Working for Dstl

Find out how to work with us and what we offer, including details about diversity and inclusion, staff benefits, graduates and apprentices, and security clearance.

Current opportunities

All our vacancies are advertised on Civil Service jobs

What you’ll be part of

At Dstl, you’ll be a part of UK defence and security, helping to protect our nation.

We employ a broad range of talented people, from specialist scientists and engineers, to analysts, programme and project managers, and finance, logistics, medical and communications personnel.

You’ll get:

  • excitement and challenge – help push the boundaries of cutting-edge science and technology, working on complex and sometimes sensitive projects
  • satisfaction from making a difference – see the real-world impact of our research as it’s put into action by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and wider government
  • flexibility and opportunity – experience the benefits of working in the public sector while working alongside the best minds from industry, academia and internationally

Diversity and inclusion

Dstl is a place where everyone can thrive, succeed and achieve their ambitions, regardless of background, different circumstances, experiences, or characteristics.

The benefits of working for us

As well as a rewarding career in defence science and technology, we offer a wide range of benefits and training opportunities in a supportive, encouraging and flexible environment.

Working flexibly

Our flexible working scheme allows you to arrange your working day to suit your circumstances. Depending on your role, blended working may be available, including remote working to suit you and your team. You may still need to travel to your home, other Dstl and MOD sites when required.

We can also consider alternative working patterns, including:

  • part-time work
  • job share
  • work annualised hours (an agreed number of hours per year but paid in equal monthly instalments, for example, term-time only)
  • work compressed hours (for example, working 37 hours over 4 days or a 9 day fortnight)

As part of our flexible working arrangements, you can fit your working hours around your other commitments through:

  • flexible start and finish times
  • ability to bank hours in a 12 month period (you can accrue and use 3 days of flexi time per calendar month)

Our flexible working arrangements can be affected by the nature of the role, so please ask about the options at interview.

Rewarding innovation and achievement

We have schemes for rewarding achievement, including cash bonuses and vouchers for outstanding work. We reward our inventive employees for coming up with ideas that can be patented or used commercially. This is done through our ‘Rewards to Inventors’ scheme as well as regular opportunities to be nominated for awards.

Annual leave

All staff get 25 days’ leave (pro rata) when they start. After 5 years, this increases to 30 days.

In addition, staff get 8 bank holidays, and you can buy or sell up to 5 extra days of leave each year.

Occupational health and sick pay

All staff can get up to 10 months of paid sick leave (5 months at full pay and 5 months at half pay). You can also get support from occupational health advisers, who offer confidential advice on health concerns in the workplace.

We value our employees’ health so we also have an employee assistance programme. The HELP Employee Assistance Programme (HELP EAP) offers confidential, independent and unbiased support and advice on a range of emotional, health and social subject areas - for both work related and personal matters. Support is available 24 hours, 365 day a year.

Pension scheme

Staff can choose between 2 pension schemes when they join Dstl:

  • alpha (with generous employer contribution rates starting at 26%)
  • the partnership pension account

For full details of the schemes, visit the Civil Service pensions website.

Supporting family life

Staff have access to:

  • maternity leave - up to 52 weeks’ leave (paid and unpaid)
  • shared parental leave - up to 50 weeks’ leave (paid and unpaid)
  • paternity leave - 2 weeks’ leave
  • adoption leave - up to 52 weeks’ adoption leave (paid and unpaid)
  • a number of support networks including a Parents and Carers network
  • flexible working (such as the ability to bank hours; up to 3 days can be taken in any calendar month)

Facilities

Our main sites have a variety of on-site facilities for staff, including:

  • free parking
  • dedicated car-sharing spaces and a car-sharing scheme
  • electric vehicle charging points
  • fully equipped gymnasiums that offer low-cost membership options
  • hot and cold meals and light refreshments on site

Travel to work and other discounts

We offer the following benefits:

  • season ticket loans
  • cycle-to-work scheme - to save on the cost of a new bicycle or cycling equipment
  • discounted rates for civil service societies and healthcare
  • access to discounts available to MOD staff

Training and development opportunities

Staff are strongly encouraged to manage their own career progression. This is supported through a number of opportunities, including:

  • up to 2 paid professional subscriptions each year
  • chartership scheme - supported by mentors from across the business
  • fellowship scheme - recognising staff who make an outstanding and creative contribution
  • internal employee support networks - providing further advice and support
  • secondment opportunities - with industry and academic partners in the UK and abroad, helping staff to develop skills, knowledge and experience
  • career level reviews - helping staff to progress through the organisation
  • networking events - learning about other areas of the business
  • access to Civil Service Learning

Graduates, students and apprenticeships

We recruit graduates from a wide-range of scientific, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and backgrounds.

We also recruit apprentices, mixing formal classroom-based study alongside practical hands-on training in our workshop, laboratory and office facilities.

You’ll have opportunities to learn and develop in a hands-on and supportive environment from some of the top experts in their fields.

Become a Dstl graduate or student

Become an apprentice at Dstl

Security clearance requirements

While each role will have its own individual qualification and technical requirements, there are some standard requirements all our candidates need. Because of the nature of our work, all our successful candidates will need to be security cleared before working for us. To gain the high level of security clearance needed you must:

  • be a UK national. Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be British citizens. If you are an international or dual-nationality candidate, please consider applying to our government, security or defence partners.
  • have resided in the UK for the past 5 years. For some roles Developed Vetting will also be required, and for these you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.

To understand more about reserved posts and what this means, read section 3 of the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Contact us

If you would like more information about available opportunities or the application process, please email: dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk.

We are Dstl

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