DIO – Embedded Electronic Systems Development Apprentice

MOD Sealand CH5 2LS

Do you want to work for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and care for the Defence Estate? DIO enables Defence to live, work, train and deploy, all with sustainability in mind. From net carbon zero accommodations to runways for the F35 fighter jets; our outputs are unique in the UK and across the globe!

About DIO

View our YouTube video to see more about our work

https://www.youtube.com/embed/I9tLu3UdiGY  How the Defence Infrastructure Organisation Supports Defence

This is a Fixed-term Appointment for 36 Months and the reason why it’s for a fixed period is because an apprenticeship role is not guaranteed a permanent role. This post will therefore begin from 01/04/2024 and end on 31/03/2027.

Therefore, you should be aware that when your Fixed-term Appointment at MOD comes to an end, you may (if you are an existing civil servant) become at Risk of Redundancy and be given Priority Mover Status, unless:  

• the contract end date is met and honoured, for external employees who are not existing civil servants.  
• an extension to your Fixed-term Appointment has been agreed.  
• a conversion of the Fixed-term Appointment to a permanent role has been agreed.  
• you return to your home department  
• you are successfully redeployed into a suitable alternative post.  
• you secure another Civil Service post through a recruitment process.  

Permanent Civil Servants joining the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on a Fixed-term Appointment: 

If you accept a Fixed-term Appointment with MOD, the preferred option is for you to transfer from your home department on a loan basis to ensure you can return to your home department at the end of the Fixed-term Appointment. Exceptionally, if a transfer on a loan basis cannot be agreed by your home department, you would transfer and become a permanent employee at MOD but on a Fixed-term basis. This will not affect your continuity of employment. If you face a redundancy situation at the end of the Fixed-term Appointment you will be treated as a permanent civil servant for redundancy and priority mover purposes only. You must have two years’ service to be eligible for redundancy benefits under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme. 

Security Services Group (SSG) provides specialist security advice, compliance and assurance to areas of the public sector that require the highest levels of security protection. SSG is the Government’s expert provider specialising in design, installation and maintenance of both custom in-house security systems and highly accredited commercial products on the government estate. 

Working as part of a 230-person team, we provide full life support services to UK Defence and Government sites throughout the UK and overseas. 

The DIO Apprenticeship Academy offers a wide range of apprenticeships that combine practical work and training to gain valuable experience. SSG sits within the DIO, and through our apprenticeship you will gain professional knowledge, a recognised qualification and the wider skills required to upskill you and pave the way for your future career. 

The role of SSG Embedded Electronic Systems Design and Development Apprentice is to build, develop and apply their knowledge of electronics and embedded software to design circuits or devices that provide a useful function, that are capable of being manufactured at a competitive cost, and that are reliable and safe in use. This involves enhancing your knowledge of electronics and electronic principles whilst gaining an in-depth understanding around SSG’s electronic security products.

Tasks include:    

• Software Development, i.e. Embedded C, Javascript and HTML
• Circuit schematic and PCB layout design.
• Technical writing.
• Agile project delivery.
• Building technical knowledge.
• Collaboration.

The work in the development team is hugely varied, and our project time scales range from a couple of weeks to a few years. You’ll be working across a variety of technology stacks, so we need adaptable and passionate people with problem-solving skills to tackle challenges as we continue to push technology forward.  

You will work with all areas of the team, including hardware engineers, firmware and embedded developers, system developers, production staff and support engineers. 

You will complete a degree that will support the fundamental technical, scientific, and mathematical principles to equip you with the understanding required to operate effectively and efficiently at a high level within the embedded development world.

You will undertake placements across our production, development and support teams experiencing everything from design and test of simple circuits right the way through to the development of software defined security systems. 

You will write documents that describe how the systems you have designed work and develop training material for SSG engineers implement the products in the field. 

At SSG you’ll see how your work can really make a difference. 

SSG will invest in your career development through mentoring and on-the-job training, formal technical training, and support to professional accreditation. 

We will link you up with other Apprentices who you can meet and connect with, give you the opportunity to participate in bi-annual apprenticeship events and get involved with our many networks such as Race, Gender, LBGT+, Faith and Mental Health to really give you that all-round feeling of the culture in our business.

Other benefits include:
•    Access to Defence Discount Service 
•    Specsavers eye test vouchers  
•    Access to the Civil Service Sports Club (CSSC) (fees apply)  
•    Access to the Civil Service Club in London (fees apply)
•    Continuous professional development within the embedded development field
•    Laptop and mobile phone 

You will be required to attend university periodically, and complete mandatory training activities in line with your job role.

Further information can be obtained on enquiry.

You are encouraged to apply with your predicted grades. Evidence of the below qualifications will be required as part of your pre-employment checks before a formal offer can be made.

• A-Level standard (or equivalent) in Maths

• At least one further STEM based subject such as Physics, ICT, Computing or Electronics

• English Language at GCSE (grade C or above)

Please note that students are required to be 18 years or over at the start of their Apprenticeship.

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

• Developing Self and Others
• Working Together

Alongside your salary of £23,310, Ministry of Defence contributes
£6,293 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Highly competitive Pension Scheme with an average employer contribution of 27%.
• Alternative working practices such as working from home.
• Opportunity to join one of our several D&I Networks. We value diversity and are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.
• 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service.
• Enhanced Parental Leave.
• Most sites have free car parking, Sports & Social Clubs, Gym, on site shops and subsidised canteens.
• Alternative working practices such as working from home.

Allowances:

This post does not offer any assistance with relocation allowances.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Employment Hours:

• The post advertised is for 37 hours net, however the Ministry of Defence offers a range of flexibilities to enable a better work-life balance for employees. 

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available.
You may want to save a copy for your records.

Job contact :

• Name : Amber Henshaw
• Email : amber.henshaw104@mod.gov.uk
• Telephone : Mob: 07884 181382, Skype: 0300 1554483

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-DIOResourcing@mod.gov.uk