Dstl Industrial placements

About the job

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 (Defence Science Technology and Laboratory). You will be working on projects with real-world impact and embedded in a Science and Technology division:

• Cyber and Information Systems
• Counter-Terrorism and Security
• Exploration 
• Platforms Systems

Our student placements are designed to give you a hands-on insight into working within science, research and defence. By becoming part of the team, you will see the impact you can make. Our friendly experts will nurture and support your learning and growth helping you apply skills you already and develop new ones on real-life projects. We want you to get stuck in, to challenge us, to question norms and to make the most of every opportunity we give you. 

During your placement, you will discover:

• How to apply your knowledge/skills to projects protecting the security of the UK,
• The immediate and long term impact you can have by launching a science, research and technology career,
• Things you didn’t know existed (most of which you can’t even tell your friends about!).

To get the most from your placement, you will spend at least 75% of your time on site. This way you can connect with other employees while learning and developing skills within a computer lab, workshop or collaboration space.

That’s not all, impress us. We will speak to you about our sponsorship opportunities!

Who is Dstl?

Dstl is the Science, Technology and Engineering expertise of the UK’s Ministry of Defence. At Dstl, our values and culture are at the heart of what we do. We are innovative, collaborative and impactful.

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

We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion as we welcome fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

We particularly welcome female and ethnic minority applicants and those from the LGBTQI community, as they are under-represented within Dstl.

Job description

On your Industrial Placement, you will:

• Make genuine contributions to projects advancing research and technology – which due to sensitivities, cannot be done anywhere else!
• Explore the organisation and opportunities available
• Learn from our helpful and friendly experts
• Get an insight into working for Dstl and within UK Government

Take pride and care in your tasks, knowing what you do makes real impact 

Person specification

We are looking for someone who is/has:

• Studying for a degree in any STEM discipline (first or second year) – unsure if your degree would be of interest? Check out the attached list on .Gov
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Problem solving skills

Excited? Apply now and discover the reality behind the mystery!

Behaviours

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

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

Benefits

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 (e.g. working a 4 day week/ 9 day fortnight), job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).
• 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.
• Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.
• 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

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. We recommend looking at the Civil Service Success Profile so you fully understand the applications process and give yourself the best chance.

For full details and the behaviors for this role please see the attached job profile at the bottom of this page.

The numerical test needs to be completed by 15:00pm on Monday 9th October at which point you will be invited to complete the rest of your application. 

Interviews will be held throughout October and November via MS Teams.

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. 

 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.