, multidisciplinary team renowned for technical excellence.
• Long term career stability, exceptional pension, and structured development.

Are you an experienced surface supplied diver with an interest in the field of marine salvage operations? Are you excited by the prospect of working in a challenging role and want the opportunity to advance your career in diving and marine environment? Then this could be the ideal position for you!

The SALMO team at the Marine Salvage Unit in HMNB Devonport are looking for experienced salvage mechanic to act as our focal point for maintenance and emergency response both afloat and ashore. Be responsible for keeping vessels and all salvage equipment operational and ready for 24/7 call-out, carrying out repairs during active salvage operations in challenging marine environments. In addition, act as part of an HSE compliant salvage dive team to deliver salvage/ diving capabilities for Defence and other government bodies.

Building on your proven background and qualifications, NAD Group will provide you with the necessary training and help you on your journey to becoming an experienced salvage operator mechanic.

In addition to your core role and responsibilities, you will have the opportunity to support all other areas of SALMO, as and when required. This may be in the form of underwater engineering support, welding/tooling, seabed survey and ROV. There may also be the opportunity for regular deployments within the UK, abroad and afloat, instilling best practice in operations as well as the shore-based management.

We champion flexible ways of working. Whilst onshore, regular in-person on site 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, the team, and your role.

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.

For clarity, the SALMO RG allowances you’ll be eligible for:

• Contactable Allowance £3,191.00 pa
• Sea-going-leave (SGL) is accrued at a rate of 4 Leave Days for each 7 days embarked (additional to your Annual Leave Entitlement)

What you’ll be doing:

• Keep specialist salvage and emergency response equipment safe, serviceable and ready to deploy at short notice.
• Maintain, fault-find and repair equipment ranging from power generation to towing equipment.
• Prepare, test, certify and mobilise equipment for rapid deployment by road, sea or air in support of 24/7 emergency response.
• Provide hands‑on mechanical support to diving teams, workboats, ROV activity and marine salvage operations ashore, afloat and on deployment.
• Install and operate emergency equipment on casualty vessels during salvage and recovery operations.
• Work safely in challenging marine environments, applying safe systems of work against Defence requirements.

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

• Have experience of providing technical advice and delivery of successful subsea activities or marine operations;
• Have technical experience of marine operations in a variety of contexts;
• An Engineering, Science, Technical, Technology or Marine based qualification at RQF Level 6; or
• A Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Marine based qualification at RQF Level 4, plus with a Professional body/institution related to your discipline hold current professional registration at the level listed below; or
• A Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Marine based qualification at RQF Level 3, plus a minimum of 3 further years of relevant professional experience; or
• With a Professional body/institution listed below, hold current professional registration at the level listed below, plus a minimum of 3 further years of relevant professional experience.