At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead service engineering for innovative submarine support solutions and enhance product reliability.
- Company: Join Rolls-Royce, a leader in engineering excellence and innovation.
- Benefits: Generous leave, retirement savings, life assurance, and share ownership opportunities.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace valuing diverse perspectives and fostering career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national security while driving engineering advancements.
- Qualifications: Degree in STEM, leadership experience, and knowledge of complex systems required.
The predicted salary is between 75600 - 92400 £ per year.
Full time – Hybrid Derby
Why join Rolls-Royce? At Rolls-Royce we are proud to be a business that has truly helped to shape the modern world and are committed to always being a force for progress; powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere. By joining Rolls-Royce, you'll have the opportunity to work on world-class solutions, supported by a culture that believes individuality is our greatest strength, and all perspectives, experiences and backgrounds help us innovate and enable our high-performance culture.
Our Services Business Unit is unique, bringing together multiple engineering, testing, digital and repair capabilities with the ultimate goal of maintaining safe, capable and available Submarines for the Royal Navy. In addition to supporting our current products in-service, we are designing the support solution and entry into service for a brand-new generation of nuclear steam raising plant (NSRP), which will continue to provide the UK's continuous at sea deterrent (CASD). To enable this, we are revolutionising how we deliver service engineering and support. We will adopt the latest industry best practice frameworks, processes and engineering techniques, as well as embracing data and digital products to leverage our decades of engineering insights.
Key Accountabilities: As Head of Service Engineering, you'll be technically accountable for our key availability, reliability and maintainability outputs, aligning with our developments in digital, technologies, innovation and capabilities. You'll also have direct line management responsibilities for the service engineering teams within the Services DBU, as well as our engineering service data centre. You will respond to the demands placed by the Integrated Product Support managers, delivering the engineering outputs required at the time and to the right quality.
- Strategic: We want to deliver class-leading products to meet the needs of our customer, the Royal Navy. You’ll do this by setting out a challenging and inspiring vision and driving innovative ways of achieving the required maintainability and availability of our product. This will include influencing our future designs as well as challenging our current maintenance definitions and techniques.
- Proactive: You will evolve our engineering offerings, taking lessons learned, best practice and insights to optimise our maintenance requirements, reacting and adapting to how our product is performing in service.
- Reactive: We deliver a complex product that operates in a complex environment. Your team will provide critical engineering thinking to our customer and front-line support teams.
Key Experiences and Qualifications: The successful candidate will have a high level of autonomy to manage the supportability discipline to meet the requirements of projects. Demonstrable ARM experience for complex products or systems. Knowledge of engineering governance and assurance activities. Professionally registered, degree qualified in a STEM subject. Leadership and management experience of multi-disciplined teams. Cost and budget management for large teams.
Regional Benefits: Generous Annual Leave. Retirement Savings through the Rolls-Royce Retirement Savings Trust. Group Life Assurance provides for a lump sum benefit if you die whilst employed by Rolls-Royce. Group Income Protection provides an income in the event that you are unable to work due to illness or injury. Your Shares: Matched is a simple way to own Rolls-Royce shares and invest in our future, together. Buy one share, get one free!
Our vision is to ensure that the excellence and ingenuity that shaped our history continues into our future. Our multi-year transformation programme aims to turn Rolls-Royce into a high-performing, competitive, resilient and growing company. Join us, and it can be your future vision too.
Rolls-Royce are committed to being a respectful, inclusive, and non-discriminatory workplace where individuality is valued, diverse perspectives fuel innovation, and everyone can thrive.
Please be aware that the priority will be given to employees identified as being at high risk. The professional level and salary of the position will be dependent on the skills and experience of the successful candidate. This job is advertised at the grades shown, and this is the desired operating level for this role. We encourage applications from candidates with relevant experience from any grade. It is advised that you inform your current manager of your application for this role.
Grade: Management Level
For more information, please contact: Alison Connaughton alison.connaughton@Rolls-Royce.com
As part of our selection process, candidates in certain locations may be asked to complete an online assessment, which can include cognitive and behavioural aptitude testing relevant to the role. If required, full instructions for the next steps will be provided.
Job Category: Nuclear Engineering
Posting Date: 03 Aug 2026; 00:08
Posting End Date: 10 Aug 2026
Head of Service Engineering employer: Rolls-royce
At Rolls-Royce, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration in our Bristol/Hybrid location. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through tailored development programmes and opportunities to engage in meaningful projects that shape the future of technology. With a focus on diversity and inclusion, we ensure that every team member feels valued and empowered to contribute to our collective success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Service Engineering
✨Join Engineering Meetups!
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Service Engineering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Expertise:When applying for an engineering role like Head of Service Engineering, it’s essential to highlight your technical skills. Include any relevant software or tools you're proficient in on your CV—think CAD software, simulation tools, or programming languages. Don't skimp on any engineering projects you've worked on that demonstrate your ability to solve complex problems.
Focus on Results and Impact:In the engineering world, we love numbers and real-world impact. Quantify your achievements wherever possible—like reducing costs by a certain percentage, improving efficiency, or successfully completing a project ahead of schedule. This gives your future employers at Rolls-royce a clear picture of the value you can bring.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to express your passion for engineering and explain why you’re drawn to Rolls-royce specifically. Share what aspects of their work excite you and how your values align with theirs. This is your chance to show a bit of personality while keeping it professional!
Include Relevant Certifications:If you have any engineering certifications, especially ones that are recognised in your field, make sure to feature them prominently on your CV. They demonstrate not just your knowledge, but also your commitment to professional development, which is something we at StudySmarter value highly.
How to prepare for a job interview at Rolls-royce
✨Brush Up on Core Engineering Principles
Before heading into the interview with Rolls-royce, make sure you're solid on the fundamental engineering principles relevant to the role. Be ready to discuss concepts such as thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or structural analysis, depending on the specifics mentioned in the job description. Don’t skip any hands-on projects or coursework; these can be excellent talking points!
✨Show Off Your Problem-Solving Skills
Expect technical questions or case studies during your interview—after all, engineering is all about solving problems! Prepare a few examples of how you've tackled engineering challenges in the past, whether at university or in any practical experience. Practising with mock technical interviews can really help you articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Relate Your Experience to the Role
In a full-time role, employers like Rolls-royce want to see that you can adapt and grow within their team. Be ready to discuss how your previous internships, projects, or studies relate directly to the work you'll be doing. Highlight specific experiences that showcase your collaborative skills and how you've successfully worked within a team environment.
✨Know Your Tools and Software
Most engineering roles require familiarity with specific tools and software. Prepare to talk about your proficiency with programmes like AutoCAD, MATLAB, or SolidWorks if they’re relevant to the role. Even better, have examples of projects where you’ve used these tools, as it'll demonstrate your hands-on experience and readiness for the job.
