Regulatory Engineer – Connectivity and Automation
Vehicle Certification Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 9th February 2025
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About the job
Job summary
- Do you have knowledge of vehicle technology and/or engineering?
- Do you want to be part of a forward-thinking organisation, enabling innovation in the automotive industry?
- Are you looking for variation in your day-to-day work, being part of a team and making a difference?
- Does a vocation with the opportunity for travel, career progression and many other benefits appeal to you?
We are looking for an Engineer to join our team. This is an exciting time for the VCA, and a great opportunity to be getting involved in our mission to make our roads safer and cleaner.
VCA Connected and Automated Vehicles - Join the Team:
About Us
Our work is focused on improving vehicle safety and environmental protection by providing robust testing and certification to national and internationally recognised standards.
We are a part of the Department of Transport as the designated UK Vehicle Type Approval Authority. With more than 40 years’ experience, we have become one of the largest and most well-respected approval bodies in the world.
This position has been built on a reputation for technical expertise and quality, which is at the heart of everything we do, and is the organisation that you could become a part of.
Job description
As a Regulatory Engineer, you will play a crucial role in ensuring compliance by handling technical review and assessment tasks. You will also contribute to the development of new legislation by providing technical guidance. Your skill and knowledge will be used to support us in crafting, evaluating and facilitating the adoption of technical legislation governing vehicles, systems and components.
In a fast-paced environment, you need to be able to think on your feet, manage your workload and collaborate effectively with your team. Your day-to-day activities will be varied, with new challenges and opportunities to broaden your understanding of evolving technologies and the automotive industry.
We are committed to ensuring you are familiar with the latest advances and information to conduct your role and will support your professional development with training and offer the opportunity to network with world leading experts. You will benefit from flexible working, policies that allow you to achieve a good work life balance and an additional engineering skills allowance; awarded on top of your salary, that will increase with experience and knowledge.
You will be joining our team at a pivotal and exciting time, as we continue to expand so as to meet the demands for expertise and skill in this field of automotive engineering. You will be working with the vehicles of tomorrow and your work will have a direct impact on our society and the safety and security of the vehicles on our roads.
Your main duties will include but not limited to;
- Perform technical reviews – Undertake group technical review and assessment tasks to ensure compliance with technical legislation.
- Answer technical questions – Respond to questions relating to technical legislation that the group covers.
- Develop technical interpretations – Creating technical interpretations to guide engineering colleagues and industry if legislation is unclear.
- Collaborate on new technical legislation – Work with colleagues in the Agency, the Department for Transport and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles to create new international and national technical legislation.
- Technical training delivery – Assist in the development and delivery of technical training.
To see the full role information, please see the attached role profile.
Person specification
To do well in this role you will need;
- Experience of working in an engineering capacity, following procedures and understanding regulations or standards.
- Experience of analysing data or documents and reporting on findings.
- Experience of delivering outcomes on time and to a high standard.
- Be able to use a range of information to make effective decisions.
- An ability to balance your workload according to identified priorities.
- To collaborate effectively within your team and wider.
- Understand underpinning technical principles relevant to vehicle systems and their associated technology, with a particular focus on connected and automated vehicles.
- Be proactive in your personal development.
Additional Information
This role is suitable for hybrid working, and therefore a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements. Hybrid working is a non-contractual arrangement where employees have the flexibility to work remotely combined with a minimum of 60% of their working time a month at either their principal workplace (the location cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, visiting stakeholders and colleagues, or carrying out detached duty in another VCA workplace. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.
If you have questions regarding how hybrid working is practiced within the business area, or any reasonable adjustments or flexible working arrangements you may currently have or need in place if successful in your application, please contact the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details).
VCA does not offer Visa sponsorship. Candidates should ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.
Engineering Skills Allowance
In addition to your basic salary, this role attracts a non-pensionable £3,500 annual allowance in recognition of the requirement for professional engineering and/or relevant professional occupational experience. After 3-years in the HEO post, the allowance will be increased to £7,000 per annum to reflect experience gained in the role.
Licences
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Government Science and Engineering Career Framework - Building and applying knowledge - Applying Knowledge
- Government Science and Engineering Career Framework - Building and applying knowledge - Developing / maintaining expertise
Benefits
The Vehicle Certification Agency is the designated UK Vehicle Type Approval Authority. We have over 30 years’ experience supporting industry by providing internationally recognised testing and certification for vehicles, their systems and components.
If you would like to read more about VCA and the benefits of working for us, visit our Careers website
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
We will assess the following experience indicators from your CV and Personal Statement so you should tailor both to clearly explain how you meet them:
- Experience of working in an engineering capacity, following procedures and understanding regulations or standards.
- Experience of Analysing data or documents and reporting on findings.
- Experience of Delivering outcomes on time and to a high standard.
Your Personal Statement should be a maximum of 1000 words and we recommend a minimum of 250 words for each of the bullet points above.
Some guidance to help you with your application can be found in the candidate pack below.
Our 2-stage selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.
Stage 1: Initial Experience-Based Sift
In this stage, we carefully review all applicants CV and Personal statement to shortlist candidates who meet the experience indicators and possess the necessary qualifications.
Stage 2: In-person Assessment
The final stage involves an in-person assessment in Bristol, where selected candidates will be invited to visit one of our premises. This assessment will include an interview and presentation on a topic provided in advance.
Merit List
Please note that candidates placed on the merit list will be considered for suitable positions as they arise. Being on the merit list may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role of Regulatory Engineer.
Sift and Interview
The sift is due to take place the week of the 10th February.
Interviews are likely to be held the week of the 3rd March.
We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.
You are encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.
Your technical skills will be assessed against the Government Science and Engineering Framework, please click here to find out more.
The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.
Reasonable Adjustments
As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Document Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.
Further Information
For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.
Working Pattern
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Pre-employment Checking
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Jamie McFadden
- Email : jamie.mcfadden@vca.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here
