Job Description

Department

Engineering

Location(s)

London

Salary

42,798, increasing to 46,268 after a 12-month probation period. Additional payments will be available as you grow your skillset.

Job description

Flexible working

: Full-time. Compressed hours and flexible working patterns are available. Due to the nature of this role, remote and home working is not possible.

About Us

MI5 keeps the country safe from serious threats like terrorism and attempts by states to harm the UK, its people and way of life. We carry out investigations by obtaining, analysing and assessing intelligence, and then work with a range of partners, including MI6 and GCHQ to disrupt these threats. Through our protective security arm, we provide advice and guidance to government, businesses and other organisations about how to keep themselves safe. A role in MI5 means you'll do unique and challenging work in a supportive and encouraging environment, making a real difference to UK national security.

The Role

As a Vehicle Installation Technician, you'll work with a wide range of operational vehicles, fitting them with state-of-the-art technology. Far from your usual automotive role, this isn't about fixing engines or running diagnostics. Instead, you'll safely and securely install specialist equipment that supports vital surveillance work.


You enjoy finding better ways to do things, and here you'll have ample opportunities to do just that. Whether you're testing electrical systems or refining build standards, you'll play a key role in enhancing how the team operates. That same proactive mindset carries through when you're working independently on projects, contributing to design, fabrication, planning, and installation at every stage. You'll also communicate clearly with customers to understand what they need, ways of working and potential areas of improvement.


Based in a workshop within a close-knit team, you'll enjoy a friendly and collaborative working environment, as well as support from the wider department. Though remote working isn't an option for this role, there is some flexibility around start and finish times - we understand the importance of a work-life balance, and we'll support you with yours.

About You

An adaptable and effective problem-solver. Whether you've worked on cars, trains, or even rollercoasters, your background in engineering, electrical systems, or vehicle mechanics has given you an understanding of how things work. It also means you understand how to clearly read and understand wiring and circuitry diagrams.


You'll either hold a City & Guilds qualification in engineering, electrical systems, or vehicle mechanical systems, or be able to demonstrate equivalent experience over the years. You see development as an ongoing journey, and you're ready to engage fully in our programme of Continuous Professional Development (CPD).


Along with a full UK driving licence, you'll also need to complete and pass both a driving and a medical assessment. This is a physical, hands-on role where you'll be working on vehicles in a range of positions. There'll be some lifting of equipment, and you'll be working in environments that require care and awareness. Of course, full training and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be provided, but it's important you feel confident working in this setting.


You're an effective communicator and collaborator, but you're equally comfortable working independently when needed. You bring curiosity, initiative, and a genuine desire to keep growing - all qualities that will help you thrive in a team that's always evolving.

Training and Development

We know this might be a role unlike any you've done before, so you'll be supported from day one. Your induction will be tailored to your experience and may include shadowing technicians, learning our systems and processes, and getting up to speed with health and safety, our policies, and how we work as a team.


When you join us, you'll be hands-on with vehicle installations, and for those with an interest in design, there will be opportunities to help develop products that will be used across the fleet. You'll also get exposure to other teams, including Research and Design, and gain a broader understanding of how everything connects.


As you progress, you'll develop skills in electrics, fabrication, installation and other appropriate areas, alongside an understanding of engineering compliance, project work, stakeholder communication and vehicle-based training (as necessary).

Where needed, we'll support you in gaining qualifications in electrical installation, welding, or further engineering training.

Rewards and Benefits

You'll receive a starting salary of 42,798, plus other benefits including:

25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme Dedicated development budget Interest-free season ticket loan Excellent pension scheme Cycle to work scheme Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (at some locations) Paid parental and adoption leave

Equal Opportunities

At MI5 diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.


Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website:


https://www.MI5.gov.uk/careers/diversity

We're Disability Confident

MI5 is proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP's Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. As a Disability Confident Leader we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who best meet the essential minimum criteria for this position, will be offered an interview, if it is practical for us to do so. (This is known as Offer of an Interview.) To secure an interview for this role, the minimum criteria (in order of application process) are:

Pre-screening questions, which will ensure you meet our initial eligibility to apply A City & Guilds qualification in engineering, electrical systems, or vehicle mechanical systems, or equivalent qualification/ experience A full UK Driving Licence - driving is a requirement of the role A minimum of Grade 4/C in English and Maths at GCSE or equivalent To meet the minimum pass mark on your motivation for the role and the organisation

There is a wide range of extra support available throughout the recruitment process to enable you to do your best, see our website for information on reasonable adjustments we can offer.

What to Expect

Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:

Application sift, which will assess your motivation for the role, the organisation and your relevant experience Assessment centre, comprised of a competency interview (including technical questions), and a practical test where you can demonstrate the skills required for the role If successful, you'll receive a conditional offer of employment subject to vetting You will also need to undergo and pass a medical assessment prior to receiving a final offer of employment

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 to 9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.

Before You Apply

To work at MI5, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. Read about our eligibility criteria.


This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It's something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. Find out more about the vetting process.


Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can't take any recreational drugs and you'll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.


Before you apply, we advise you to consider setting up a separate email address for your contact with us, to ensure your personal and application correspondence remain separate. Try to avoid having identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surname and date of birth. This is good practice and will help you to manage your application with us more securely.


The role is based in Greater London, so you'll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application. An interest-free loan is available to assist with relocating into privately rented accommodation to take up the offer of employment.

Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.

Right to Withdraw Statement:

Please be aware that we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.