Current Competitions

The Defence Forces are recruiting in the following areas:

Full-Time



Currently there are opportunities for fully qualified electricians within the Irish Naval Service. As an Electrical Artificer within the Irish Naval Service you will learn to manage, maintain and crew the ship as well as keeping it operational. A Leading Electrical Artificer (L/EA) will be trained to perform the roles and responsibilities of a L/EA at sea and ashore, where selected candidates will be responsible to the ship’s Marine Engineering Officer for the installation, operation, maintenance and repair of all electrical/electronic equipment on board. Through this path, you will become a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in charge of your respective department. If you are looking for an exciting, challenging and rewarding career, you fit the criteria and enjoy being part of a team, click on the link below and begin your application.
Applicants must be 18 Years of age and under 39 years of age on date of application.
Minimum Educational Qualifications
Candidates must have attained the required minimum educational qualifications at the time of entry into the Naval Service.
A candidate for enlistment as an Electrical Artiificer (EA) must have completed one of the following:
  • HETAC Level 7 Degree in Electrical Engineering (or equivalent).
  • HETAC Level 7 Degree in Electronic Engineering (or equivalent).
  • HETAC Level 7 Degree in Applied Physics and Instrumentation(or equivalent).
  • HETAC Level 7 Degree in Marine Electrotechnology.
  • FAS/SSOLAS QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft – Electrical.
  • FAS/SSOLAS QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft – Electrical Instrumentation.
  • FAS/SSOLAS QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft – Instrumentation.
  • National equivalent of any of the above.
Read the Terms & Conditions
Applicants should ensure that they meet the minimum qualifications as outlined in the terms and conditions before applying.

*IMPORTANT NOTICE* It is the candidate's sole responsibility to enter their email address correctly when completing the application form. The candidate will receive an acknowledgement within 48 hours of submitting the online application. If a candidate does not receive an acknowledgement within the time, the candidate must inform Competitions Office within 72hours of applying by emailing recruitment@defenceforces.ie Candidates should be aware that some email providers filter @defenceforces.ie into junk/spam

GDPR Notice

All applications for Defence Forces positions are processed in accordance with the Defence Forces Applicants Privacy Notice, as set out on the applicants page with Candidate Manager

Careers Information

Applications forms for entry into the Defence Forces are only available through the online application form on this site.

The online application form for enlistment is only available when recruitment competitions are open.

There is NO access to the online application form when recruitment is closed.

Application forms for entry into the Defence Forces are only available through the online application form on this site.

The online application form for enlistment is only available when recruitment competitions are open. There is NO access to the online application form when recruitment is closed.

Applications Through Irish

To make an application through Irish send an email to recruitment@defenceforces.ie to request an application form.