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Marine Engineer Officer (Submariner)
Job Role

Marine Engineer Officer (Submariner)

You’ll oversee the maintenance and operation of a nuclear reactor, leading a team that solves complex problems in often challenging conditions.

Fast trackTechnologyEngineeringManagement
  • £31,000 - £110,500
  • Undergraduate Degree
  • Submarine Service
  • Engineering
  • Officer level

At a glance

It’s your job to lead your elite, highly trained team in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable. You’ll even oversee the maintenance and operation of a nuclear reactor. Without you, the boat is stranded, and some top secret missions don’t happen.
Submariner in the sea
We run the team who run the ship, keeping her moving and fit for the challenge. It’s my role to manage the people who make that happen.

Grant

Engineer Officer, Submarine Service

Role details

What you’ll do

As a Marine Engineer Officer (Submariner), it’s your job to lead a highly trained team in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable. Working on a submarine isn’t for everyone. That’s what makes you, and your team, elite.

Being a Submariner Engineer Officer means overseeing the maintenance and operation of a nuclear reactor. It’s a role that comes with huge responsibility, because without you the boat is stranded, and some top secret missions don’t happen. You’ll push your engineering knowledge to the limit, as you find solutions to complex problems, and work with the most advanced kit imaginable.

Your role

  • Lead a team of specialist Engineering Technicians. They’ll be doing longer days than anyone else on board and will rely on your support, advice and understanding.
  • Solve complex problems using the most sophisticated equipment on the planet. You might need to work alone, or rely on the expertise of your team.
  • Keep our kit functioning correctly. You might be maintaining the nuclear reactor of a Vanguard Class Trident submarine, or guaranteeing the functionality of vital support systems on an Astute Class vessel. 
  • Look after the welfare, morale, training and development of a team of skilled men and women, using your expertise to make decisions about complex engineering problems quickly.

Pay & benefits

  • A starting salary of £31,304 from day one
  • £44,456 your approximate salary after about two years
  • A £27,000 joining bonus
  • A £5,000 bonus for earning your Dolphins – the mark of a qualified Submariner
  • Additional pay starting at over £1600 per month at sea once qualified (CAT A Nuclear Watchkeeper) as a Submariner
  • 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
  • Handy discounts with lots of top brands, from Marriott hotels to Audi cars and high street stores
  • 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 professional registration. 

Opportunities open to you 

  • Post graduate qualifications such as an MSc in Nuclear Reactor Technology and Safety Management, Programme and Project Management – there are many opportunities for post graduate study if you’re academically minded. 

Skills you'll develop

  • Learn how to lead people in a highly pressurised environment, understanding your role as part of the management team.
  • Gain an in-depth knowledge of nuclear engineering, developing a resourcefulness that will see you adapt to any situation.
 

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 or Scottish equivalent). 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
  • Minimum height of 157cm
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)

Skills & Interests

  • An ability to thrive on responsibility and lead from the front
  • Confidence making key decisions in high-pressure situations
  • A passion for cutting-edge engineering
  • Strong teamwork skills
     

Joining Process

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

Career Progression

From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.

Got a question?

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