DE&S Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship Scheme

DE&S Software Engineering Degree Apprenticeship Scheme

Join Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) to support the UK Armed Forces by delivering cutting-edge equipment and technology. This four-year programme offers hands-on experience as you complete several work-based training placements whilst completing the BSc in Digital Technology Solutions in preparation for software engineering roles within current and future defence programmes. You’ll work in a hugely collaborative environment to ensure that DE&S continues to deliver the very best equipment to the front line.

What You’ll Do:

• Part time completion of your BSc with a local academic training provider.
• Technical focused placements in Bristol Abbey Wood project delivery teams
• Potential to work with industry partner and our military customers

What We Offer:

• Salary of £26,320 with annual increments
• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays and an extra privilege day)
• Employer pension contribution of 28.97%
• Flexible working options and access to on-site facilities
• 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)
• Must not hold existing higher-level qualifications in the same or a similar subject
• Must no longer be in full-time education by the start of the scheme

Minimum selection criteria:

• GCSE English language and Maths at a minimum grade 4
• Three full A Levels at grade C or above to include Maths and a Science, or 96 UCAS points from STEM subjects
• 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).

Application Process

• Apply Online (26 Jan – 16 Feb 2026) - Complete an online application form using the link in this advert. Complete all information accurately including how you meet our minimum selection criteria.
• Please allow sufficient time to complete and submit your application to meet the deadline and be able to contact us in case of technical difficulties. Applications that are not fully submitted by the deadline cannot be accepted.
• Online Assessments (Feb 2026) - We’ll ask you to complete some interactive assessments. These should take around 40-45 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.
• Eligibility checks (March 2026) - We will review your application form to ensure you meet our minimum selection criteria and nationality requirements.
• Assessment Centre (April 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.
• Provisional Offer (May 2026) - We will offer based on order of merit to the number of roles available.
• Onboarding (May – 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.
• Induction (September 2026) - Subject to confirmation, this scheme is expected to start September 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 DESHR-ETCoE-Recruitment@mod.gov.uk. 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 in merit using candidate assessment feedback.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an assessment centre.

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

How to apply

To apply for this role and to find out more, please click on the apply button. Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.