Reliability & Maintainability Engineer - Mobile Fires Platform

Location: Hybrid – Abbey Wood, Bristol, with approximately 2–3 days per week in the office

Rate: Up to £420/day

IR35 Status: Inside IR35

Contract: ASAP to 31/03/2027, with a potential extension

Closing Date: 14/10/2026 at 13:00

Security Clearance: Current SC clearance required

Overview

Our customer, a large defence organisation, is seeking an experienced Reliability & Maintainability Engineer to provide specialist R&M engineering support to the Mobile Fires Platform (MFP) programme.

The role will provide subject matter expertise across the programme’s contracts, supporting the delivery of the RCH155 self-propelled howitzer capability. The work will focus on reliability, maintainability and dependability requirements, contractor assurance, technical evidence, risk management, testing and through-life support.

Team Context

The Mobile Fires Platform is a high-priority programme being delivered by the Combat Vehicles 1 Project Team. The RCH155 has been selected as the next-generation 155mm self-propelled howitzer capability, with the programme covering demonstrator, qualification and production activity.

Key Responsibilities

Review R&M documentation to support technical requirements, define technical deliverables and effects, and update documentation across multiple systems, including consideration of in-service support and the practicality of achieving required R&M levels. Technically review and assess contractor-supplied R&M artefacts against contractual requirements and relevant standards. Produce review reports identifying compliance, risks, issues and recommendations. Support the development, maintenance and assurance of R&M Cases and supporting evidence. Provide informed recommendations on the achievability of R&M requirements and through-life support assumptions. Analyse contractor and trial-derived R&M data to assess achievement against contractual and design requirements. Produce R&M performance reports, trend analyses and dashboards. Identify reliability growth opportunities and supportability improvements. Provide technical recommendations to inform design, support and acceptance decisions. Assess contractor compliance with applicable R&M standards, policies and contractual obligations. Identify, report and manage non-conformances and associated programme risks. Provide technical advice on the impact of compliance shortfalls on performance, safety, supportability and certification activities. Support engineering governance and assurance reviews. Identify and manage R&M-related risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies. Develop mitigation strategies and recovery plans for emerging R&M concerns. Provide technical input to programme risk registers and governance forums, escalating significant R&M risks that may affect cost, schedule, performance or safety. Support the planning, execution and assessment of R&M demonstration, verification and validation activities. Review and assess trial and test evidence against agreed acceptance criteria. Provide technical advice to support acceptance, certification and in-service decisions. Identify shortfalls arising from trials and testing and recommend corrective actions. Contribute to dependability performance reviews and Design Review activities. Undertake root cause analysis of significant reliability and maintainability issues. Identify and track corrective actions arising from design weaknesses. Recommend improvements to reliability, maintainability, availability and through-life support performance. Additional Information

Hybrid working, with approximately 2–3 days per week in the office anticipated. Base location is Abbey Wood, Bristol. Some travel to OEM locations will be required. Travel may be required within the UK and EU. Current SC clearance required. UK nationals only. The core assignment runs to 31 March 2027, with a potential extension.