DE&S Engineering Mechanical Graduate Scheme
Defence Equipment & SupportJobsCloseBy Editorial Insights
DE&S’s two-year Mechanical Engineering Graduate Scheme at MOD Abbey Wood in Bristol offers hands-on placements across the project lifecycle, rotating you from early concept through acquisition and in-service support while collaborating with Industry Defence Partners and the Armed Forces. Starting October 2026, the package includes a salary around £30,080, 25 days holiday, a strong pension, and flexible hybrid working. Eligibility requires UK residency for the last five years, Security Check clearance, a 2:2 accredited mechanical engineering degree, and no visa sponsorship. Applications open 13 Oct to 10 Nov 2025, followed by online assessments, eligibility checks, and an assessment centre in Jan–Feb 2026, with a provisional offer in Feb and onboarding later. For a standout application, tailor your evidence to the four D&S Behaviours, demonstrate project management potential, confirm degree accreditation status early, and plan for in-person assessment centre attendance.
Location: MOD Abbey Wood, Bristol, BS34 8JH (office attendance required)
Duration: Two years
Start Date: October 2026
Salary: £30,080 (with annual increments)
Entry Requirements: Bachelor’s degree (minimum 2:2)
Working Pattern: Full-time
Overview:
Join Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) to support the UK Armed Forces by delivering cutting-edge equipment and technology. This two-year programme offers hands-on experience in engineering within a mechanical specialism. We recognise the breadth of engineering and aim to align your skills and experience with the most suitable placements when you join us. While there are multiple engineering posts available, we encourage you to apply to the engineering specialism that best reflects your background to help us match you to the best opportunity. Placements will span the engineering lifecycle; from early concept, next generation platforms and technologies, to acquisition and acceptance of new equipment, supporting in service systems through to the safe environmental disposal of obsolete equipment.
What You’ll Do:
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
What We Offer:
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
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)
Minimum selection criteria:
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 mechanical-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 end of August 2026. (Equivalent level qualifications to GCSEs in the required subject and grades will also be considered). Degree accreditation status will be checked during the selection process.
Application Process
1. Apply Online (13 Oct – 10 Nov 2025)
Complete an online application form using the link in this advert. Complete all information accurately including how you meet our minimum selection criteria.
2. Online Assessments (Nov 2025)
We’ll ask you to complete some interactive assessments. These should take around 20-30 minutes. They 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.
3. Eligibility checks (Dec 2025)
We will review your application form to ensure you meet our minimum selection criteria and nationality requirements.
4. 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’ll undertake an interview, presentation and a group activity. Please note, attendance is required in person, as virtual participation is not available.
5. Provisional Offer (Feb 2026)
We will offer based on order of merit to the number of roles available.
6. Onboarding (March – Aug 2026)
All pre-employment checks will take place to ensure you evidence our minimum selection and eligibility criteria to undertake a role within the MOD. If all are successful, we will provide a formal offer of employment.
7. Induction (October 2026)
Subject to confirmation, this scheme is expected to start October 2026.
Additional Information
- Your application form must list your qualifications to meet the minimum selection criteria, if missing, we will be unable to qualify you against our eligibility checks.
- Should you encounter any technical difficulties submitting your application please take screenshots and email us [email protected]. Without screenshots of the issue, we may be unable to progress your application.
- On occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to invite all successful candidates to an assessment centre, we may limit the number of invites offered. In this circumstance we may prioritise interviewing candidates who align most closely to the selection criteria. Information for this will be drawn from other sources of information from your application such as your CV.
- We will assess you on the following D&S Behaviours during the selection process:
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Making Effective Decisions
Delivering at Pace
- Civil Service offers are made in order of merit. If you have passed our assessment centre but there are no roles available, 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’ve been recruited for. If it isn’t obtained prior to 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.
- Due to the classification of information associated with certain projects, some work-based placements are restricted to Sole UK Nationals only.
- Office attendance and attendance to a training providers site (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.
- Please Note: 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
Delivering at Pace
In the event of the need for further merit differentiation the scheme lead will order candidates meretriciously using candidate assessment feedback
- Feedback will only be provided if you attend an assessment centre.
- Please view and save our Candidate Information Pack: DE&S Entry Talent Candidate Information Pack
Diversity and Inclusion
As a Disability Confident level 3 leader, DE&S is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and offer reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities.
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 and offer them an interview or assessment centre opportunity if they meet the minimum criteria for the job.
On occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to invite all Disability Confident candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria to an assessment centre, we may limit the number of invites offered. In this circumstance we may prioritise interviewing candidates who align most closely to the selection criteria. Information for this will be drawn from other sources of information from your application such as your CV.
The job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
- Relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
- Certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals
Further information on nationality requirements
Civil Service Information
- Civil Service Recruitment Principles: Recruitment Principles - Civil Service Commission
- Terms and Conditions: https://bit.ly/DES-Terms-and-Conditions
- Civil Service Code: The Code - Civil Service Commission
Any personal data that you provide during the Recruitment process will be treated in accordance with the MOD Privacy Notice which can be accessed here.
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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Conflicts of Interest
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, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.
Contact
Have a question or a request for a reasonable adjustment? Email us at [email protected]
Apply now to start your career and make a difference for the UK Armed Forces!
Join an integral part of the UK's Defence and play your part in the procurement and in-service support of all our armed forces’ equipment, from fighter jets, armoured vehicles and aircraft carriers, to clothing, food, and ammunition. If you have the pride, passion and commitment to be part of an exciting organisation at the forefront of supporting our country's armed forces to deliver on operations at home and abroad, then apply online now!