The Group 
The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is the science, technology and engineering arm of the UK’s Ministry of Defence. We are charged with understanding and addressing some of the most difficult defence and security challenges facing our country and our service men and women all around the world. Our group, the Threat Evaluation Group, is responsible for assessing threats and working out how to keep our people safe; the work is varied, challenging, highly sensitive (working at top secret research facilities) and hugely rewarding. No other job can offer you that feeling. 

The Challenge 
Imagine someone dropped a state-of-the-art sensor technology on your desk and asked you to tell them how it works? What if it was now part of a vast network of interconnected devices that needed to be disrupted? What if that system now incorporated an autonomous agent? And, having got your head round all of this, how would you brief an Air Chief Marshall in the Royal Air Force on the key information they need to inform a multi-billion pound procurement activity when you’re working to a tight deadline? These are just some of the daily challenges we face and we need the best and brightest people to help make a real difference. 

The Reward 
You’ll be joining a close-knit community of like-minded scientific and technical professionals working hard to achieve our mission. While we’ll probably recruit you into one of our teams, you’ll be joining a much bigger group of people and, as such, there is opportunity to grow and develop your technical expertise in a huge variety of specialisms. 

We’re not offering you a job, we’re offering you a career and with that comes development and progression. Not all our jobs have fixed grades and, as such, you can achieve promotion on merit. If you’re having the impact we know you can then you’ll get all the support from us to move onwards and upwards. 
Our group is asked to address some of the most difficult scientific challenges you can imagine; there is no standard approach and we’re certainly not handle turners. We encourage creative thinking and innovative approaches and we’ll invest our own money to support you if you want to pursue a new approach to solving a problem. 

Because we have to address some of the most challenging problems, we get access to some of the most modern and ground breaking equipment to support us doing our work. We have a number of laboratories and facilities that you’ll be trusted to work in to achieve our goals. 
Our group works collaboratively with a number of partners from across the world and, as such, you’ll potentially have the opportunity to undertake some international travel. Depending on where your career takes you, there might also be the opportunity to undertake a temporary transfer to one of these sites overseas for an extended period. 

The Journey 
Our people are at the very heart of our work and we’re proud to offer an open and inclusive environment to everyone. 
We value your differences (alternative perspectives often provide the most innovative approaches to our work) and we’ll nurture your talent to achieve your full potential. We know you’re unique and that you can only be your best if you’re totally comfortable in the workplace so we have a variety of employee support networks (LGBT+, disabled staff, faith and culture, alternative working arrangements, parents and carers and gender equality) to make sure you have the support you need if it’s required. 

Don’t worry about falling in at the deep end; we’ll provide all the training and development to get your career started and support your ongoing professional development throughout your career. We’ll also offer to pay membership fees for a relevant professional institution and support you to achieve Chartership through our Chartership and Accreditation Scheme. We have a vibrant young professionals community to get you used to the Lab’s working environment (and show you the best local pubs if you’re interested!). 

We recognise that it’s important to keep a healthy balance between work and home life. The Lab offers a fully flexible work pattern and a generous annual leave entitlement; you can even buy more leave if you’re planning some extra special travel. 

Qualifications 
Essential 
A degree in one of the following: 
• Physicists 
• Electronics Engineers 
• Control Systems Engineers 
• Aerospace Engineers 
• Computer Science 
• Robotics Engineers 
• Any STEM Degree supplemented with evidence to demonstrate embedded systems, programming and microprocessor knowledge 

Desirable 
MSc or PhD, in a relevant subject 

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Working Together

Benefits Pensions

Civil Service pension schemes may be available for successful candidates.

Benefits

We'll provide a great range of benefits including; 
• Flexible working 
• Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks full pay followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid, and paternity leave of 2 weeks full pay 
• Chartership and accreditation support 
• Pension 
• Generous annual leave 
• A competitive salary 
• Excellent learning and development 
• Onsite gyms and restaurants 
• Staff discounts for high street and online shopping, restaurants and days out.

Things you need to know Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

There are a number of roles within the Threat Evaluation Group and once you submit your application the team will look at your skills, experience and background and what roles you'd be the most suitable for. 
If you are selected for interview we'll provide you with some more detailed information about the roles you are being considered for and at the interview you'll have the change to ask any questions about the group, the teams and the roles. 
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

Eligibility

Candidates in their probationary period are not eligible to apply for vacancies within this department.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.