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Weapon Engineer Officer (Submariner)
Job Role

Weapon Engineer Officer (Submariner)

You’ll lead a team of specialist engineers on one of two types of cutting-edge submarines, on highly classified global missions.

TechnologyWeaponsEngineeringManagement
  • £33,138 - £90,268
  • Undergraduate Degree
  • Submarine Service
  • Engineering
  • Officer level

At a glance

This job sits within the Engineering Profession and is an Engineering Officer role. You’ll lead your elite team of engineers on some of our most highly classified missions. You could be maintaining the ballistic missiles that are our nation’s nuclear deterrent, or working on cutting-edge radar and detection systems.

£5,000

for earning your ‘Dolphins’

£33,138

Your minimum salary from day one

£1,727.75

Additional pay starting at this amount per month at sea once qualified as a Submariner

£27,000

Joining bonus

6 weeks

Of paid holiday every year

Chartership

Get accredited as soon as possible
Warfare
I’m part of one of the Royal Navy’s most elite teams, which is a great feeling. The kit we work with is incredible, and I get a real sense of satisfaction when we all pull together to solve a problem.

Sean

Officer, Engineering Branch

Role details

What you’ll do

Being a Weapon Engineer Officer (Submariner) means leading a team of skilled engineers on some of the Royal Navy’s most top secret missions. You could be on board a Vanguard-class submarine, where you’ll ensure the ballistic missiles that are our nation’s nuclear deterrent can be fired quickly and accurately, or guaranteeing the performance of cutting-edge radar and detection systems on a hunter killer boat. 

Whatever the operation, below the surface, teamwork is key. You’ll need to combine your first-class engineering knowledge with personal skills, as you take responsibility for the submarine’s potency as a state-of-the-art fighting machine. It’s a job that is hugely important, which is why you’ll get a £27,000 bonus just for joining and an extra £5,000 for qualifying as a Submariner.

Your role

  • Lead a team of up to 60 skilled engineers, from specialists in communications and IT, to those with a unique knowledge of explosives and electronic sensor systems.
  • You’re the person who is responsible for the performance of our weapons, radar and detection systems, overseeing their maintenance and preparation so that we’re ready for anything.
  • Take responsibility for some of the world’s most advanced defence systems, using, developing and adapting your engineering knowledge in highly-challenging environments that are unique to Royal Navy life.
  • Take advantage of wide-ranging career development opportunities, from becoming a Chartered Engineer, to working alongside industry partners on equipment development projects.
 

Pay & benefits

  • A starting salary of at least £33,138
  • A £27,000 joining bonus 
  • An extra £5,000 bonus on being awarded your Dolphins – the mark of a qualified Submariner
  • Additional pay starting at £1,727.75 per month at sea once qualified as a Submariner
  • Potential earning as a Head of Department on a Submarine is £90,268.48  per year and will increase with rank  progression beyond Lt Cdr (Calculation does not include Longer Separation Allowance (LSA))
  • An excellent non-contributory pension scheme – we pay into it for you, so you don’t have to sacrifice any salary
  • Six weeks of paid holiday every year
  • Forces Help to Buy scheme – a 0% loan to get you on, or further up, the housing ladder
  • Subsidised travel, accommodation and food
  • Amazing opportunities, including world travel and adventurous training for two weeks every year

Skills for life

Qualifications you'll gain

  • Become an internationally recognised Chartered Engineer – we’ll support your registration. 

Opportunities open to you 

  • Post graduate qualifications including an MSc in Guided Weapon Systems, Cyber Defence Information and Assurance, Explosive Ordnance Engineering, or Programme and Project Management are possible if you’re committed to progressing academically.

Skills you'll develop

  • Learn to work efficiently in a highly pressurised environment – no two days are ever the same.
  • Mentor junior personnel and oversee complex projects.
  • Gain an in-depth knowledge of weapon systems, radars and other detection equipment.
  • Build a deep understanding nuclear engineering and physics.
 

Eligibility

  • You’ll need to be aged 18 to 39
  • All Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) degrees will be considered
  • You’ll need a minimum of 96 UCAS points. At least 64 points should be in maths and an engineering-based science. These can be accrued from either GCE A/AS Levels (or equivalent) or National Diplomas (e.g., BTEC)
  • You'll need at least 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C (9-4) (or Scottish equivalent) which must include English Language and Mathematics
  • You must be a United Kingdom citizen or British Dual National. Dual Nationality restrictions do apply
  • You must have lived in the UK for 5 years continuously prior to application
  • A minimum height of 157cm
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)

Skills & interests

  • Learn to work in an ever-changing environment where no two days are the same, mentoring junior personnel and overseeing complex projects.
  • Gain an in-depth knowledge of weapon systems, radars and other detection equipment, while also understanding nuclear engineering and physics.
 

Joining process

From picking your role to the first day of training; everything you need to know as an officer

Step 1

Submit an application

Once you’ve registered your interest in a Profession, and have satisfied some basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form.

Step 2

Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)

Depending on Profession applied for and professionally qualified status, you’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.

To prepare, you can practise the DAA.

practise the DAA
Step 3

Interview

A  Career Interview to talk through suitability of your chosen Profession and discussion of your preferred roles that are available within that Profession, including Submarine service.  It will also cover the initial stages of the Security application. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform.

Step 4

Medical and Fitness Assessments

This is conducted at one of our Candidate Preparation Centres and will include a Fitness and Medical Assessment.

Step 5

Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)

The AIB is conducted online and made up of two assessments, . A Pre-Recorded Interview (PRI) online assessment that assesses your awareness and motivation to join the Royal Navy as an officer. The Group Planning Exercise (GPE) is the second stage online competency-based assessment which will take place approximately 3 weeks after the PRI. It will be conducted in a virtual group environment, and you will be assessed on your contribution to the team based on your individual performance.

Step 6

Start training

Once you’ve passed all eligibility criteria, including a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) to commence your initial training.

Career progression

From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.
Phase one training
Initial Naval Training at Britannia Royal Naval College
Phase two training
Professional training, learn core engineering principles
First promotion – Sub-Lieutenant
Develop your knowledge of every system, become Chartered
Second promotion – Lieutenant

On completion of training. Oversee the weapon engineering department, act autonomously

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