Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Bristol About the job Job summary Have you got knowledge or experience of automated vehicle technology and engineering standards? Are you ready to coordinate a team within a forward-thinking organisation that drives innovation in the automotive industry? Do you want to influence global vehicle regulations and collaborate with experts to shape the future of transportation? If you seek a role that offers leadership opportunities, professional growth, and a chance to make a significant impact on vehicle safety and technology, then consider becoming our Principal Automated Vehicle Technologies Engineer. 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. 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 well-respected approval bodies around. This position has been built on a reputation for technical expertise and quality, which is at the heart of everything we do, and what you could be a part of. Job description As Principal Regulatory Engineer, you will be responsible for overseeing technical reviews, coordinating stakeholder engagement and ensuring the overall effective working of the group. Your role will work closely with group engineers and teams across the Agency to deliver certifications to our exacting standards. Applying technical expertise and collaborating with the worlds best; your role will be crucial in maintaining safety and driving innovation in automated vehicle technology. We are committed to supporting your professional development with training and networking with global experts. Our approach ensures you are familiar with the latest advances and information to conduct your role confidently. You will benefit from flexible working, policies to obtain a work-life balance and an additional engineering skills allowance; awarded on top of your salary, which will increase with experience and knowledge. You will be joining our team at a pivotal and exciting time, as we continue to expand to meet the demands for expertise and skill in this field of automotive. You will be working with the vehicles of tomorrow, where your work will have a direct impact on society and the safety and security of the vehicles on our roads. Your main duties will include but not limited to; Oversee and guide group technical reviews to ensure thorough assessments. Develop and refine group processes for certification and compliance activities. Engage with internal and external stakeholders to coordinate and align strategic objectives. Direct investigations into non-compliance related to type approval certifications. Line manage and mentor team engineers, fostering their professional development. Stay informed on emerging automated vehicle technologies and their implications for legislation. To see the full role information, please see the attached role profile. Person specification To excel in this role you will need; Proven experience working with connected and automated vehicle technology legislation and/or standards. Demonstrated experience collaborating with stakeholders and managing high-quality project outcomes. Leadership capabilities in managing a team and overseeing technical work. A strong grasp of vehicle systems associated with connected and automated vehicles. Be proactive in your personal development, as well as guiding others in theirs. Clear understanding of technical oversight for projects and what it takes to approve the work of others. 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 (one of the locations 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). Engineering Skills Allowance In addition to your basic salary, this role attracts a non-pensionable £4,500 annual allowance in recognition of the requirement for professional engineering and/or relevant professional occupational experience. After 3-years in the SEO post, the allowance will be increased to £9,000 per annum to reflect experience gained in the role. Licences Full UK Category B Driving Licence Is Essential Qualifications Qualification in an engineering or technical discipline equivalent to Bachelors degree, including Honours and Foundation degree and Diplomas of Higher Education. NQF level 5 and 6 Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Managing a Quality Service Seeing the Big Picture Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Government Science and Engineering Framework - Building and Applying Knowledge Applying Knowledge Government Science and Engineering Framework - Building and Applying Knowledge Developing / Maintaining Expertise Government Science and Engineering Framework - Technical Oversight and Management Overseeing Technical Work 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 This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. How to Apply To apply you should provide 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 with connected and automated vehicle technology legislation and/or standards Experience of working with stakeholders and/or clients to deliver high quality outcomes. 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. Selection Process Details 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 & 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. Sift and Interview The sift is due to take place week of 10th February 2025. Interviews are likely to be held week of 10th March 2025. 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. 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 Principal Regulatory Engineer. 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. 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. 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 youre 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.grscabinetoffice.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 DRGCommsdft.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. 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 applicants 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 Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Jamie McFadden Email : Jamie.McFaddenvca.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : dftrecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk Further information If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: dftrecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk 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 Attachments Role Profile - Principal Regulatory Engineer Opens in new window (docx, 574kB) VCA_Candidate_Pack_Technical_and_Statutory_Operations_v1 (1) Opens in new window (pdf, 7039kB) Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail