DNO – Replacement Warhead Programme Systems Engineering Support

Do you want to be at the heart of real Defence issues and play a key role in the United Kingdom’s (UK) national security? 

Established in April 2016, the Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO) delivers nuclear capability to deter threats and protect our nation. 

The DNO oversees all defence nuclear business (excluding operations) and is responsible for providing nuclear deterrence; sponsoring the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (all the organisations, programmes and people that sustain the UK’s nuclear deterrent); and advising on UK nuclear policy, planning and international co-operation on nuclear matters. 

The UK’s independent nuclear deterrent has existed for over 60 years to deter the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life, and that of our NATO Allies. To ensure that we have a credible and capable nuclear deterrent for as long as the security situation requires, we are building four new nuclear armed submarines – known as the Dreadnought Class – and replacing our nuclear warheads. These renewal programmes will utilise world-leading technology and are a showcase in science and engineering, highlighting the prowess of British industry.  

Here at DNO we strongly believe that diversity and inclusion is not only the right thing to do but is also essential for a thriving and successful organisation. We know that diverse teams bring a wide range of perspectives, experiences and ideas, which lead to better decision-making, creativity and innovation. We have a culture where differences are celebrated and our people feel supported, included and empowered. Join us and be part of an organisation that truly values diversity and inclusion and makes a positive impact on the world. 

Within DNO, the Warhead Directorate leads the UK nuclear warhead programme which provides a stockpile of reliable, safe and effective nuclear warheads to support the UK’s strategic nuclear deterrent now and in the future.

The Warhead Directorate has staff based in MOD Main Building, MOD Abbey Wood (Bristol), Aldermaston (Reading) and HM Naval Base Clyde (Scotland). This post can be based in Bristol or Reading with occasional travel between sites.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

This post is placed within the Replacement Warhead Programme (RWP), which is responsible for enabling the UK’s replacement nuclear warhead to be successfully designed, manufactured, and fielded. The programme has teams dedicated to project and stakeholder management, benefits realisation, and engineering. This post sits within the engineering team which is directly responsible for all technical aspects of the Replacement Warhead product and interacts with wider DNO, MOD, and the private sector to ensure delivery of suitable supporting systems and equipment.

The Systems Engineering Support acts as the focal point for requirements and acceptance strategy, system qualification, and engineering frameworks. You would support the Systems Engineering Manager to ensure the programme has a traceable and realistic set of requirements that success can be measured against.

The postholder will interpret policy, project, and technical inputs from across the international stakeholder group; recognise constraints and risks and evaluate solutions to enable effective decision making at the system and user level. You will gain broad exposure across the RWP by helping to represent the programme both at home and with international partners, to direct and influence work to align outputs to programme benefits.

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.

Responsibilities: 

Support the Development of the DNO engineering framework for acquisition and acceptance of the Replacement Warhead

• Ensure that the engineering framework allows the RWP to act as a true intelligent customer for outputs from the private sector.
• Deliver a review and acceptance framework that satisfies MOD policy and best practice; ensures effective delivery of the Replacement Warhead; interfaces with related US programmes through relevant treaty routes in the Mutual Defence Agreement (MDA) and Polaris Sales Agreement (PSA) and enables flexibility for modification or life extension.

Support in evaluating the contractor’s readiness to support the Replacement Warhead Programme

• Monitor and apply technical judgement to assess the maturity of the contractor’s engineering processes and support the assessment of its candidate technologies and components against recognised measures to minimise risk to delivery of the UK’s next nuclear weapon.

Support the development of DNO system requirements for the Replacement Warhead Programme

• Work with programme stakeholders, including the nuclear weapon design and production agencies and the United States, to generate requirements documents for the systems that are needed to deliver the Replacement Warhead. Identify and challenge constraints on the RWP.
• Address conventional weapons, ordnance, munitions, and explosives (WOME) and nuclear acquisition to achieve support from the diverse stakeholder base. This includes elements such as safety principles, environment definitions and may extend beyond the re-entry body.

Support the Systems Engineering Manager with development of the Replacement Warhead architectures and qualification plan by the design agency

• Use detailed knowledge of nuclear weapon design to make credible technical decisions within the engineering and assessment framework.
• Evaluate and guide the design agency’s concept and assessment phase work to ensure acceptability against DNO system requirements.
• Use knowledge of the qualification and certification methods to work with the design agency to define a suitable plan for verifying the Replacement Warhead against the system requirements. Ensure the qualification plan meets the certification and capability requirements of the MOD customer.
• Support in international working groups for qualification, test, and evaluation, with a view to help maximise both programme resilience and value for money.

Support the delivery of MOD benefits from technology development programmes

• Using knowledge of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) and credible judgements on potential weapon technologies, direct and influence work to cover the areas of most benefit for the UK’s next nuclear weapon.
• Ensure that development work undertaken under domestic and international technology development programmes is aligned to potential implementation paths in the DNE and secures value for money.

Qualifications:

• Level 4 qualification in a technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience
• Post-joining to complete: Warhead Essentials Course, Nuclear Weapon Foundation Course, and Nuclear Weapon Design and Hazards (Z6) Course

Skills:

• Experience of Requirements management
• Experience of Systems Engineering, ideally in a complex programme environment
• Knowledge of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise

Desirable Qualifications:

• Incorporation or Chartership with an engineering or scientific institution, or a route to attaining such

Desirable Skills:

• Experience working in acquisition and in-service support of Defence assets (particularly weapons, ordnance, munitions, explosives (WOME) and nuclear weapons.
• Test, evaluation, and qualification of Defence assets, particularly WOME and nuclear weapons
• Early-stage development and review and acceptance management of nuclear weapon systems or components
• Project or programme management experience

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

• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

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

• Nuc 2.2 – Management of the Nuclear Weapon Programme

We truly believe that the MOD is a great place to work, and we offer a unique employee experience. We want to ensure that every single employee feels appreciated & fairly rewarded and offer the following additional benefits:

• Learning and development tailored to your role and broader skill development, enabling you to build a long-term career in your chosen area. Where appropriate there will be offers of training under our apprenticeship schemes.
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• 25 days annual leave, raising to 30 days following 5 years’ service (+ 8 days bank and public holidays), with family friendly benefits including improved maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
• Cycle Loan (Advance on Salary)
• Thank You Scheme
• Defence Sports & Recreational Association (DSRA)
• Defence Discount Service
• Some of our sites have on-site gyms, restaurants, cafes, nurseries and more.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment by 31st December 2022. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

Job contact :

• Name : DNO-External Recruitment
• Email : DNO-Externalrecruiting@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk