DE&S Electronics Engineer

Job summary

At Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), we supply and maintain vital equipment and services for the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Together, we deliver a vast range of essential defence programmes, and strive for what's next. Because it helps keep our military at the top of their game and our nation safe – for today, and tomorrow.

We offer 25+ days’ holiday, flexible and hybrid working, enhanced parental leave schemes, shopping discounts, and an exceptional employer pension contribution of 28.97%, to help make work work for you.

For security reasons this role is open to sole UK nationals only. A ‘sole UK national’ refers to an individual who holds citizenship solely in the UK, without dual citizenship or nationality from another country. We’re unable to offer visa sponsorship.

This role requires you to have lived in the UK for the last 5 years and obtain Security Check (SC) security clearance. 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, or is obtained but with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn. Obtaining SC security clearance can be a lengthy process, and we reserve the right to withdraw any conditional offer made if the necessary security clearance isn’t obtained within 12 months.

Job description

Are you driven by the challenge of keeping mission‑critical equipment safe, reliable, and ready for action every single day? As an In‑Service Electronics Engineer, you’ll be right at the centre of fast‑moving, high‑impact operations where your decisions directly support front‑line capability and engineering excellence.

As an In‑Service Electronics Engineer, you will play a key role primarily within the fast‑paced operational air environment portfolio. You’ll take responsibility for the delivery, performance, and ongoing maintenance of critical tactical data link equipment within the air, land and maritime environments, ensuring it remains safe, reliable, and fully compliant with Defence standards. You’ll be central to our safety management system, maintaining engineering integrity and supporting capability that is continually in operational demand.

Appropriate levels of in-person attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 80% of your working week) to deliver the hand-on aspects of the role,promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance.

What you’ll be doing

• Managing in‑service engineering activities across the project, covering safety, airworthiness, quality assurance, and equipment repair, with training provided where required.
• Leading engineering equipment inspection and document reviews to ensure technical integrity and compliance.
• Coordinating and maintaining agreed levels of equipment availability to support operational demand.
• Processing and managing safety occurrences in line with established safety management processes.
• Maintaining and upholding airworthiness processes and documentation.
• Supporting equipment repair activities, working with internal teams and external partners to resolve issues efficiently.
• Broader Electronic and Sensor tasking dependant on demand and business needs.

Person specification

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

• Proven engineering experience in communication or electrical systems, with the ability to apply this knowledge in a safety‑critical environment.

• Strong collaborative skills, with the ability to work effectively across engineering, safety, and delivery teams.

• Have experience of providing technical advice and delivery of successful engineering outcomes; and

• Have technical ESS (electronic systems and sensors) or mechatronic experience in in a variety of contexts; and

As a minimum hold either:

o A Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Mathematics based qualification at RQF Level 6;

o A Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Mathematics based qualification at RQF Level 4, plus with a Professional body/institution related to your discipline hold current professional registration at the level listed below;

o A Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Mathematics based qualification at RQF Level 3, plus a minimum of 3 further years of relevant professional experience;

o With a Professional body/institution related to your discipline, hold current professional registration at the level listed below, plus a minimum of 3 further years of relevant professional experience;

Professional Registration List (minimum levels provided)

o Engineering Technician (EngTech) or

o Registered Science Technician (RSciTech) or

o Marine Technician (MarTech) or

o Registered IT Technician (RITTech) or

o ICT Technician (ICTTech) or

o Chartered Physicist (CPhys)

Note: Alternatives to RQF listed above (which cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland only), are the Scottish SCQF; or an international equivalent qualification, which must be supported by a statement of comparability from UK ENIC.

In addition to the responsibilities above, the following technical competences and behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Core Behaviour 1 Working Together – CSBC3
• Core Behaviour 2: Making Effective Decisions – CSBC3
• Technical Competence 1: ECF_01 Suitable Systems and Systems Thinking – Supervised Practitioner
• Technical Competence 2: ECF_03 Supportable Technical Solutions - Supervised Practitioner

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,600, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,892 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
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Market-leading average employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Annual performance-based bonus and recognition awards
• Access to specialist training and funded qualifications
• Support for progression
• Huge range of discounts
• Volunteering days
• Enhanced parental leave schemes

Improving innovation and enriching our culture, diversity of thought is vital to our success. So whether you’re looking for a new opportunity, a next step, or a helping hand as you return from a career break, bring your experiences and help deliver for the defence of tomorrow. Here you’ll find a supportive, family-friendly organisation to be a part of - and if you need any assistance with your application, just let us know.

Further Information

• Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles - Civil Service Commission
• Candidate Information Pack: https://bit.ly/DES_Candidate-Information-Pack
• Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-Terms-and-Conditions
• Civil Service Code: The Code - Civil Service Commission

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.

Disability Confident:

Please note as a Disability Confident Leader we want to ensure you receive any reasonable adjustments that you need throughout the recruitment process. If you do require any reasonable adjustments, you can let us know on your online application under the section ‘Please indicate and give details of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the recruitment process.’

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.

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

Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:

1. Pre-sift - We will check your application to ensure 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.
2. Sift - Your CV will be assessed against the following categories, using a simple numerical scoring system: Key Achievements; Relevant Experience; Applied Knowledge and Skills. Please follow our guidance on CV writing for best chance of success.
3. Interview - If you're invited to interview, you will be assessed against the following:

• CV Review
• Core Behaviour 1
• Core Behaviour 2
• Technical Competencies

Please Note: In the event of a tied score at interview, the Order of Merit will be distinguished based on the ranking of the assessed behaviours and competencies below:

• 1st: Core Behaviour 1

• 2nd: Core Behaviour 2

• 3rd: Technical Competencies

• 4th: CV Review

In the event of a further tie using the method above, we reserve the right to utilise the Lead criterion, and/or an additional assessment.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact department via email: DESHR-WSC-PMOCOMPLAINTS@mod.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Recruitment Complaints - Civil Service Commission

Offering at a lower level

If you’re not successful at interview, we may offer you a role at a lower level if this is a match for your skills and experience. If this applies to your application, you’ll be scored against criteria for the lower-level role and offers will be made in merit order. If you accept this position, you’ll be able to take advantage of opportunities to develop your career as part of our team.

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

Open to UK nationals only.

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 : Daniel Bone
• Email : daniel.bone101@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : daniel.bone101@mod.gov.uk