Engineering System Owner - Requirements and Acceptance

Job summary

The Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA) is a part of the Ministry of Defence responsible for the procurement, in-service support, and disposal of the UK’s nuclear submarines. Our work is of unparalleled strategic importance nationally and internationally, ensuring the security of the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent (CASD), and delivering some of the most technically complex programmes in defence. At least one of four nuclear-armed submarines, supported by smaller attack submarines, is on patrol at all times: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

At the SDA, we strive to Support, Deliver and Aspire and put our values at the heart of our recruitment process. We believe that everyone should feel comfortable to be themselves and be supported to do their best work. As part of a diverse and inclusive workforce, our team will find a community to belong to. We believe that, by celebrating different backgrounds and different perspectives, together we’ll achieve the extraordinary.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

The primary delivery location for this position is Bristol Abbey Wood.

Please note, due to the level of security, this role is reserved for UK nationals only.

Hybrid and flexible working can be considered for this post but will need regular workplace attendance due to security constraints. Candidates are encouraged to discuss options with the recruiting line manager before submitting an application.

Please note, due to the duties of the role, you must be willing to undertake frequent travel.

Job description

This role is based within the team that defines and delivers requirements and acceptance (R&A) policy across the Submarine Production Alliance (SPA), ensuring a clear path from system requirements to user capability requirements so that customer acceptance can be demonstrated and achieved.

The Requirements & Acceptance team provides strategy, governance and assurance across the Dreadnought and Submersible Ship Nuclear AUKUS (SSNA) programmes, ensuring:

• A robust requirements management system is established and applied throughout the project lifecycle.
• Effective contractual and sponsor acceptance processes are in place and followed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and implement systems engineering and requirements management policy.
• Manage Dreadnought and SSNA requirement sets, supporting systems, processes and acceptance activities.
• Lead R&A activity focused on Equipment Lines of Development (ELoD), collaborating with other Defence Lines of Development as required.
• Drive Learning from Experience (LfE) and best-practice adoption across relevant platform areas.
• Plan and resource delivery of the R&A scope.
• Maintain stable requirement sets (including Ship Speciation (ShipSpec) and SSNA Systems Requirements Document (SRD) and the processes governing change.
• Ensure requirements management toolsets remain fit for purpose.
• Develop and oversee processes supporting design, build, commissioning and acceptance activities.
• Maintain a robust Line of Sight between contractual requirements (ShipSpec/SRD) and sponsor requirements, User Requirements Document (URD).
• Support sponsor acceptance activities in partnership with the sponsor community.
• Support the Chief Engineer and Capability Integration Working Group (CIWG).
• Develop and maintain the Integrated Test, Evaluation and Acceptance Plan (ITEAP).

The Role Ensures

• Risks affecting contractual and sponsor requirements are identified and managed.
• Requirement sets remain current, controlled and coherent.
• Requirements management and acceptance processes are followed.
• Line of Sight between contractual and sponsor requirements is maintained.
• SDA and suppliers adhere to sponsor acceptance arrangements.
• Stakeholders receive appropriate direction and guidance on requirements and acceptance matters.

Key Outputs

• A maintained suite of documents governing requirements management and acceptance, including:
• Acceptance Management
• Requirements Management
• Transversal Management
• Sponsor acceptance policy and process proposals
• Periodic health and progress reporting for Joint Design Authority (JDA) governance
• Oversight of annual ShipSpec/SRD audits supporting Annual Design Reviews (ADR).
• Delivery of feeder reviews supporting ADR activities.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Provides direction and guidance to contractors, suppliers, direct reports, sponsor organisations and wider Defence stakeholders. Liaises regularly with reporting lines, contractor teams and the sponsor community.

The post holder must understand the impact of design decisions on cost, schedule and performance, providing informed advice to the Deputy Chief Engineer (Systems Engineering) while ensuring compliance with functional, safety and regulatory requirements. You will have extensive experience managing Requirements & Acceptance activities and you will possess excellent stakeholder management. Please note you must be willing to undertake frequent travel.

If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by the SDA Recruitment Team. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team via the Help link.

Person specification

In order to be successful in your application, please include how you meet the following essential criteria:

• Chartered or Incorporated Engineer or equivalent relevant professional registration or working towards and able to achieve within 6 months.
• Member of a relevant Professional Engineering/Science Institute or equivalent body
• Relevant Level 6 (or higher) qualification or equivalent experience.
• Experience of providing technical advice at a senior level and leading the delivery of successful engineering outcomes in multidisciplinary projects.
• Wide ranging depth and breadth of technical experience in Requirements and Acceptance Management with a broad understanding of the interdependencies between your work and related systems.

Memberships

Member of a relevant Professional Engineering/Science Institute or equivalent body.

Chartered or Incorporated Engineer or equivalent relevant professional registration or working towards and able to achieve within 6 months.

Evidence of the Memberships will be required at interview.

All memberships declared must be held at point of application and be in date.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Leadership

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Technical Requirements, Evaluation & Acceptance - Expert
• Technical Decision Making - Expert
• Technical Risk Management - Expert

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Technical Requirements, Evaluation & Acceptance - Expert
• Technical Risk Management - Expert

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £64,400, Ministry of Defence contributes £18,656 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.