Medical Services Officer Submariner Health Physicist
Supporting operations worldwide, often top-secret, you'll also deliver training, provide advice and be part of the MOD's Nuclear Emergency Response.
- Undergraduate Degree
- Submarine Service
- Medical
- Officer level
£5,000 Bonus
Degree
£38,000
6 weeks
Pension
Free
Travel

The day-to-day experience is exciting; often seeing the immediate positive impact your work provides. Whether that's working on nuclear packages or helping maximise the potential of medical departments in the operational space.
Role details
What you’ll do
As a submarine qualified Medical Services Officer in the Royal Navy, you’ll use your skills as a Health Physicist to support Submarine operations worldwide. That might mean being part of a multi-disciplinary team of Engineers and Industry Partners at a Naval Base, leading assurance audits against regulated conditions, or delivering first-class training to Submariners with radiological protection responsibilities.
Once you’ve completed Initial Naval Training (Officer) at Dartmouth, you’ll complete specialist training related to the pressurised water reactor and nuclear weapons onboard Submarines. You’ll quickly find yourself providing specialist practical and technical advice to ensure compliance with statutory legislation and Ministry of Defence regulations.
Beyond your day-to-day responsibilities, you’ll be part of the Ministry of Defence’s Nuclear Emergency Response Organisation where you’ll be on stand-by as a deployable Health Physicist to provide expert advice in the highly unlikely event of a nuclear emergency. As a Medical Services Officer you’ll also have the opportunity to develop other specialist skills including operational planning, acquisition and medical logistics. This is a career that puts more than just your health physics knowledge to the test.
Your role
- Join at a rank that reflects your experience and be part of a world-class medical service that’s respected far beyond the Armed Forces
- Analyse the radiological hazards and potential exposures associated with work involving ionising radiation to inform radiological risk assessments and precautionary measures
- Provide specialist advice on the correct application of policy and processes to ensure that the Royal Navy complies with statutory legislation
- Lead radiation protection audits to provide assurance to Submarine Commanding Officers and other Responsible Officers within the Submarine Enterprise
- Engage with Submariners at all stages of their career to deliver radiation protection training
- Ensure that the Royal Navy continues to have a specialist team who can respond to a nuclear emergency on a submarine anywhere in the world
Pay & benefits
- Good pay and promotion prospects throughout your career
- Additional pay of around £10,000 per year at sea as a qualified Submariner
- Get a £5,000 bonus for earning your Dolphins - the mark of the Submarine Service
- Six weeks of paid holiday every year
- Free medical and dental care
- Sports and adventurous training opportunities
- A wide range of benefits including a House Purchase Scheme
Skills for life
Qualifications you'll gain
- Start L7 training programme in radiation protection (if not already qualified prior to joining)
- Complete specialist training on the pressurised water reactor and nuclear weapons system
- Complete health physicist training to respond to nuclear emergencies
- Funding opportunities to continue personal and professional education
- Civilian recognised Leadership and management qualifications
Skills you'll develop
- Develop your existing skills and learn new techniques in a highly pressurised environment
- Earn military recognition for your medical achievements
- Training will be a constant feature of your time with us
Eligibility
- You must be between 22 and 39 years old
- Under 39 if you still need professional training
- 5 GCSEs grades A*-C (9-4), which must include English Language and Maths grade B (6) or above
- Hold a 2:2 or higher degree in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, or Biological Sciences
- 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 Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28
- Pass the Naval Swimming Test
- Graduate not in Radiological Protection (RP) and not registered with Professional Body
- Graduate with RP qualification and registered with Society for Radiation Protection (SRP)
Skills & Interests
- An ambitious, passionate medical professional
- Astutue, self-motivated and proactive
- A confident leader
- Always calm under pressure
- Have a spirit of adventure
Joining Process
Submit an application
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
Medical and eye tests
Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT)
Interview
Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)
Career Progression
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