Principal Specialist - Innovation Autonomy

Maritime and Coastguard Agency; Liverpool; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer pension contribution 28.97%

25 days annual leave

Bank holidays

Staff discount portal

Career development opportunities

Flexible working options

Job summary

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is seeking a Principal Specialist – Innovation Autonomy to shape the UK's regulatory approach to MASS and remotely operated vessels. You will lead technical assurance, support commercial certification routes, and collaborate with UKTMS and UKCMS stakeholders to enable safe, innovative maritime operations.

Based in a role with hybrid working options, you will guide complex certification projects, contribute to future regulations, and drive decarbonisation and

Qualifications

• Engineering degree to Masters level (Meng, MSc) or equivalent experience with emerging technologies.
• Detailed engineering analysis/modelling/research.
• Working with risk-based assessment or safety case processes.
• Communicating with senior stakeholders and decision makers.
• Working with ambiguity and linking work to wider strategic goals.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the management of Survey Operations and drive transformation objectives.
• Provide technical, innovative and operational advice across UKTMS and stakeholders.
• Manage and process safety cases including ISO and Quality Assurance aspects.
• Support ISO accreditation and readiness for audits.
• Offer detailed technical support to surveyors with complex cases involving new technologies.

Skills

Stakeholder communication

Risk-based assessment

Engineering analysis

Ambiguity handling

Decarbonization knowledge

Education

Engineering degree (Meng/MSc) or equivalent

Job description

480789 Principal Specialist - Innovation Autonomy

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Location: Aberdeen, Belfast, Cardiff, Hull, Liverpool, Plymouth, South Shields, Southampton (This role is suitable for hybrid working)

Salary: £57,515 - A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is seeking a Principal Specialist – Innovation Autonomy, within the Technical Maritime Services Directorate (UKTMS) to help shape the UK's regulatory approach to MASS and remotely operated vessels. The post sits at the forefront of maritime innovation and is responsible for assessing novel and innovative autonomous vessel safety cases, leading technical assurance activities, supporting routes to commercial certification of vessels, and contributing to the future development of UK and international autonomous vessel regulation. The role will include close liaison with the UK Maritime Innovation Hub within UK Customer Maritime Services (UKCMS) as well as providing advice to Marine Office staff, MCA internal and external stakeholders.

As a Principal Specialist – Innovation Autonomy, you will lead the assessment and integration of autonomous and emerging maritime technologies, providing expert technical assurance, policy support and regulatory guidance. Working closely with industry, government and MCA stakeholders, you will help shape safe, innovative and sustainable maritime operations, support complex certification and safety case projects, and contribute to the development of future-focused regulations, including those relating to decarbonisation and alternative fuels.

Top Responsibilities

• Contributing to the management of Survey Operations in the delivery of technical and management initiatives and assisting with the steering of cultural change in Marine Offices to fully implement MCAs operational and transformational business objectives.
• Providing technical, innovate and operation advise within Tech Ops and the UK Maritime Innovation Hub, liaising across Agency, Government and external stakeholders.
• Playing a key role in the management and processing of safety cases including MGN 664 work and associated Quality Assurance process
• Supporting ISO accreditation and ensuring readiness for internal and external audits.
• Providing detailed technical specialist support to UKTMS surveyors and Marine Office Surveyors with survey/certification issues or complex cases involving innovative technologies.

For more information on the role and responsibilities please see the full job advert on CS Jobs using the link provided.

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

About You

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Engineering degree to Masters level (Meng, MSc) or equivalent experience of a technical specialism with proven experience of working with emerging technologies or experience and understanding of the maritime industry from working within a technical capacity in the industry and can demonstrate an understanding of relevant engineering concepts
• Carrying out detailed engineering analysis/modelling/research
• Working with risk-based assessment or safety case processes
• Communicating with a range of senior stakeholders and decision makers
• Working with ambiguity and articulating the links between your work and wider strategic goals with internal & external stakeholders.
• Knowledge of engineering systems relevant or transferable to maritime decarbonization/digitalisation.