Weapon Engineer Officer

Fast track role A high priority role with an accelerated joining process.
Service:Surface Fleet
Branch:Engineering
Level:Officer
Technology
Weapons
Engineering
Management
Engineer fixing equipment
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At a glance

What you’ll do

As a Weapon Engineer Officer, you’ll be the person a team of skilled engineers look to for advice, guidance and support. As a systems engineer your work will be key to ensuring your ship can do its job; detecting threats with the ability to respond with force when necessary. That means managing a range of projects simultaneously, all with the aim of guaranteeing the potency of your vessel. If you can embrace this responsibility, you’ll be given the world-class training you need to succeed, a clear pipeline for progression and a £27,000 bonus just for joining and completing your training.

If you have questions, talk to us

Your role

  • Lead and manage a team of up to 60 technicians, from specialists in communications and IT, to those with a unique knowledge of explosives and electronic sensor systems.
  • You’re the person who ensures the ship’s efficiency as a state-of-the-art fighting machine, guaranteeing the performance of our weapon, and sensor systems, so that we’re always able to fire quickly and with accuracy.
  • Take responsibility for some of the world’s most advanced defence systems by 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 promotion to becoming a Chartered Engineer and working alongside industry partners on new equipment development projects.
 

What you’ll get

Skills for life

Qualifications you'll gain

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

Opportunities open to you 

  • There are many opportunities for post graduate study if you’re academically minded, including an MSc in Guided Weapon systems, Cyber Defence Information and Assurance, Explosive Ordnance Engineering, and Programme and Project Management.

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 complex weapon, sensors, communications and information systems. 
  • Become expert in how these systems are configured to operate as a state-of-the-art network.  

Career progression

What you'll need

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 and Mathematics
  • A British or Irish National, or a Dual National
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
  • Pass the Naval Swimming Test

Skills and 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 and electronic equipment
  • An aptitude for solving problems

 

Check Eligibility

Starting your career

Joining process

Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, the joining process is as follows:

  • Submit an application

    Once you’ve registered your interest, we’ll be in touch to discuss your options

  • Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)

    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

  • Interview

    A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role

  • Medical and eye tests

    These are quite comprehensive and must be completed by one of our Ministry of Defence-approved doctors

  • Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT)

    This involves completing a 2.4km run on a treadmill within a certain time, at a fitness centre near you

  • Interview

    You’ll have a short interview to assess your suitability for a career in the Royal Navy, and to ensure you’re ready for the Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)

  • Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)

    This stage is unique to officers and takes place in two parts. A Pre Recorded Interview (PRI) is an online assessment which assesses your motivation to join the Royal Navy as an officer and your awareness of the Royal Navy. The Group Planning Exercise (GPE) is the second stage of the AIB and is an online competency based assessment which will take place on a separate day to 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


Initial training

You’ll spend 30 weeks training at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth, focusing on: Military Skills, Maritime Skills and Initial Fleet Time. The military skills phase includes learning leadership and teamwork skills, and the principles of command and management. You will put this into practice during several exercises on Dartmoor.

Aim to get yourself as fit as you can before you arrive. You’ll be doing a lot of physical exercise, and you’ll find it much easier if you’re already in good shape.

There's also a swimming test, so if you can't swim, make sure you learn by the time you join us.


Professional training

Your professional training starts with 12 months at the Maritime Warfare School, HMS Collingwood, focussing on:

  • On-the-job training
  • Learning to apply your engineering, leadership and management skills 
  • Undertaking training accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

Once you’ve refined your skills, you’ll take your place on board ship, where you’ll spend 6 months at sea developing your professional knowledge of weapons, sensors, communications and information systems, before leading a team of engineers on deployments all over the world.