Associate Building Services Engineer Ref. 3720

Job Description

Flexible working: due to the nature of this role, flexible working isn’t possible and full-time availability is needed to support projects across the UK and overseas.

About us

We’re MI6, also known as the Secret Intelligence Service. Our mission is to protect the security and economic wellbeing of the UK from overseas threats such as regional instability, terrorism, and cyber-attacks. Working across the globe and in close partnership with MI5 and GCHQ, we help the Government to counter these threats through the provision of secret intelligence. A role in MI6 will see you providing vital support to this work, within a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.

The role

As an Associate Building Services Engineer, you'll join a close-knit, experienced multi-trades team that keeps vital UK and overseas facilities running safely and reliably. This is a rare opportunity to gain electrical/mechanical qualifications, support mission-critical operations, and take on exciting challenges across different countries and contexts.

When you’re working in the UK, you’ll help plan the team’s tasks and activities. This will include general maintenance, fault-finding and repairs to existing systems. You’ll also:

• assist with the installation and maintenance of systems, including lighting, air conditioning and fire alarms
• help maintain installed systems and building fabrics
• identify the equipment needed for each task and get quotations for the delivery
• work with suppliers to source equipment and materials
• organise deliveries and coordinate equipment being sent overseas
• complete documentation to ensure everything reaches the right place at the right time

When you’re working overseas, you’ll help keep vital facilities running by assisting with the installation and maintenance of air conditioning, ventilation, fire alarm systems and other electrical installations. You’ll also:

• deliver planned projects and replace equipment reaching the end of its life
• respond to urgent issues when priorities change
• balance new demands with maintaining safe, sustainable systems

About you

You'll have a keen interest in building services or facilities management, supported by practical experience, either as part of an in-house maintenance team or across multiple sites. This could include the installation and/or upkeep of systems like air conditioning, ventilation, fire alarms, or electrical equipment. You’ll also bring basic IT skills, a strong desire to learn, flexibility to work globally at short notice, a collaborative attitude and clear communication skills to work effectively with colleagues and suppliers. A GCSE in English (Grade C/4 or above) or equivalent, is also essential.

While not essential, an interest in electrical or mechanical engineering is a plus. Please note, this role will involve working at height (roofs, steps, platforms) and lifting mechanical equipment. There is no requirement for a fitness or medical test as part of your application.

Training and development

When you join us, you’ll have access to training that’s tailored just for you, along with opportunities to gain formal qualifications. You’ll get hands-on experience on live projects in the UK and overseas, and on top of that, you can choose to build your skills further with recognised certifications in areas like Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), electrical, mechanical, fire safety, and more.

There’s also the chance to earn industry-recognised qualifications, including F-Gas Category 1, PAT Testing, Safe Isolation of Electrical Equipment, Gent Fire Alarm Systems, PASMA Mobile Access Tower Training, IPAF Powered Access Licence (PAL) and others.

From the day you join us, you’ll be welcomed with a comprehensive orientation and introduction to your team. Along with this, you’ll be paired with a mentor to guide you, answer your questions, and help you feel confident as you get started.

Rewards and benefits

You’ll receive a starting salary of £37,518, 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
• an interest free season ticket loan
• an excellent pension scheme
• a 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 MI6 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.

Offer of interview

We are committed to providing equitable opportunities throughout the recruitment process to support candidates with disabilities. As part of this, 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 the Offer of an Interview.) To secure an interview for this role, the minimum criteria (in order of application process) are:

1. You’ll be required to meet the minimum pass mark on questions about your motivation for the role and your approach to training and development (assessed at application sift).

There is a wide range of extra support available throughout the recruitment process to enable you to do your best, see our how to apply page 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:
1. Application and CV sift
2. Competency Interview
3. If successful, you will receive a conditional 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 - 9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you to continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.

Before you apply

To work at MI6 you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. Read about our full eligibility criteria.

This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. You can 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 Buckinghamshire, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application.

We offer reasonable reimbursement of travel costs for candidates attending in-person appointments during the recruitment and vetting process. Full details will be provided with your interview or assessment invitation.

Reimbursement is discretionary and will only be made in line with the Candidate Expenses Policy, as amended from time to time. Candidates must book their own travel, using the most economical option, and provide original hardcopy receipts for reimbursement.

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 reserve 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