F-35 Lightning Effectiveness Analyst - Air & Space Warfare Centre (ASWC) Operational Research Branch (ORB)
Ministry of Defence
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 4th November 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Overseas
Business area
Type of role
Engineering
Operational Research
Science
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for an exceptional candidate to contribute to the future of F-35 Operational Test (OT) at an international level, demonstrating the value and expertise of UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) analysts. This MOD Senior Executive Officer (SEO)/(C1) post offers an opportunity for someone with substantial defence knowledge, strong technical and leadership skills, and previous experience in test & evaluation (T&E), to work in a dynamic, international military test environment and make a tangible difference to UK and Coalition capability at a time of significant global tension.
The Air & Space Warfare Centre (ASWC) Operational Research Branch (ORB) is the provider of impartial scientific analysis support to Air Command and Front Line units on matters relating to current and future operational capability. The ORB team of civilian analysts and test specialists provide vital evidence to support decision making within Front Line squadrons, Test & Evaluation Squadrons, deployed Air Component Headquarters, and Air Command.
The UK and Australia recently signed a new 10-year agreement with the US to collaborate on the Follow-on Operational Test & Evaluation (FOT&E) of all three variants of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft, the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft in active service. As part of this agreement, a small number of ASWC ORB analysts are embedded within the United Operational Test Team (UOTT) alongside US, UK and Australian military personnel, US and UK government civilians, and US contractors. The UOTT is charged with evaluating the operational effectiveness (i.e. lethality, survivability, and interoperability) of the F-35 across a variety of challenging mission sets.
As well as supporting F-35 effectiveness assessments by the UOTT, this small team of ASWC ORB analysts also provides direct support to UK-unique test activity conducted by 17 Test & Evaluation Squadron (17TES), the UK’s dedicated F-35B Operational Test Squadron.
The successful candidate will have direct influence within the multi-national, multi-billion dollar F-35 programme (the world’s largest ever defence programme) and ensure the UK Lightning Force remains fully informed on the strengths and limitations of this advanced air system. Your work in this role will have a direct impact on the operational effectiveness of UK Combat Air power in the most hostile of environments.
This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.
Tour length is 3 years with the possibility to extend to 5 Years.
Job description
The successful candidate will be expected to take on the influential role of UOTT Deputy Lead Analyst, and as such will be expected to:
- Provide strong technical leadership on analysis techniques and experimental design, ensuring tests are adequate, scientifically robust and cost effective.
- Assist with test execution, trial validation assessments, and reporting of deficiencies.
- Provide clear direction on matters relating to data collection, processing, and analysis, including modelling & simulation.
- Ensure technical rigour is fully incorporated into all test plans, procedures, and reports, and that all findings are clearly conveyed and evidence-based.
- Provide day-to-day mentoring and tasking of a multi-disciplinary (military, government, and contractor) analyst team of varying ability.
- Build strong working relationships with UK, US and AUS colleagues to ensure UK test requirements are incorporated wherever practicable and UK influence and access in the F-35 programme is maintained.
- Conduct occasional detached duty travel within the US and UK (ranging from a few days to around three weeks) in support of test events, planning conferences, and training courses.
This post is currently based at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California but could also be based within the UOTT headquarters at Nellis AFB in Nevada. The pros and cons of each will be discussed with the successful candidate in greater depth before a final decision is reached on posting location.
In the UK role of ‘ORB Analyst - Lightning Effectiveness’, the successful candidate is also expected to work closely with 17TES to provide rigorous analysis support to UK-funded flight trials, in order to independently assess and assure the capabilities being fielded by the UK Lightning Force, and so is expected to:
- Develop a working knowledge of existing UK Lightning offensive and defensive capabilities.
- Apply sound scientific practices to test design, using the most appropriate analytical and statistical techniques, in order to aid the planning of flight test points and provide scientifically robust analysis products for each trial.
- Work with aircraft manufacturers and US test range personnel as necessary to identify reliable data sources and measures of performance.
- Provide scientific advice during execution of test events, including minimum assets (go/no go criteria), control room procedures, test flow, etc.
- Develop and maintain innovative data processing and analysis toolsets, liaising with other US and UK organisations to exploit pre-existing tools and/or data.
- Manage and manipulate large quantities of trials data using appropriate statistical techniques.
- Interview pilots and review cockpit video during mission debriefs to capture subjective and qualitative data.
- Summarise trial results and explain key findings in a clear and concise manner, both in written and verbal form.
This post currently has no Line Management responsibilities and reports directly to the 17TES Scientific Adviser (MOD Grade 7).
If you need to contact Defence Business Services (DBS) regarding this vacancy, please indicate that your vacancy is being handled by Resourcing Team 1. If you experience any technical difficulties with the CS Jobs system, please contact the Support Team at candidate@support.oleeo.com
Person specification
We would love to hear from you if you meet the below essential criteria:
- Direct experience in the Test & Evaluation of complex systems.
