Overview

The Naval Communications Messaging and Support teams are looking for a Naval Communications Support Engineer to join them at Southampton. The role is split between Southampton and external platforms, and the candidate should be able to work independently as well as in a close-knit team.

Key Responsibilities

• Support product development and in-service support
• Integration, test and acceptance responsibilities
• Design support including key documentation
• Field support at customer locations (UK and abroad)
• Remote support to deployed units

Experience and Skills

• Naval Communications systems, including external and internal comms
• Operator or maintainer experience in warships or submarines
• Familiarity with:
  • System networking technology
  • RF bearing equipment
  • Cryptography
  • Message handling systems such as MPS2000
  • Diagnostics and rectification of communications systems
  • Technical documentation and report writing
• Previous experience within a defence environment

Qualifications

• HNC or equivalent relevant experience

Additional Expectations

• Field service engineering work would often be off-site, requiring travel
• A full driving licence
• Due to the nature of the team, a full medical would be required for potential deployment to military platforms

In line with expectations working within a defence environment, the successful candidate would be expected to complete required security clearance prior to starting the role.

Leave and Working Arrangements

• Annual leave of 25 days, 8 bank holidays and up to 12 days flex leave
• 37 hour standard working week

Purpose of Job

Supportability Engineering encompasses not only the management of complex systems, but the whole of the ILS disciplined approach that influences the product design and develops a Support Solution to optimise supportability and Through Life Costs. It delivers the Initial Support Package and ensures continued optimisation of the Support Solution in light of product modifications and changes in operational use and requirements.

We are looking for individuals who can effectively integrate supportability activities in sync with the lifecycle phase. Supportability Engineering includes Technical Publications, Training, Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) and Field Service Engineering (FSE).

The role is to assist in the analysis, preparation and delivery of Supportability Engineering activities with the main focus being Field Service Engineering. This is to support a variety of projects within the Leonardo company product portfolio across the Southampton and Basildon offices.

Field Service Engineering (FSE)

Essential Skills & Requirements

It is essential that all FSEs are physically fit and able to work at sea. The successful candidate will be able to manage and generate budgets, utilise performance and overhead spend. Skilled and experienced in managing Safety and generating Risk Assessments, with a sound understanding of applicable regulations. You will be required to write Overarching, Task Specific and Travel Risk Assessments and have working knowledge of Health and Safety legislation such as Manual Handling and Working at Height. As an FSE, you will provide specific training, including safety, as identified within risk assessments to end-users.

Demonstrable experience in conducting and leading field engineering activities including trials, development programmes, installation and commissioning, customer support and demonstrations both in the UK and abroad. Generate Trials Plans and Risk Assessments sufficient to conduct off-site activities. Ability to produce Technical Field Reports. Asset management techniques, planned preventative maintenance, reactive repair and documentation. Ability to work as part of a small team or alone in a challenging, diverse engineering environment. Fault finding techniques on electronic, electrical and mechanical equipment to component level, using specialised test equipment. Responsibility for installation, commissioning, proving, maintenance and repair of company equipment on and off site. Management of In-Service and Customer Return Failure data. Good interpersonal skills and often being the first point of contact with customers. Occasional standby, with evenings, nights and weekends possible as part of a rota.

Developing understanding of domain-specific markets, customers/supply chain. Understanding of functional-specific competencies and ability to apply them with supervision. Relationship-building with cross-functional colleagues, customers and suppliers.

Professional Levels

Level 5 Field Service Engineering: manage own work with minimal supervision and solve moderately complex problems. Typical accountabilities include professional development and registration, working with Integrated Project Teams (IPTs), delivering robust engineering solutions, planning and delivering work, and translating customer requirements into clear technical solutions and specifications.

Key Responsibilities (IPT context)

• Work with weekly input from the IPT to identify project needs
• Liaise with engineers and Subject Matter Experts to gather information and turn key points into suitable material
• Operate with minimal supervision
• Organise and manage offsite activities to successfully conduct trials and customer demonstrations in the UK and worldwide

Person Specification

• Professional/eEducational qualifications: engineering background with understanding of system design; minimum HND/HNC in Electrical and Electronic Engineering or relevant experience
• Experience: field service engineering across Electronics, Software, Electrical and Mechanical disciplines; advanced MS Office and presentation skills; fault-finding to component level; previous sea-experience desirable
• Key competencies: Highly motivated, clear documentation, team working, communication skills, technical understanding, IT literacy, mobility; ability to travel UK and overseas for periods of several weeks; security clearance to at least SC level

Primary Location: GB - Southampton

Contract Type: Permanent

Hybrid Working: Onsite