Dstl Industrial Placement Student

Job summary

Are you studying a STEM degree?

Do you have a curious mind and enjoy solving problems?

Looking for the right year-long placement during your degree?

Scratch the surface with a year- long placement with Dstl. You will be working on projects with real-world impact and embedded in a Science and Technology Function. We currently have opportunities in the following area:

• Digital Advantage – CEMA
• Digital Advantage – C4ISR
• Human and Biological Advantage
• Chemistry and Energetics
• Strategic Analysis
• Systems Integration

Alongside a placement with a technical team gaining real-world experience, you will have access to a new professional development programme. Working as part of a team on projects that contribute to the safety and prosperity of the UK and its allies, you will gain insights and perspectives in specialist areas of the science and technology behind UK Defence and Security. Alongside the programme of development, you will be supported by a mentor to help you maximise your progress. A supportive network of peers will also enhance your experience and enable you to explore broader work at Dstl.

We want you to get stuck in, challenge assumptions, ask questions — and make the most of every opportunity we give you.

Who We Are

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is the science, technology, and engineering heart of the UK Ministry of Defence. We are innovative, collaborative, and impactful, with values and culture that drive everything we do.

Learn more: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/defence-science-and-technology-laboratory

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

What You’ll Discover

• How to apply your STEM knowledge to projects that protect UK national security
• The immediate and long‑term impact of pursuing a career in science, research, and technology
• New technologies, tools, and concepts — including many you won’t be able to tell your friends about!

To get the best experience, you will spend at least 60% of your time on site, giving you the chance to collaborate with colleagues and develop your skills in computer labs, workshops, and innovation spaces.

What You’ll Do on Placement

• Contribute to research and technology projects that cannot be done anywhere else due to their sensitive nature
• Explore the organisation and discover the breadth of opportunities available
• Learn from experienced specialists who are friendly, supportive, and passionate about what they do
• Gain insight into working for Dstl and the wider UK Government
• Take pride in the impact your work makes, both now and in the future

For more information on the Industrial placements at Dstl, please see the candidate pack attached below.

Person specification

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is studying a STEM degree (first or second year) — unsure if your course is relevant? Check the approved degree list in the attached document: Dstl Industrial Opportunities
• Has strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Enjoys problem‑solving and creative thinking

Excited? Apply now and discover what lies behind the mystery — and what you’re capable of achieving.

For more information on the Industrial placement opportunities at Dstl, please see the word document 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 UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, in this case you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

Qualifications

Studying a STEM degree (first or second year)

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• 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 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.

• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as compressed hours.

• 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.

• 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.

CV and Personal statement to be assessed – Personal Statement question (500 Words); Why would you like to be considered for an Industrial placement at Dstl? What do you want to get out of a placement at Dstl? Please also state what technical skills you have learnt so far (coding languages, analysis etc.).

Behaviours to be assessed at interview:

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving

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.

Interview consists of behavioural and technical questions.

Sifting will take place week commencing the 14 April with interviews to be arranged from the 9 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 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.

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 Team
• 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_Opportunities Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)20260302_Dstl_Industrial_Placement_Candidate_Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 5930kB)