Senior Infrastructure Field Engineer, British Intelligence Agencies
MI5
£53.3-62.6k
This role qualifies for a specialist capability-based pay approach, which recognises and rewards cyber technical expertise. Based on an assessment of skills and experience at interview, candidates may be eligible for an additional skills payment, potentially increasing the salary to £62,599.
4-5 days a week in office
UK's domestic and foreign intelligence services
Posted today
UK's domestic and foreign intelligence services
1001+ employees
Posted today
£53.3-62.6k
This role qualifies for a specialist capability-based pay approach, which recognises and rewards cyber technical expertise. Based on an assessment of skills and experience at interview, candidates may be eligible for an additional skills payment, potentially increasing the salary to £62,599.
4-5 days a week in office
1001+ employees
Company mission
MI5, MI6 and GCHQ work together to protect the UK from a range of national security and overseas threats, keeping citizens safe.
Role
Who you are
- While no specific qualifications are required for this role, you will already have extensive experience working in network engineering within a technical industry environment. You’ll bring a solid foundation in designing network solutions, with the confidence to operate across large-scale, mission critical infrastructure. In particular, you’ll be able to demonstrate expertise in several of the following areas:
- Network design, architecture and transmission technologies, supporting resilient and high-performance network solutions
- Layer 2 and Layer 3 technologies, including protocols, MAC and IP addressing, BGP and VPNs
- Fibre optic networking, with practical experience of wavelengths, multiplexing (MUX), transponders and long-haul transmission technologies
- Automation, scripting and systems administration, including use of GNU/Linux operating systems at the command line, automation tools such as Ansible, and at least one scripting or programming language (for example, Bash or Python)
- Alongside this, you’ll have practical experience configuring and managing network devices within live environments, applying charges safely and effectively, and supporting the ongoing operation and evolution of complex network infrastructures
- Importantly, you’ll have a genuine interest in cyber and global datacentre interconnection and a desire to bring your enthusiasm to a new environment. You might already have industry accreditations such as from Red Hat, Arista, Juniper, Cisco; if not, we’ll support you in gaining these once in the role. A commitment to ongoing learning and professional development is essential
- As someone comfortable working on projects within cross-functional teams, you’ll demonstrate proven problem-solving skills and the ability to clearly communicate internet infrastructure concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences. Given the collaborative nature of the role, you’ll be an effective and confident communicator, able to build good working relationships with colleagues, customers, partners, and stakeholders at all levels
- You’ll need to meet the physical requirements of the role, which may include lifting, carrying, and moving equipment. Please note that a fitness assessment will be conducted by occupational health as part of the application process
What the job involves
- If you enjoy tackling complex technical challenges that genuinely make a difference, this role offers the opportunity to see the impact of your work every day. As a Senior Infrastructure Field Engineer, you’ll be part of a specialist team responsible for designing, installing and maintaining the intelligence-gathering solutions we rely on. Leading a core workstream, you’ll support multiple mission areas across MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, delivering bespoke solutions for a range of high-priority requirements. Whether you’re enabling data retrieval from large, intricate networks or building relationships across the organisation, you’ll help drive an expanding remit and play a vital role in keeping the UK safe
- Day-to-day, the role involves designing, installing, configuring and managing remote infrastructure such as firewalls, routers, switches and servers as well as investigating technical issues. Close collaboration with internal stakeholders is required to understand and meet their unique requirements. Responsibilities include contributing to the development and implementation of automation systems and supporting the administration of the multi-vendor environment. Opportunities are also available to undertake individual project work in relevant technical areas, subject to alignment with the team’s work and priorities
- Upon completion of all relevant training, you’ll also have the opportunity to join our on-call rota. Participation is optional, and for the majority of the time, work outside of core hours is voluntary. On the rare occasion that the team is short-staffed, you may be required to act as cover
- The role also offers a unique opportunity to work with colleagues in industry, often at the cutting edge of networking technologies. There may also be opportunities to attend international events, such as conferences, once or twice a year
- This role attracts specialist capability-based pay in recognition of cyber technical expertise. Based on skills and experience assessed at interview, appointment may be made at a higher salary point within the stated range. Retention of any higher salary is subject to demonstrating and accrediting the required skills against the Cyber Technical Framework within the first year of employment. Support will be provided to achieve this. As skills develop, there are opportunities to progress further within the pay range
Salary benchmarks
Our take
The British Intelligence Agencies - GCHQ, MI5 and MI6 play crucial roles in protecting the nation from a range of security threats. By focusing on counterterrorism, espionage, and cyber threats, the unified force works to safeguard the public and support law enforcement agencies. Its work, largely behind the scenes, is pivotal in ensuring national security.
