ROV Pilot Technician

Why join Salvage and Marine Operations (SALMO)?

SALMO is the MOD’s centre of excellence for marine salvage and emergency response. Our multidisciplinary team, ranging from Master Mariners and Naval Architects to Environmental Scientists and Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV) / Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) Operators, delivers critical support to UK Defence operations around the globe. Whether it's locating downed aircraft on the seabed, surveying wrecks, towing warships, or conducting emergency response drills, our work is as varied as it is vital.

What makes this role different?

• Work on unique, non-commercial subsea operations that directly support UK Defence.
• Operate and manage state of the art AUV and ROV systems.
• A balanced role combining operational deployments (approx. 10–12 weeks per year) with shore based technical outputs.
• Be part of a highly respected, multidisciplinary team renowned for technical excellence.
• Long‑term career stability, exceptional pension, and structured development.

‘Every day is different and I’ve had the opportunity to be part of some exciting projects: Bell from famous US destroyer sunk off Scillies returned to its owners’

What will your job include?

As a Pilot Technician within SALMO Seabed Operations (SBO), you will join a dynamic and enthusiastic team to deliver a discrete capability within SALMO using cutting edge commercial ROV technology to provide deep water salvage outputs in support of SALMO and wider MOD objectives. You will be responsible for ROV operations, mobilising, operating and maintaining SALMO work class ROV systems both offshore and onshore.

The role offers a good work life balance, only deploying at sea for a maximum of 120 days per year with the remaining time taken against leave, training and office-based activity at HMNB Devonport.

We champion flexible ways of working. Whilst onshore, regular in-person on site attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 60% of your working week) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance and business need. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.

The role is operationally critical and comes with additional allowances under SALMO Terms and Conditions, https://bit.ly/SALMO-Terms-and-Conditions reflecting the importance and intensity of the work you’ll be doing.

For clarity, the SALMO RG allowances you’ll be eligible for:

Contactable Allowance £3,191.00 pa

Sponsored Reserve Annual Bounty is: Year 1: £583.00, Year 2: £1,290.00, Year 3 & 4: £1,992.00, Year 5: £2,308.00

For deployed periods disturbance allowance applies:  Week day - £94 per day. Weekend - £158 Per day

Sea-going-leave (SGL) is accrued at a rate of 4 Leave Days for each 7 days embarked (additional to your Annual Leave Entitlement)

What you’ll be doing

• Deploy, operate and maintain SALMO’s work-class ROV systems across onshore preparation, mobilisation, offshore operations and post-task recovery.
• Deliver safe and effective subsea operations, ensuring ROV systems are ready, compliant and available to support investigations, inspections and underwater interventions.
• Apply technical judgement in live operational environments, supporting problem-solving, fault diagnosis and risk-based decision making during ROV tasks.
• Maintain operational readiness of specialist ROV equipment, including planned maintenance, testing, configuration control and accurate technical records.
• Support mobilisation and demobilisation activity, ensuring equipment, spares, documentation and operating procedures are prepared for deployment.
• Operate in line with industry best practice, safety requirements and applicable regulations, helping to maintain SALMO’s professional standards and technical assurance.
• Act as Senior Pilot Technician or shift supervisor when required, providing direction to team members and supporting effective delivery during operations.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of the ROV capability, identifying lessons, process improvements and equipment enhancements following operational activity.

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Lead Criterion – Have experience of providing technical advice and leading the delivery of successful engineering outcomes in small scale task and projects; and
• Have a wide-ranging and relevant technical experience in subsea activities or marine operations; and Experience of managing marine operations with evidence of technical problem-solving and risk management.

AND

• Hold (as minimum)
• IMCA accredited certification as an advanced ROV Pilot/Technician Grade I or a recognised company equivalent, with at least 180 days of documented offshore experience and a minimum of 100 hours operating an ROV at Grade II level. All experience must be verifiable through a logbook.

AND

• Be a Sole UK National
• Full UK Driving Licence
• Be able to satisfy requirements of:
• 2-Yearly ENG1 Seafarers Medical (1)
• Be enlisted as a Royal Navy Sponsored Reserve (1)
• For recruitment purposes, external candidates do not need to hold these but must have no known reasons not to achieve this within 6 months of employment.
• This role is subject to Retained Grade Terms and Conditions and differ from the DE&S standard Terms and Conditions.
• For SALMO Retained Grade seeking promotion, please refer to Part 2, Section 10.2 of the SALMO Retained Grade Handbook.

Due to the nature of this role, you are:

• Required to be fit to pass and maintain a two-yearly ENG1 seafarers medical (no geographical limitations)
• Required to enlist as a Royal Navy Sponsored Reserve
• Expected to work extended hours as and when required in support of operational commitments
• Required to live within 60 minutes travelling time of the base to which you are appointed
• Required to hold an in-date UK driving licence

Please see the Professional Engineering Institution Equivalences for a list of approved equivalent professional registration as per the requirements listed above.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1: Making Effective Decisions
• Core Behaviour 2: Working Together
• Technical Competence 1: ECF_01 Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking (Supervised Practitioner)
• Technical Competence 2: ECF_03 Supportable Technical Solutions (Practitioner)

• Full-time staff employed for less than 5 years are entitled to 26.5 days’ annual leave per year, rising to 31.5 days per year after 5 years of service
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading employer pension contribution of around 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded professional qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of - and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES-candidate-information-pack
• SALMO Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/SALMO_Terms_and_Conditions

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here.

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.’

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed behaviours and competencies below:

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1
• 2nd: Core Behaviour 2
• 3rd: Technical Competencies
• 4th: CV Review

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise the Lead criterion, and/or and additional assessment.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Selection Process Details

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

• Pre-sift - We will check your application to ensure that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the