- Direct experience of Modelling & Simulation, including interpretation of outputs and model verification & validation.
- Wide experience conducting operational research (OR) using a range of methods and tools.
- Experience in the application of scientific and/or analytical techniques to solving real world problems.
- Direct experience of the management, manipulation, and analysis of large data sets.
- Experience of clearly communicating analytical results to a range of technical and non-technical audiences, through reports and presentations.
- Experience of leading a team or project.
- Experience working with classified information.
Desirable criteria:
- Ability to code data processing tools using Matlab, Python, VBA, or other computing language.
- Knowledge and experience of the MOD and Defence environment, especially in Combat Air concepts and doctrine.
- Experience of trials conduct/trials management.
- Experience in the Test & Evaluation of air systems, including flight test and/or synthetic environments.
- Experience of using advanced statistical techniques.
- Experience working in a SAP environment.
All applicants will need to meet US State Department eligibility criteria for accreditation, notably this bars dual US Nationals/Lawful Permanent Residents, has a minimum age of 20 years old, and an expectation that you will not have held another accredited post in the USA within the 3 years prior to posting.
U.S (United States). visa law does not recognise common-law relationships. Where only a tourist Visa is given by USA immigration, we are unable to accept the partner as ‘officially recognised’ and the employee is classed as unaccompanied for the overseas tour. This is in line with the current policy which states that whilst we might recognise SOWER status, we are still bound by the host countries VISA requirements, and we can only support the partner if a full VISA is provided not a tourist VISA.
Licences
Qualifications
Evidence of qualification will be required at interview.
All qualifications/licences declared must be held at point of application and if applicable be in date. Equivalent Qualifications will not be accepted.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Knowledge and application of OR skills and techniques (GORS).
- Achieving impact with analysis (GORS).
Benefits
Holiday Entitlement of 25 days of annual leave allowance per year increasing by 1 day per year of seniority as a Civil Servant (maximum 30 days per year). In addition, 8 statutory Bank Holidays and 1 privilege day per year. MOD recognises the diverse religious origins within its workforce and seeks to accommodate individual leave requirements.
Special Paid Leave to volunteer up to 6 days a year (please note that US visa rules would require any voluntary work to be fulfilled in the UK).
Flexible Working - Full time staff will work 37 hours a week but have some flexibility of when they complete these hours, subject to operational requirements. Part time working and job sharing is not possible for this post. Hybrid working is permitted but a minimum of 60% of office attendance per week is expected, and the classified nature of the work makes working from home largely impractical.
Learning & Development - MOD aims to provide each of its civilian staff with 5 days per year of Learning & Development (L&D) tailored to your role, delivered through a combination of high-quality training courses and informal opportunities.
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
We also offer an excellent range of family-friendly benefits, for example, enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 27%.
This overseas post attracts additional benefits (some subject to status) including:
- Shipping and UK storage of some personal effects as part of the overseas relocation package.
- An Overseas Transfer Grant.
- Overseas Rent Allowance and payment of basic utilities for the duration of the tour.
- Cost of Living Allowance, to account for higher living costs in the US.
- Defence medical insurance providing equivalent US healthcare entitlement to that provided by UK NHS.
Discover My Benefits:
Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/
This post offers full relocation allowances subject to availability. Cost of Living Overseas Allowances is payable based on personal circumstances and marital status.
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.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
On applying, candidates will first be required to complete two online tests – the Numerical Reasoning Test (NRT) and the Civil Service Management Judgement Test (CSMJT). If adequate scores are achieved in both tests, candidates will be invited to continue with their online application.
The sift will be conducted on a CV, Personal Statement, Technical Skills listed below and the Behaviours listed below:
Technical Skills:
- Knowledge and application of OR skill and techniques (GORS)
- Achieving impact with analysis (GORS)
Behaviours:
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
- Working Together
The interview will be assessed on the Technical Skills listed above and the following Behaviours:
- Leadership
- Working Together
When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.
Candidates will be sifted using all provided information within approximately two weeks of the vacancy closing. Successful candidates will then be invited to an interview in subsequent weeks where their experience, behaviours and technical ability will be examined further. All interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.
Please note that if offered the position, this is conditional on completion of occupational health questionnaires and security checks, followed by a four-month posting process before you will be expected to fly to the US and take up the post.
We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so if at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance, please reach out to the vacancy Point of Contact.
As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected, and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.
MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – we may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Mr Stuart Wragg
- Email : stuart.wragg824@mod.gov.uk
- Telephone : +16618869128
Recruitment team
- Email : DBSCivPers-ResourcingTeam1@mod.gov.uk
Further information