With origins dating back to the 19th century, each of the British Intelligence Agencies plays a specific role within the security services. GCHQ focuses on signal intelligence gathering and information assurance, MI5 on counterterrorism and national security, whilst MI6 is focused on foreign intelligence and overseas security. This evolution into three specific organisations reflects the agency's ability to stay ahead of emerging security challenges, adjusting its strategy and operations as needed.
As technology and global threats change, the British Intelligence Agencies' approaches continue to evolve, ensuring the UK's security remains a top priority. With its deep expertise and ongoing adaptation, they are major key players in protecting national and international interests, whilst responding to complex security dynamics.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Company
Company benefits
- Merit awards – we have a merit award system to recognise exceptional contributions by individuals or team
- Flexible working – opportunities to work part-time, compressed hours or as a job share are available, dependent on the role and business needs
- Pension – we understand the importance of saving for retirement and offer a desirable pension scheme, which gives you a guaranteed pension based on career average earnings
- Annual leave – our employees are entitled to 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days after five years’ service. In addition to this, employees are entitled to public and privilege holidays. Part-time employees receive the same entitlement calculated on a pro-rata basis
- Maternity and paternity leave – we offer maternity and paternity leave over and above the statutory entitlements
- Voluntary service leave – we offer special leave for our employees who wish to undertake voluntary work
- Rented accommodation loan – moving house to take up an offer of employment can be expensive. We offer new joiners the opportunity to take out an interest-free loan of up to £2,500, via our benevolent fund, to assist with the financial burden of relocating into privately rented accommodation. You will be sent an application for the loan at the point of receiving a final offer of employment
- Season ticket loan – we recognise that travel expenses from your home to the office can be significant, so we offer an interest-free season ticket loan which can be used for travel, car park costs or the purchase of a bicycle
- On-site facilities – there is a gym, restaurant, and coffee bar at some locations
- Clubs and societies – we offer a range of sports clubs, fitness classes, societies, and language training facilities
- Childcare Vouchers – we offer two childcare voucher schemes which provide a simple and cost-effective way for employees to receive help towards the cost of childcare
- Eye Voucher Scheme – we offer eye care vouchers and a financial contribution towards prescription glasses
- Physiotherapy – we offer subsidised in-house physiotherapy
- Personal learning – all our staff can undertake professional development to improve their skills and performance in the workplace
Company HQ
Manchester, UK
Articles
Leadership
Ken McCallum
(Director General)An MI5 Officer with over 25 years of experience in national security and intelligence. Their career has spanned roles in counterterrorism, cyber security, and leading MI5's strategic response to major incidents. They were appointed Director General in 2020 and previously served as Deputy Director General and Director General of Strategy.
Blaise Metreweli
(Chief)Blaise joined the Service in 1999 and has had a range of roles, most recently Director General Technology & Innovation (Q). She has spent most of her career operationally in the Middle East & Europe.
Anne Keast-Butler
(Director)Became the first female Director of GCHQ in May 2023. Previously served as Deputy Director General at MI5, where they led operational and investigative work, including responding to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. With over 30 years in national security, they have held key roles in MI5, GCHQ, and Whitehall, including launching the National Security Programme.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at British Intelligence Agencies
- At the Intelligence Agencies, 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 underrepresented in our workforce, such as women, those from ethnic minority backgrounds, 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.gchq-careers.co.uk/life-at-gchq/diversity-inclusion.html
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