Vehicle Installation Technician in Manchester

Salary - £41,775, increasing to £45,161 after a 12-month probation period. In addition to our salary offer you will have the opportunity to join a capability framework, which after successful completion of the training pathway, attracts additional allowances.

Flexible working: Full-time. Compressed hours and flexible working patterns are available. Due to the nature of this role, remote and home working is not possible.

About us: MI5 keeps the country safe from serious threats like terrorism and attempts by states to harm the UK, its people and way of life. We carry out investigations by obtaining, analysing and assessing intelligence, and then work with a range of partners, including MI6 and GCHQ to disrupt these threats. Through our protective security arm, we provide advice and guidance to government, businesses and other organisations about how to keep themselves safe. A role in MI5 means you’ll do unique and challenging work in a supportive and encouraging environment, making a real difference to UK national security.

The role: As a Vehicle Installation Technician, you’ll work with a wide range of operational vehicles, fitting them with state‑of‑the‑art technology. Far from your usual automotive role, this isn’t about fixing engines or running diagnostics. Instead, you’ll safely and securely install specialist equipment that supports vital surveillance work. You enjoy finding better ways to do things, and here you’ll have ample opportunities to do just that. Whether you’re testing electrical systems or refining build standards, you’ll play a key role in enhancing how the team operates. That same proactive mindset carries through when you’re working independently on projects, contributing to design, fabrication, planning, and installation at every stage. You’ll also communicate clearly with customers to understand what they need, ways of working and potential areas of improvement. Based in a workshop within a close‑knit team, you’ll enjoy a friendly and collaborative working environment, as well as support from the wider department. Though remote working isn’t an option for this role, there is some flexibility around start and finish times – we understand the importance of a work‑life balance, and we’ll support you with yours.

About you: You’ll be an adaptable and effective problem‑solver. Whether you’ve worked on cars, trains, or even rollercoasters, your background in engineering, electrical systems, or vehicle mechanics has given you an understanding of how things work. It also means you understand how to clearly read and understand wiring and circuitry diagrams. You’ll either hold a City & Guilds qualification in engineering, electrical systems, or vehicle mechanical systems, or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience over the years. You’ll also need a minimum of a Level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) qualification in English Language and Maths at Grade 4/C or above. You see development as an ongoing journey, and you’re ready to engage fully in our programme of Continuous Professional Development (CPD). Along with a full UK driving licence, you’ll also need to complete and pass both a driving and a medical assessment. This is a physical, hands‑on role where you’ll be working on vehicles in a range of positions. There’ll be some lifting of equipment, and you’ll be working in environments that require care and awareness. Of course, full training and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided, but it’s important you feel confident working in this setting. You’re an effective communicator and collaborator, but you’re equally comfortable working independently when needed. You bring curiosity, initiative, and a genuine desire to keep growing – all qualities that will help you thrive in a team that’s always evolving.

Training and development: We know this might be a role unlike any you’ve done before, so you’ll be supported from day one. Your induction will be tailored to your experience and may include shadowing technicians, learning our systems and processes, and getting up to speed with health and safety, our policies, and how we work as a team. As you progress, you’ll develop skills in electrics, fabrication, installation and other appropriate areas, alongside an understanding of engineering compliance, project work, stakeholder communication and vehicle‑based training (as necessary). Where needed, we’ll support you in gaining qualifications in electrical installation, welding, or further engineering training.

Rewards and benefits: You’ll receive a starting salary of £41,775 plus other benefits including: 25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays, opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme, dedicated development budget, interest‑free season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on‑site coffee bars (at some locations), paid parental and adoption leave.

Equal opportunities: At MI5 diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under‑represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio‑economic backgrounds.

We’re Disability Confident: MI5 is proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. As a Disability Confident Leader we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who best meet the essential minimum criteria for this position, will be offered an interview, if it’s practical for us to do so. (This is known as Offer of an Interview.)

To secure an interview for this role, the minimum criteria (in order of application process) are: pre‑screening questions, which will ensure you meet our initial eligibility to apply, a City & Guilds qualification in engineering, electrical systems, or vehicle mechanical systems, or equivalent qualification/experience, a full UK Driving Licence – driving is a requirement of the role, a minimum of Grade 4/C in English and Maths at GCSE or equivalent to meet the minimum pass mark on your motivation for the role and the organisation.

There is a wide range of extra support available throughout the recruitment process to enable you to do your best, see our website for information on reasonable adjustments we can offer.