Defence Careers
For over 50 years, Serco has worked alongside the UK Armed Forces providing critical defence support services. And with over 70 military contracts across the country and beyond, we can offer boundless opportunities for development.
Our relationship with the defence sector started with our first contract with RAF Fylingdales in the early 1960s. Since then we have grown and now operate across Maritime, Aviation, Space & Security, and Land sites both here in the UK and across the globe. For our team and our business – it’s more than just a day job.
We are proud of who we are as individuals and we recognise the value of having a workforce which is representative of the communities in which we serve. In Serco’s Defence business, we know that we are on a journey to achieving a truly diverse team, but we are committed and proactively working towards bringing this vision to life.
Where You Could Be Working:
Maritime
We provide maritime services for our customers in the defence sector, operating nearly 100 vessels from five sites around the UK, working in British waters and around the world. We’re proud to have been supporting the Royal Navy since 1996 – and we take great pride in our track record of exceptional service, combining innovation from industry with a real understanding of our customers requirements.
Our team combines decades of experience with highly specialised skills to provide services ranging from towing submarines to trialling cutting edge maritime technology.
A career in our Maritime Services team will see you working in one of our three main areas of expertise:
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Vessel Provision: We provide end-to-end capabilities that enables our customers to deliver their seaborne missions. This covers the design, build or modification, crewing, operations and disposal of vessels.
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Vessel Support: We provide full lifecycle management of our own and our customers vessels, port facilities and infrastructure.
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Specialist Mariners: We provide security cleared crew, frequently with unique capabilities, to safely support mission-critical operations at sea.
Our locations for Maritime roles are Clyde (Faslane), Devonport, Greenock, Kyle of Lochalsh, Portsmouth
Typical roles include Deck Ratings, Mate, Engineer, Electrical & Mechanical Technicians.
Aviation
We provide a range of critical technical, airfield and airport support services for the armed services, OEMs and civilian airport operators around the world. This includes activities as diverse as keeping Merlin helicopters operational at RNAS Culdrose, Air Traffic Control at Hawarden Airport or base support activities at RAF Brize Norton.
In Aviation, you’ll be working as part of one of our three main business segments:
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Airport and Fire Services – We are the only significant non-government provider of air navigation services in the world and is the only commercial provider to encompass the three disciplines of tower operations, approach control, and en-route centres. We also operate the International Fire Training Centre (IFTC) as well as fire and rescue teams across ten airfields and airports
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Integrated Operational Support - As the primary provider of support to the RAF we provide integrated and cost-effective support to military operations in the home base, with proven specialist facilities management and service integration capabilities. We also survey airspace for the deterrence and detection of ballistic missile launches.
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Technical Support Services - We provide technical support services to help keep helicopters, fighters, transport and training aircraft in the air. We also provide Surface Finish services to the Aviation sector and most of the UK military’s aircraft, including the Red Arrows.
Our Locations for Aviation roles are RAF Brize Norton, RAF Systerton, RAF Coningsby, Hawarden Airport, The International Fire Training Centre, RNAS Culdrose and many more.
Typical roles include Aircraft Technicians and Supervisors, Air Traffic Control Officers and Services Assistants, Armourer, Wash Team Operatives and Supervisors, Surface Finish Technician, Avionic Technicians and Merlin Aircraft Engineer Fitters.
Space & Security
Serco has been providing vital mission critical support to the RAF for over 50 years with the first contract win at RAF Fylingdales in the early 1960s. We operate in military satellite communication support services, air defence radar, ballistic missile early warning and space support as well as space data handling and have a strong heritage, expertise and skills in the whole space and security environment.
In Space & Security, you’ll be working as part of one of our four business segments:
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Satcoms - We’re a major subcontractor on the Skynet 5 programme, supporting critical satellite communications for the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) global communications mission. Serco has been working in partnership with the main contractor and the MOD to successfully deliver the service since 2003.
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Radars – We enable the armed forces to retain their advantage in space, battlespace, and the land environment, protecting both UK nationals and allies at home and abroad and contributing to border control, counter-terrorism, and national security. Serco and its predecessor companies have been providing critical engineering maintenance and space track processing support to the RAF at the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System (BMEWS) at RAF Fylingdales since 1963.
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Training and Resilience - We provide globally respected academic, operational, and resilience training provision. We enhance and upskill leaders and managers to achieve improved results in mission-critical and other operational areas.
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Technical - Serco provides air defence radar contractor logistic support services and has been providing critical engineering maintenance support to the RAF for maintaining five critical UK based Air Defence Radars since 2005.
Our Locations for Space and Security roles are Oakhanger, Colerne, RAF Fylingdales, Waterlooville, Defence Academy (Shrivenham)
Typical Roles include Spacecraft Controller, Electrical Engineer, Security Officer and Hardware/Software developer.
Land
VIVO Defence Services Ltd, a 50:50 Joint Venture between Serco and EQUANS, has been awarded places on the Defence FM and Housing Maintenance framework contracts.
VIVO brings together a deep understanding and appreciation of the military’s ethos, culture, operational practices and structures to create an organisation that will walk side by side with partners, customers and services users to achieve their goals.
VIVO’s purpose is to modernise the lived experience for our Armed Forces to achieve, grow and thrive.
Find out more at www.vivodefence.com and find their vacancies at vivo.com/careers-at-vivo.