DE&S Engineering Mechanical Graduate Scheme

Well ask you to complete some interactive assessments. These should take around 20‑30 minutes and will provide us with insight into your adaptability, how you interact and learn new skills, and how you will naturally act and think at work.

1. Eligibility checks (Dec 2025) – We will review your application form to ensure you meet our minimum selection criteria and nationality requirements.

2. Assessment Centre (Jan‑Feb 2026) – Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an assessment centre at DE&S headquarters, MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol. There will be limited dates available. You will undertake an interview, presentation and a group activity. Attendance is required in person; virtual participation is not available.

Your application form must list your qualifications to meet the minimum selection criteria. If you are missing any required qualification, we may be unable to qualify you against our eligibility checks. If you encounter any technical difficulties submitting your application, please take screenshots and email us at DESHR-ETCoE-Recruitment@mod.gov.uk. Without screenshots of the issue, we may be unable to progress your application.

In some circumstances we may limit the number of invites offered to all successful candidates to ensure we interview only those who most closely align with the selection criteria. If you have passed our assessment centre but there are no available roles, we may offer you an alternative or lower role in a similar position that matches your skills and experience, or you may remain on a reserve list for 12 months.

Security clearance must be obtained without any caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role you are recruited for. If an appropriate clearance is not obtained before 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or is obtained with caveats that prevent you from carrying out the role, any conditional offer made to you will be withdrawn.

Some work‑based placements are restricted to Sole UK Nationals only. Office attendance and training site attendance (where applicable) will be required. Travel and accommodation costs for office attendance or assessment centres are not reimbursed. This post is not eligible for relocation allowances.

Assessment Criteria

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:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivery at Pace

The scheme lead will order candidates meretriciously using assessment feedback. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an assessment centre.

Qualifications

• GCSE Maths and English Language (grade 4 or above)
• A bachelor\’s (or higher) degree in Engineering with a minimum grade of 2:2, specialising in a naval architecture focused subject. Click here for: Relevant Degree Subjects
• Your degree must be accredited by the relevant Professional Engineering Institution (Engineering Council, Science Council, Society for the Environmental, or Institute of Marine Engineers, Scientists & Technologists)
• Pass at online assessment stage

Final‑year students can apply with official predicted grades; all qualifications must be evidenced by the end of August 2026. Equivalent level qualifications to GCSEs in the required subjects and grades will also be considered.

Behaviours Assessed

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Recruitment & Offer Process

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 generally prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure to manage potential conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

Career Development

• Rotate through multiple engineering placements within your chosen specialism, Industry Defence Partners, and the Armed Forces to experience every aspect of the project life cycle.
• Exploit cutting‑edge technology; solve engineering problems and develop upgrades to ensure equipment continues to provide the battle‑winning edge our customers need.
• Gain project management knowledge and experience.
• Work towards accreditation with several Engineering Institutions as a foundation towards Incorporated or Chartered status.
• Read more about the scheme here: DE&S Engineering Graduate Scheme

Eligibility & Salary

Person specification – Eligibility: UK residency for the last 5 years, Security Check (SC) clearance required, Right to work in the UK (DE&S does not sponsor visas).

Alongside a salary of £30,080, the Ministry of Defence contributes £8,714 towards a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Salary of £30,080 with annual increments, 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays and an extra privilege day), Employer pension contribution of 28.97%, Flexible and hybrid working options, Professional training and funding for qualifications, Access to employee networks promoting diversity and inclusion, Huge range of discounts.

Nationality Requirements

• 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)
• 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 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, Working for the Civil Service, diversity and inclusion, and other civil service information is available through the relevant government portals.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission\’s recruitment principles. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We run a Disability Confident Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.