Cyber Solutions Industrial Placement

Job summary

Kick‑start your cyber career at the forefront of defence science and technology.

Your placement will see you joining our Cyber Technologies & Solutions teams, you’ll dive straight into the real challenges shaping the UK’s digital security—from dissecting complex systems to uncover vulnerabilities, to developing innovative solutions that give the UK a strategic edge.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

Job description

You’ll have the opportunity to work with everything from advanced hardware and embedded systems to cutting‑edge software, networks, and cyber research.

If you’re driven, curious, and ready to develop your CyberFirst foundation into impact that truly matters, this is where your skills can grow—and where your work can make a national difference.

This opportunity is open to university students who are members of the CyberFirst bursary scheme and seeking an industrial placement as part of their degree.

We welcome students with technical experience or a strong interest in any of the areas below. You don’t need to be skilled in all of them to apply—curiosity, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn are just as important. You’ll have access to tailored development, expert mentorship, and on‑the‑job training to help you grow your expertise.

For more information on the industrial placement, please see the candidate pack attached below.

Person specification

We’re particularly interested in applicants with experience or knowledge in:

• Cyber vulnerability research across hardware, software, or embedded systems
• Static and dynamic software analysis, using tools such as Ghidra, IDA, radare2, or similar platforms to understand protocols, behaviours, and system capabilities
• Development in lower level languages such as C, C++, or Assembler (x86, ARM, or others)
• Basic Knowledge of microprocessors – such as RISC-V, STM32 or ARM, and how to program them.
• Knowledge of Linux kernel – such as process and management, kernel security, file systems, drivers, and device trees (e.g. for embedded Linux)
• High level programming experience - particularly C/C++ or Python—for system development, automation, and debugging
• Developing, analysing, or reverse engineering communication protocols or packed data structures
• Knowledge of Software Defined Radios – RF Basics, DSP fundamentals, working with SDR hardware, antennas and understanding of the regulations
• Compression, obfuscation, or encryption techniques and their practical application
• Use of analysis tools including debuggers, disassemblers, hex editors, unpackers, and network traffic inspection
• Network or system penetration testing and security assessment methods
• Threat hunting and vulnerability remediation, including applying cyber threat intelligence, Machine Learning, or AI based techniques

You’ll need experience working on complex, non routine problems where you’ve brought together information from different sources to form well reasoned technical conclusions.

You should be able to demonstrate creativity and strong problem solving skills—approaching challenges from multiple angles and developing innovative ways forward.

We’re looking for someone with the persistence to work through ambiguity and the ability to coordinate people, insights, and technical evidence to deliver high quality, assured engineering or technology outcomes.

For more information on the industrial placement, please see the candidate pack attached below.

Important Information
Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats.

For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Individuals within DSTL who hold dual nationality and currently hold the required clearance level may apply. If found suitable for the role further security discussions will need to take place before a formal offer can be made.

Qualifications

Studying for a STEM-based degree.
Participant of the CyberFirst bursary scheme.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Changing and Improving

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £25,470, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £7,378 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Benefits

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 28.97% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme. Option to join Vivup Benefits Payment scheme.

• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours, job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).

• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.

• Where you work: These roles require a minimum of 80% on site attendance.

• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.

• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid

• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.

• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

Sifting will take place week commencing the 13th April with interviews to be arranged from the 9th May 2026

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

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 theCivil 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.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 : Dstl Recruitment
• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Further information

Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.

Attachments

20260302_Dstl_Industrial_Placement_Candidate_Pack_Cyber Opens in new window (pdf, 5937kB)