Field Service Engineer

 

Background information

Observing and recording the weather is fundamental to all the services the Met Office provides so the set up and maintenance of our instruments, equipment and systems is crucial to meeting service delivery requirements for our customers. The Met. Engineering Services Team is responsible for making this happen via a network of Service Centres throughout the UK.

Purpose of the job

To provide maintenance and repair services for observations equipment, including general electronics instrumentation.

Principal accountabilities

• Diagnose faults and repair weather monitoring systems to restore the delivery of data to customers.
• Complete preventative maintenance on weather-monitoring systems and sensors to ensure accurate measurement and increase availability of data from the observing network.
• Maintain technical documentation and records and observe quality control processes to ensure all repairs and refurbishment are carried out to the required standards.
• Working from the service centre base, travel to other sites around the UK as necessary in order to maintain and repair observations equipment.
• Participate in a 24/7 on call roster to restore service from business critical observing systems out of normal hours.

Qualifications, skills and abilities required

 

Essential

• BTEC Level III (or equivalent, or studying towards qualification) with a sound knowledge of general electronics and instrumentation with practical experience in a related electronics environment.
• Demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge of all aspects of the maintenance and repair of electronic instrumentation.
• Demonstrate a flexible approach with the ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
• Possess sound oral and written communication skills.
• Proven focus on changing customers needs.
• Be prepared to work on an on-call rota to support business critical services (this attracts an hourly rate on-call allowance).
• Hold working at heights certification or be willing to achieve this (engineers must be able to work at heights of up to 20 metres).
• Posses a valid UK driving licence and be prepared to drive officially leased vehicles.

Desirable

• Practical knowledge of health and safety legislation (regular refresher H & S training is provided).
• Computer literate and have a working knowledge of Microsoft products.
• Experienced in the maintenance of electronic-based instrumentation systems or radar.

Additional supplementary information

In addition to a valid driving licence, to allow you to drive on airfields, you will be required to have CP2 or CP3 safe colour perception.

Commitment to diversity

The Met Office values diversity and recruits on merit.

Minimum time in post

Once appointed into post, job holders are expected to remain in that post for a minimum of two years before being given the opportunity to apply for other relevant internal roles that may become available within the Met Office.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants

To widen the pool of candidates on which to draw, we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the published minimum criteria for the post/entry level.

To qualify for a guaranteed interview, you do not have to be registered as a disabled person but you must have a disability or long-term health condition that puts you at a substantial disadvantage in either obtaining or keeping employment. The disability must be likely to last for at least 12 months.

To apply for a guaranteed interview, please complete the appropriate section of the application form. When appropriate, you should provide details of any particular arrangements you will require for the interview, e.g. car parking, speech facilitator.

Any false declaration of disability to obtain an interview may invalidate any resultant contract of employment.

Civil Service Recruitment Code

The Met Office's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Code and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact HREnquiries@metoffice.gov.uk or telephone 01392 885000 in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Met Office, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners.

Benefits and facilities

• As an employee of the Met Office you will be eligible to join the Nuvos Civil Service Pension Scheme with a low employee contribution. This is a defined benefit scheme which the Met Office, as an employer, contributes to. You also have the option to join a partnership scheme where the employer can contribute and the employee can contribute if you wish. For more details please see the Civil Service Pensions website.
• Annual Leave allowance of 25 days (JL1, 30 days) (plus 8 days public holiday and 2½ privilege days taken at fixed times during the year).
• Training opportunities.
• Performance-related pay.
• The Met Office sports and social club.
• The potential to work in different areas within the same organisation.

Starting salaries

The pay range is stated at the top of the job description. Entry to the Met Office is normally at the pay band minimum with minimal scope for negotiation. Where a range is advertised, only exceptional candidates with proven experience and skills will be appointed above the minimum of this range. Packages and ranges offered above the pay band minimum may consist partly or wholly of elements of non-consolidated (non-pensionable) pay.

Relocation

Unless stated in the job advert and job description, financial support is not available for candidates to move to the job location.

Mobility

Normally, staff appointed at Job Level 4 and above automatically have a mobility clause in their employment contract, which means they may be required to serve at other UK mainland locations. Some Job Level 5 staff may also have a mobility commitment, depending upon the job.

Nationality

In common with all United Kingdom (UK) Civil Service departments and Executive Agencies, applicants for employment in the Met Office are required to satisfy certain nationality requirements. For full guidance see the Border & Immigration Agency's 'Working in the UK' website, where you will find information about working in the UK.

Again, in common with all UK Civil Service departments and Executive Agencies, some posts in the Met Office are 'reserved' for UK nationals only. Applicants who are not UK nationals should be aware that further career prospects might be affected.

Application forms and further information

Download application form (PDF, 653 kb)

Guidance notes and information for applicants (PDF, 58 kb)

Download equal opportunities form (PDF, 922 kb - to be returned along with the application form)

If you require a Word version of the application form, please email HREnquiries@metoffice.gov.uk including the words 'application request' in the subject line. An automatic email will be returned to you immediately. If you have not received an email within 48 hours then please contact us.

Alternatively, you can call or write to:

HR Customer Services
Met Office
FitzRoy Road
Exeter
EX1 3PB

Tel: 01392 885000

Please mark your request or returned application form: Field Service Engineer 001514 (P)

Thank you for your interest if you apply for this position. However, due to the high numbers that apply for positions in the Met Office we are unable to reply to each applicant individually. Therefore, if you have had no response from us within four weeks of the closing date you may assume you have been unsuccessful.