AUV Maintainer in Plymouth

Why join 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.

Are you excited by the prospect of working in a challenging role and want the opportunity to continue on your journey to become an AUV Maintainer? Then this could be the ideal position for you!

You will help deliver a discrete capability within SALMO using cutting edge commercial AUV technology to provide deep water survey outputs in support of SALMO and wider MOD objectives. You will use your experience of working as part of a close-knit team to build strong relationships with your co-workers, helping to promote an encouraging and supportive environment. Take responsibility for the system’s performance, troubleshooting issues, and ensuring safe and efficient operations in diverse environments. Throughout these tasks, you will be applying strict safety practices, protecting the marine environment, and ensuring all activities comply with relevant maritime regulations. Your contribution will help ensure that complex marine operations run safely, efficiently, and to the highest professional standards.

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.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 10 years and obtain Developed Vetting (DV) security clearance. Clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you have 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or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.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 DV security clearance can be a lengthy process. You’ll join us once Security Check (SC) clearance is obtained, and then the more enhanced DV checks will continue after you’ve started your employment. If SC clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months, we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made.

What you’ll be doing:

• Deploy afloat with the AUV system, circa 10-12 weeks split over multiple deployments each year.
• Responsible for maintenance and availability of the AUV capability both offshore and onshore.
• Support the mobilisation and integration with host vessels by preparing, deploying and recovering the vehicle at sea.
• Support the identification of and requirement setting for technical procurements of services.
• Assist the AUV Engineering Manager in planning, organising and conducting tasks.

Person specification:

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 survey activities or marine operations;
• Have technical experience of marine operations in a variety of contexts;
• Hold (as minimum) either:

• 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; or
• STCW 1 OOW Unlimited (STCW) or STCW OOW Engineer, or Electro-Technical Officer (ETO) III/6 (Unlimited); or
• An AUV or ROV Pilot / Technician Grade II certification and nominally 90 days’ minimum offshore experience as ROV Pilot/Technician Grade II and a minimum of 50 hours operating hours as ROV Pilot/Technician Grade II, of logbook demonstrated offshore experience.

• Engineering Technician (EngTech) or Registered Science Technician (RSciTech); or
• Marine Engineering Technician (MarEngTech); or
• Marine Technician (MarTech).

This role is subject to Retained Grade Terms and Conditions and differ from the DE&S standard Terms and Conditions.

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: Working Together – CSBC 3
• Technical Competence 1: ECF_01 Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking – Supervised Practitioner
• Technical Competence 2: ECF_03 Supportable Technical Solutions – Supervised Practitioner

Offered Benefits:

Alongside your salary of £43,200, Ministry of Defence contributes £12,515 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. 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. 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 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.

Further Information:

Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles – Civil Service Commission. Candidate Information Pack: SALMO Terms and Conditions: Civil Service Code: The Code – Civil Service Commission. Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice.

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.’

Selection process details:

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

• Pre-sift – We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.
• Sift – Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills.
• Interview – If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be assessed against the Sift categories (CV Review) listed above, as well as the Technical Competences and Behaviours listed in the Person Specification section of this advert.

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the relative importance of the assessed competencies.

Ready to join us as an AUV Maintainer? Apply now!