Principal Mechanical Engineer (Band 2/Grade 7)
Health and Safety Executive
Apply before Midday on Wednesday 30th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
At HSE, we work with one goal in mind – to help keep Britain’s workforce safe and healthy. Our work touches virtually every sector of Great Britain’s industries. Combining specialists from numerous fields, we strive to keep people and their working environments safe.
We don’t just inspect workplaces and investigate incidents, we campaign for better H&S practice, we craft and review guidance and regulations, we provide specialist products and services both here and overseas, and we produce crucial research and statistics – all towards our goal of helping Great Britain work well.
HSE’s Science Division is a world leading provider of health and safety solutions to industry and government. The scope of our work requires a diversity of talented individuals.
Our capabilities encompass a wide range of topics including: fire, explosion, process safety and engineering; occupational and environmental health; risk assessment; work environment; and specialist technical imaging, visual presentation and analysis services.
This breadth of expertise underpins our particular strength in creating multidisciplinary teams to support major incident investigations and policy development, as well as undertaking high quality research.
Job description
This vacancy is for a Principal Mechanical Engineer to join our Engineering team in the Major Hazards Capability Group. This is an excellent opportunity to use your skills to contribute to innovative work to support HSE incident investigations, and research and testing projects to directly improve the lives of people in their workplaces.
You can expect to lead and contribute to a diverse range of projects within the health and safety sector, especially HSE incident investigation, support and research, and also be involved in work for other government departments and industrial clients.
You will be part of a team of mechanical, electrical, and gas engineers delivering experimental testing in relation to incident investigations and safety-related research but you will also collaborate with technical experts across many other disciplines.
You will be required to mentor other technical staff within the team, and may be required to undertake line management duties.
Responsibilities:
- Leading and supporting incident investigations, including fatalities, working with other agencies such as the Police and attending incident sites as appropriate. This will involve travel and overnight stays away from home.
- Leading and supporting the development and delivery of research and testing work including the development of work proposals and presentation of technical solutions to both technical and non-technical staff inside and outside HSE.
- Writing, contributing to, and reviewing technical reports in relation to incident, research and testing projects.
- Producing and reviewing expert witness statements, and presenting expert evidence in court.
- Presenting technical work to a range of audiences including HSE technical staff and external stakeholders.
Hybrid Working
At HSE, we are proud to be able to offer our people the opportunity to work in a hybrid way which combines working from home and the office. Please note that if you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.
Travel
You will be expected to attend incident sites across Great Britain at short notice, and some overnight stays will be required.
Working Pattern
Part-time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part-time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Person specification
Essential Skills and Criteria
- Able to apply your knowledge and experience of engineering, in a logical and methodical manner, to delivery of incident and research work in the field of industrial health and safety engineering.
- Able to write clear, high quality, accurate documents such as technical reports and witness statements that are suitable to be submitted as evidence if required.
- Able to clearly and concisely present information and opinion as an expert witness in court.
- Able to review and analyse incident evidence and available data, with a view to determining causal links and proposing appropriate experimental testing.
- Able to effectively lead and mentor technical teams.
- Significant experience in a relevant technical leadership role.
Licences
Qualifications
Memberships
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Theoretical knowledge and practical application of mechanical engineering or other relevant engineering discipline (such as aeronautical, production, marine, or manufacturing engineering).
- Theoretical knowledge and practical application of mechanical testing methods.
- Technical project or team leading.
- Technical documents writing, for example technical research or incident reports.
- Demonstrate competence of applying mathematical and computational modelling techniques, e.g. hand calculations and Finite Element Analysis, to solving engineering problems, e.g. static stress analysis and dynamic stress analysis .
- Demonstrate the use of a strong logical and methodical approach in the application of engineering knowledge.
We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:
- Theoretical knowledge and practical application of mechanical engineering or other relevant engineering discipline (such as aeronautical, production, marine, or manufacturing engineering).
- Theoretical knowledge and practical application of mechanical testing methods.
- Technical project or team leading.
- Technical documents writing, for example technical research or incident reports.
- Demonstrate competence of applying mathematical and computational modelling techniques, e.g. hand calculations and Finite Element Analysis, to solving engineering problems, e.g. static stress analysis and dynamic stress analysis .
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
We invest in our people with;
- Competitive rates of pay
- Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 28.9% far more than in the private sector.
- Family friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career
- Carer friendly policies to help create a supportive working culture
- 25 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave
- Parental leave benefits
- As a member of HSE you will gain access to a wide range of fantastic benefits that you can take advantage of such as the Cycle to Work Scheme, E-Gift Cards and Vouchers via our partner EdenRed.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Information
As part of your application form you will be required to complete a CV which details your career history, qualifications, key skills and experience. Please note the CV will not be assessed and is for information purposes only. You will then be asked to provide evidence for the 5 Technical Skills mentioned in the advert (up to 250 words each).
Sift Information
At sift you will be assessed on the five Technical Skills on your application form. The sift is due to take place week commencing 4th November.
Interview Information
At interview you will be assessed on the two Behaviours and five Technical Skills listed in this advert.
There will also be a problem-solving exercise element to the interview; this will assess the sixth Technical Skill in this advert. You will be required to apply your knowledge to a realistic scenario and demonstrate your ability to formulate solutions and/or suggest and justify options.
You will also be required to do a presentation, more information will be supplied to successful candidates as part of their interview invites.
The interviews are due to be held at HSE Buxton, SK17 9JN during the week commencing 25th November.
AI Tools & Platforms
During the application process candidates are allowed to utilise AI (artificial intelligence) platforms and Tools to support them in writing their Behaviours, CV’s and Personal Statements. However, all information submitted must be factually accurate. This includes presenting the ideas and experience of others, or those generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. All presented information will be assessed at the Interview Stage.
Sponsorship
This role is not open to application from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship your application will be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment will be withdrawn.
Security Clearance
Due to the nature of security checks undertaken, applicants must have 3 years continuous residency in the UK up to the date of the application and, Home Office approval for indefinite leave to remain within the UK.
Further Information
Please note that a Reserve List will be held for the period of up to 12 months.
It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful in their application. For a summary of HSE terms and conditions as part of Civil Service Reform, please see the attached HSE Terms and Conditions document.
HSE is proud to be a part of the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS). As a Disability Confident employer, we positively welcome applications from disabled people. We are committed to making workplace adjustments to ensure anyone can participate in the recruitment and selection process.
We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all disabled applicants who provide evidence of meeting the minimum requirements necessary for the post.
If, during the application or interview process, you require any assistance due to a disability or a medical condition, please contact us at the email address below to discuss how we can support you. For example if you have a disability, and you need an application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please contact: hr.resourcing-team@hse.gov.uk
If successful in securing your role, HSE can provide suitable workplace adjustments to support you throughout your career with HSE.
Any move to HSE 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 Homepage , Childcare Choices
Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further; Formal discipline action, any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance or any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action.
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 : Dr John Allen
- Email : john.allen@hse.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hr.resourcing-team@hse.gov.uk
Further information
HR Resourcing Team, 2.3 Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 7HS. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact Civil Service commissioners:
https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/civilservicecodecomplaints/
