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Government Recruitment Service; South Shields; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service Pension 28.97%

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Flexible working

Job summary

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) seeks a Principal Specialist – Innovation Autonomy to shape the UK’s regulatory approach to MASS and autonomous vessels. The role leads safety cases, technical assurance and certification support, while collaborating with industry and government to develop future regulations, including decarbonisation and alternative fuels.

This is based in South Shields with civil service benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience in design, operation, assurance or regulation of MASS, remotely operated vessels, robotics or autonomous systems.
• Ability to shape safe integration of UK maritime regulation for autonomous vessels.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into guidance for industry, government and innovators.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to management of survey operations and steer cultural change to implement MCA objectives.
• Provide technical, innovative and operational advice within Tech Ops and the UK Maritime Innovation Hub.
• Lead the management and processing of safety cases including MGN 664 and related QA processes.
• Support ISO accreditation and readiness for internal/external audits.
• Provide detailed technical support to surveyors with survey or certification issues involving innovative tech.
• Respond to information requests about future technologies and their regulatory impact.
• Represent the UK and provide specialist technical support at meetings, drafting papers and presentations.
• Contribute to MCA technical training programs and business plan objectives.

Skills

MASS regulation

Autonomous maritime tech

Stakeholder engagement

Technical assurance

Job description

Principal Specialist - Innovation Autonomy

Do you have experience in the design, operation, assurance or regulation of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), remotely operated vessels, robotics or autonomous systems?

Are you excited by the opportunity to help shape the safe integration of UK maritime regulation, such as the implementation of MGN 664 and Workboat Code 3 Annex 2 for autonomous and remotely operated vessels?

Have you led technical assessments, safety cases, systems engineering activities or engineering analysis for emerging technologies, influencing senior stakeholders and shaping strategic outcomes?

Can you translate complex technical concepts into clear guidance, working with industry, government and innovators to drive the future of maritime technology?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

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.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• 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), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday


• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at: Maritime and Coastguard Agency - Department for Transport Careers

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.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

1.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.

2.Providing technical, innovate and operation advise within Tech Ops and the UK Maritime Innovation Hub, liaising across Agency, Government and external stakeholders.

3.Playing a key role in the management and processing of safety cases including MGN 664 work and associated Quality Assurance process

4.Supporting ISO accreditation and ensuring readiness for internal and external audits.

5.Providing detailed technical specialist support to UKTMS surveyors and Marine Office Surveyors with survey/certification issues or complex cases involving innovative technologies.

6.Supporting requests for information around other future/emerging technologies and their potential impact on regulation.

7.Representing the UK and providing specialist technical support at internal and external meetings, including drafting and presentation of substantive papers.

8.Contributing to MCA technical training programmes for surveyors and UKTMS/UKCMS business plan activities and objectives.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.

Company: Government Recruitment Service
Salary: £57,515 to £57,515 a year
Hours: Full-time
Location: South Shields
Job type: Permanent
Posting date: 18 Sept 2026
Closing date: 13 Oct 2026