Associate Infrastructure Engineer, British Intelligence Agencies
GCHQ
£36.4-42.7k
Experienced candidates may be assessed for a £2,000 recruitment bonus during the interview. Candidates can also earn a £4,513 Specialist Role bonus. Those with the necessary skills assessed at interview will receive the Specialist Role payment and/or a recruitment bonus as part of their initial salary.
More information about location
4-5 days a week in office
UK's domestic and foreign intelligence services
Be an early applicant
UK's domestic and foreign intelligence services
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
£36.4-42.7k
Experienced candidates may be assessed for a £2,000 recruitment bonus during the interview. Candidates can also earn a £4,513 Specialist Role bonus. Those with the necessary skills assessed at interview will receive the Specialist Role payment and/or a recruitment bonus as part of their initial salary.
More information about location
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
- As well as having a GCSE grade C/4 or above in Maths (or an equivalent qualification), your interest in technology will be as keen as your drive to learn new skills.
- You’ll be enthusiastic about tech and keep up to date with the latest industry developments. You could be a school leaver, STEM graduate, looking to change careers, or returning to work after a break
- Above all, you’ll be eager to expand your knowledge and bring your skills to an environment that values fresh ideas.
- To be eligible to apply, you must be a British Citizen. If you hold dual nationality, one of which is British, you will still be considered. Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for seven out of the last ten years. This is particularly important if you were born outside the UK. You can apply at the age of 17 years, if successful you will not be offered a start date before your 18th birthday. Full eligibility details can be found on our website: https://www.gchq-careers.co.uk/how-to-apply.html
What the job involves
- GCHQ is an intelligence, cyber and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe. We use cutting-edge technology, ingenuity and partnerships to identify, analyse, and disrupt threats. Working with our intelligence partners MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from terrorism, cyber-attacks and espionage. At GCHQ, you’ll do varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork
- We rely on our IT teams to keep our infrastructure safe, secure, and mission ready. And now we’re looking for people with a passion for technology to join us. With plenty of support and encouragement, you’ll undertake a rewarding 18-month learning journey on a pathway designed to give you all the skills and experience necessary to develop an exciting career at GCHQ
- Enjoy a combination of classroom, virtual, and on-the-job learning while being exposed to a variety of areas – from Automation, Cloud, and Applications to Data Transfer, Access Management, and Cyber Security. You’ll identify innovative approaches that shape our work and collaborate with others to tackle both specific challenges and broader problems
- And you’ll do it alongside a cohort who are just as enthusiastic about tech as you are, using one-of-a-kind technology for a mission that’s completely unique. After completing your training, you’ll integrate into a team of talented experts and support GCHQ and our intelligence partners. The work involves varied projects to ensure our IT infrastructure remains fit for purpose in a constantly evolving tech landscape
- With a comprehensive business and departmental induction, you’ll be welcomed into an inclusive workplace where development means everything. You’ll have the opportunity to explore areas that interest you and access a range of funded resources tailored to your needs. This could even include a chance to earn industry-recognised qualifications such as ISC ² CISSO, AWS Solution Architect, or CISCO CCNA.
Application process
- Please follow this link to the careers site, where you can make a full application to the job: https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/611629404;419542842;h
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
Cheltenham, UK
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.
Sir Richard Moore KCMG
(Chief)They became the Head of MI6 in October 2020, after serving as Director General in the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office. WIth a career starting in 1987, they have held various roles in MI6 and was also Ambassador to Turkey and Deputy National Security Advisor.
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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