DE&S Deca Electrical & Electronic Engineering Apprenticeship

Job summary

Join Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) Deca at MOD Sealand, to support the UK Armed Forces by repairing and maintaining cutting-edge equipment and technology. Our Technician Engineer apprenticeship scheme provides hands-on experience alongside comprehensive training, enabling you to earn while you learn. You will complete a 24 month Level 3 Engineering apprenticeship through our training partner, Coleg Cambria, at the Deeside campus. The framework specialism is Electrical and Electronic Engineering, with Performing Engineering Operations, and Functional Skills qualifications. Throughout the scheme, you’ll complete technical work-based placements within a wide range of specialist areas.

Eligibility

• UK residency for the last 5 years
• Obtain Security Check (SC) clearance - managed through the onboarding process
• Right to work in the UK (DE&S does not sponsor visas)
• Aged 16 years or over by August 2026
• Do not hold existing higher-level qualifications in the same or a similar subject
• Must no longer be in full-time education by the start of the scheme

Job description

What you’ll be doing

• 2-days a week release for Coleg Cambria, Deeside for initial year alongside a combination of classroom and workshop delivery and work-based assessment
• Technical focused placements in Deca Sealand
• Opportunities to visit industry partners or other military sites
• Provide support to engineering staff across the business assisting with technical activities, while continually developing yourself
• You will participate in various professional and personal development opportunities and workshops as well as a peer mentoring scheme, with plenty of opportunities to reach your full potential and become a real asset to the Deca Engineering Function

Person specification

To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:

• Candidates must achieve the following by the start of the scheme:
  • BTEC Level 3 Award in Engineering (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
  • Diploma Level 2 in Performing Engineering Operations
  • GCSE grade C/4 and above in Maths (Not Numeracy) and English/Welsh First Language, plus 3 other C/4 GCSE's or equivalent

All qualifications must be evidenced by end of August 2026. Formal certificates must be provided within three months of signing the contract. Failure to provide this will result in your contract being withdrawn.

In addition to the criteria above, the following behaviours, technical competencies and technical skills will be assessed during theselection process:

Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing - CSBC1
• Delivering at Pace - CSBC1
• Working Together - CSBC1
• Developing Self and Others - CSBC1

Technical Competencies

• EFCF 4 - Technical Decision Making - Awareness

Technical Skills

• Engineering Knowledge
• Hand Skills

Qualifications

Candidates must have or achieve by the start of the scheme:

BTEC Level 3 Award in Engineering (Electrical and Electronic Engineering).
Diploma Level 2 in Performing Engineering Operations.
GCSE grade C/4 and above in Maths (Not Numeracy) and English/Welsh First Language, plus 3 other C/4 GCSE's or equivalent.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Developing Self and Others

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Hand Skills
• Engineering Knowledge

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £25,925, DE&S Deca contributes £7,510 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 25 days’ annual leave +1 day a year up to 30 days, 8 bank holidays and a day off for the King’s birthday
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 27%
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Huge range of discounts
• Access to employee networks promoting diversity and inclusion
• Volunteering days

Further Information

DE&S Success Profile Behaviours: DE&S Success Profile Behaviours

DE&S Engineering Competence Framework: DE&S_Engineering Competence Framework

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Process

Apply Online (11 February – 3 March 2026)

Complete an online application form using the link in this advert. Complete all information accurately including how you meet our essential selection criteria. Please allow sufficient time to complete and submit your application to meet the deadline and be able to contact us in case of technical difficulties. Applications that are not fully submitted by the deadline cannot be accepted.

Candidates are asked to provide their CV and two behaviour examples as part of the application process and will be utilised at sift.

We will check that you meet any essential or eligibility criteria that are listed in the Person Specification section of this advert. On your CV, please clearly show how you meet the essential criteria.

Behaviour Examples

As part of the application you will be asked to provide behaviour examples from the behaviours listed in the person specification section above.

When choosing your Behaviour examples, please make sure you use real life scenarios that relate to your own experiences. Whilst technology may help to enhance your written submission, presenting the ideas of others or those generated by technology, could result in your application being rejected.

Sift (March 2026)

We will review your application form to ensure you meet our essential selection criteria and nationality requirements. Your behaviour examples on your application will be assessed using a simple numerical scoring system.

Assessment Centre (March 2026)

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an assessment day at Deca Sealand, MOD Sealand, Welsh Road, Deeside, Flintshire. Please note that available dates will be limited. During the assessment, you will participate in an interview where you will be evaluated against the sift categories above, as well as the Behaviours and Technical Competencies outlined in the Person Specification. Additionally, you will complete practical skill assessments to evaluate your hand skills and engineering knowledge, along with a colour perception test. Attendance in person is mandatory, as virtual participation will not be available.

To help you prepare for the selection process our CV Writing Guide and Interview Tips can be found at the link below:

How to write a successful CV - Defence Equipment & Support

Interview tips - Defence Equipment & Support

Provisional Offer (April 2026)

We will offer based on order of merit to the number of roles available.

Onboarding (May – August 2026)

All pre-employment checks will take place to ensure you evidence our minimum selection and eligibility criteria to undertake a role within the MOD. If all are successful, we will provide a formal offer of employment.

Induction (September 2026)

Subject to confirmation, this scheme is expected to start September 2026.

Additional Information

• Your application form must list your qualifications to meet the minimum selection criteria, if missing, we will be unable to qualify you against our eligibility checks
• Should you encounter any technical difficulties submitting your application please take screenshots and email us. Without screenshots of the issue, we may be unable to progress your application
• On occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to invite all successful candidates to an assessment centre, we may limit the number of invites offered In this circumstance we may prioritise interviewing candidates who align most closely to the selection criteria. Information for this will be drawn from other sources of information from your application such as your CV
• Security clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained prior to the start of the scheme or is obtained with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn
• Due to the classification of information associated with certain projects, some work-based placements are restricted to Sole UK Nationals only
• Office attendance and attendance to a training providers site (where applicable) will be required. Travel and accommodation costs for office attendance or assessment centers are not reimbursed
• This post is not eligible for relocation allowances
• Please Note: In the event of a tied score at Assessment Centre, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed behaviours below:

1. Working Together
2. Developing Self and Others

In the event of the need for further merit differentiation the Scheme Lead will order candidates in merit using candidate assessment feedback.

Diversity and Inclusion

DE&S Deca is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and offer reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities.

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 and offer them an interview or assessment centre opportunity if they meet the minimum criteria for the job.

On occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to invite all Disability Confident candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria to an assessment centre, we may limit the number of invites offered. In this circumstance we may prioritise interviewing candidates who align most closely to the selection criteria. Information for this will be drawn from other sources of information from your application such as your CV.

Civil Service Information

• Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles - Civil Service Commission
• Civil Service Code: The Code - Civil Service Commission
• Terms and Conditions: Terms-and-Conditions-of-Service.pdf

Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here.

Conflicts of Interest

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

Apply now to start your career and make a difference for the UK Armed Forces!

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 security check (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

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 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.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 : DES Deca HR
• Email : DES-Deca-HR@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DES-Deca-HR@mod.gov.uk

Attachments

DES ET Candidate Information Pack Sealand Opens in new window (pdf, 1864kB)