Senior Explosive Atmospheres Engineer / Scientist (Band 3 / SEO)

We are looking for experienced engineers or scientists to join our Explosive Atmospheres Team at our Science and Research Centre in Buxton. You should have a proven track record of leading a (small) multidisciplinary project team, in a practical research environment to safely deliver some novel and complex technical programmes of work.
The team is heavily focused on the safe development of new energy technologies and achieving safe net zero, presently targeting hydrogen for heat & transport. The team undertake large (outdoor) and lab scale experimental programmes, consultancy and deliver specialised training, giving opportunity for both practical and desk based work. Much of the work involves high profile collaborations with other scientific organisations/government departments, which offers opportunity to publish work and present at conferences.
You will be based at our Science & Research Centre in Buxton, Derbyshire, which is home to around 350 scientists and engineers. On the outskirts of the Peak District, but with transport links to Manchester & Sheffield, the Buxton area has a lot to offer.
We will support your continued professional development with opportunity to work on a varied portfolio of projects, training courses and cover your professional membership fees.
To view a short video of some of our test work, please see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE2mnZRMHB4, We are looking for senior engineers or scientists to join our Explosive Atmospheres Team. The busy team is looking for capable individuals to lead the delivery of practical programmes of work. This normally includes the whole project lifecycle from planning & design, build, delivery, reporting to further dissemination. As a project lead you will be responsible for liaising with stakeholders, technical quality of outputs and leading the safety management within your team. The role will involve a significant amount of problem solving to find solutions to novel or complex challenges and allow you to diversify your range of expertise.
The work of Explosive Atmospheres is not limited to just energy. You will be contributing to a diverse range of projects within the health and safety sector and, be involved in both HSE led research projects and work for other government departments and commercial clients. You will join a number of specialists with a range of technical backgrounds, who work together to create innovative solutions to technical challenges. As part of a wider Major Hazards Group within Science Division, you will have opportunity to collaborate with technical experts across many other disciplines, including materials science, CFD modelers and risk and human factors specialists.
As part of HSE, you may be required to provide scientific support to incident investigations, which in recent years have included dust explosions, electrostatic ignition sources and vapour cloud explosions. On occasion this will include working with HSE inspectors at the sites of industrial accidents, travelling across the UK. A typical incident investigation will involve taking and testing samples and providing an accurate report written in clear language, suitable for use in legal proceedings.
To complement our teams existing skills, we are looking for technical competence in one or more of the following areas; DSEAR, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Process Design (P&IDs), Process Instrumentation, Data Logging, or Combustion Physics. We are not expecting any applicant to be an expert in all of these topic areas, so please use your application to help us understand what experience and expertise you would bring to our team.
As a member of the team, you will contribute to its effective running, which may include maintenance of team facilities, quality systems, health safety wellbeing matters and/or line management.
This role may involve occasional international travel.

Person specification
Your key responsibilities will include:
+ Being interested in solving a variety of challenging engineering and scientific problems. Having creative approaches to problem solving, drawing from your own experience and working collaboratively with others to provide solutions.
+ Providing clear technical leadership of high hazard, complex and high value work in a safe manner, is scientifically robust and meets the required scope.
+ Championing high professional standards in science and engineering, including constructively challenging existing methodologies and approaches.
+ Actively supporting the development of cross government and commercial research and testing by engaging with potential customers, providing sound technical content to proposals and presenting solutions to both technical and non-technical staff and customers.
+ Producing clear, high quality, accurate scientific reports or papers that are suitable to be submitted to customers, peer reviewed journals or as evidence in legal proceedings.
+ Presenting technical work to expert and non-expert audiences, which may include travel.
+ Coaching and mentoring colleagues with their continuing professional development, transferring own knowledge.
+ Be proactive in pursuing own continuing professional development in line with business need.
+ Providing review of technical work to ensure quality and constructively challenging and improving standards., Full driving license that permits driving within the UK. However, we are willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants without a licence that would allow them to do the job by other means. In that case, please select yes and provide details elsewhere., You will also be asked to complete a personal statement, of no more than 1000 words, in which you should provide examples of how your experience aligns with the requirements of the role.
Application Guidance
Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Personal Statement About the application process , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)
Sift Information
The sift is due to take during place week commencing 25th November where you will be assessed on your CV and Personal Statement.
Interview Information
The interviews will take place in person at our Buxton Science and Research Centre (SK17 9JN), during week commencing 9th December where you will be assessed against the advertised behaviours, technical skills and your experience.
You will be invited to give a short presentation lasting no longer than 10 minutes, further details of this will be given to candidates invited to interview.
AI Tools & Platforms
During the application process candidates are allowed to utilise AI (artificial intelligence) platforms and Tools to support them in writing their Behaviours, CV’s and Personal Statements. However, all information submitted must be factually accurate. This includes presenting the ideas and experience of others, or those generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. All presented information will be assessed at the Interview Stage.
Sponsorship
This role is not open to application from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship your application will be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment will be withdrawn.
Further Information
Due to the nature of security checks undertaken, applicants must have 3 years continuous residency in the UK up to the date of the application and, Home Office approval for indefinite leave to remain within the UK.
Please note that a reserve list will be held for the period of up to 12 months. There is no guarantee you will be offered a role from our reserve lists, so if you see a vacancy on Civil Service Jobs that you are interested in, we recommend you apply.
It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful in their application. For a summary of HSE terms and conditions as part of Civil Service Reform, please see the attached HSE Terms and Conditions document.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.
HSE is proud to be a part of the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS). As a Disability Confident employer, we positively welcome applications from disabled people. We are committed to making workplace adjustments to ensure anyone can participate in the recruitment and selection process.
We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all disabled applicants who provide evidence of meeting the minimum requirements necessary for the post.
If, during the application or interview process, you require any assistance due to a disability or a medical condition, please contact us at the email address below to discuss how we can support you. For example if you have a disability, and you need an application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please contact: hr.resourcing-team@hse.gov.uk.
If successful in securing your role, HSE can provide suitable workplace adjustments to support you throughout your career with HSE.
Any move to HSE from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here.
Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further; Formal discipline action, any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance or any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Minimum - Honors degree level (Level 6) qualification in a relevant subject e.g. aeronautical engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, chemistry etc.

Memberships
Chartered membership of your professional institution, or clearly holding sufficient experience to successfully apply. In that case, please select yes and ensure there is explicit detail elsewhere in the application to allow the panel to understand how your experience would allow for a successful application., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Significant technical competence in the fundamental aspects of explosive atmospheres such as gases, dusts, vapours mists, or cryogenics.
+ Understanding of the typical hazards and risks associated with explosive atmospheres.

Alongside your salary of £52,563, Health and Safety Executive contributes £15,227 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ Competitive rates of pay
+ Access to the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme to which HSE contribute 28.97 %, far more than in the private sector
+ Family friendly policies and working hours to help balance your home life and career
+ Carer friendly policies to help create a supportive working culture
+ 25 days annual holiday increasing to 30 days after 5 years' service, plus bank holidays and 1-day Civil Service privilege leave
+ Parental leave benefits
+ As a member of HSE you will gain access to a wide range of fantastic benefits that you can take advantage of such as the Cycle to Work Scheme, E-Gift Cards and Vouchers via our partner EdenRed.