Mechanical Engineer Role with UK Civil Service

Health and Safety Executive
Application Deadline: Midday on Monday 24th February 2025

Job Details

• Reference Number: 388212
• Salary: £52,563 – £64,890
• Additional Benefits: Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• Job Grade: Senior Executive Officer
• Contract Type: Permanent
• Business Area: HSE – Science Division (SD) – Major Hazards Capability Group
• Type of Role: Engineering
• Working Pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time
• Number of Positions Available: 1

Location

• Buxton, East Midlands (England), SK17 9JN

Job Summary

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is dedicated to ensuring the safety and health of Britain’s workforce across various industries. The Science Division within HSE, based in Buxton, Derbyshire, is a globally recognized provider of health and safety solutions. This division supports major incident investigations, policy development, and high-quality research.

Job Description

The Senior Mechanical Engineer will join the Mechanical Engineering team in the Major Hazards Capability Group at the Science Division. The role involves supporting incident investigations, research, and testing projects, contributing to workplace safety improvements. The successful candidate will work on HSE projects, as well as assignments for government departments and industrial clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support pressure-related and other engineering incident investigations, including fatalities, in collaboration with agencies such as the Police, with travel and overnight stays as necessary
• Lead and support the development and delivery of pressure-related and other engineering research and testing, including proposal development and technical solution presentation
• Prepare technical reports for incidents, research, and testing
• Produce expert witness statements and present expert evidence in court
• Provide pressure systems advice (e.g., compliance with PSSR) to other technical teams

Travel Requirements

The role requires attending incident sites across Great Britain at short notice, with some overnight stays.

Hybrid Working

HSE offers hybrid working, combining home and office-based work. This will be discussed upon appointment.

Person Specification

Essential Skills and Criteria

• Ability to apply engineering knowledge and experience to incident investigations, testing, and research
• Strong technical writing skills, producing high-quality reports and witness statements
• Ability to present technical findings as an expert witness in court
• Competence in reviewing and analyzing incident evidence to determine causal links and propose testing solutions
• Leadership skills in managing technical teams in investigations and large-scale testing

Licences

• Full UK driving licence

Qualifications

• Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline (e.g., Aeronautical, Production, Marine, or Manufacturing Engineering)

Memberships

• Chartered membership of a relevant professional body or sufficient experience to apply for membership

Behaviours Assessed

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical Skills Assessed

• Strong technical and practical competence in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• Extensive knowledge and experience in mechanical testing methods and bespoke engineering test programmes
• Experience leading technical projects or teams
• Ability to produce accurate and concise technical reports
• Logical and methodical application of engineering knowledge

Benefits

• Competitive salary with employer pension contributions of 28.97%
• Learning and development opportunities
• Flexible working arrangements
• Inclusive and diverse workplace culture
• 25 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days after 5 years, plus bank holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave
• Parental leave benefits and family-friendly policies
• Employee discounts, including the Cycle to Work Scheme and E-Gift Cards

Application Process

Sift Process

• Candidates will be assessed on the four technical skills outlined in the application form
• Sift scheduled for the week commencing 24th February 2025

Interview Process

• Candidates will be assessed on the two behaviours and five technical skills listed
• A problem-solving exercise will be included in the interview to assess technical knowledge
• Interviews scheduled for the week commencing 17th March 2025 at HSE Buxton, SK17 9JN

AI Tools & Platforms

Candidates may use AI tools to support their application, but all submitted information must be factually accurate and original. AI-generated content will be assessed during the interview.

Sponsorship

This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the points-based immigration system.

Security Clearance

Applicants must have three years of continuous UK residency and Home Office approval for indefinite leave to remain.

Contact Information

Job Contact:

• Name: Dr. John Allen
• Email: john.allen@hse.gov.uk

Recruitment Team Contact:

• Email: hr.resourcing-team@hse.gov.uk