Software Engineers

Details

Reference number

275665

Salary

£32,092 You’ll also receive an additional one-off recruitment bonus of £2,000

Job grade

Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Type of role

Engineering

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time, Term time working, Compressed Hours

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

Location

About the job

Benefits

Things you need to know

Apply and further information

Location

Manchester

About the job

Job summary

We’re GCHQ, and we unlock the complex world of communications to make a real difference to the safety of the nation. We work closely with our partners in the intelligence community to safeguard Britain's people, interests, and businesses from threats such as serious organised crime, people, and drugs trafficking, terrorism, and cyber-attacks.

GCHQ is offering you an exciting opportunity to join our organisation as a Trainee Software Engineer.

You’re not expected to come to GCHQ with a wealth of knowledge or skills on day one. If you have a passion for technology and are keen to grow a career in software engineering, this is the role for you.

We offer a strong work-life balance and benefits, training and certifications and are remote-working friendly.

Job description

A typical day in the role of Trainee Software Engineer could involve placement in an Agile team, tackling real-world problems via a variety of software engineering methods, languages, and frameworks such as JavaScript, Java, C++, Node, Python, Rust, Go, and .NET. But first, you’ll be trained in the essential skills before exploring different teams to further your knowledge. You’ll contribute to large-scale projects and be deployed into different environments like on-prem and Cloud and will also learn from and contribute to the wider engineering community. You’ll be empowered to work autonomously to achieve the desired outcome, whilst growing your skills in the process.

Person specification

While the languages we use most at the moment are Javascript, C++, Java, and Python, it’s far more important that you’re able to learn new languages and libraries and keep yourself up to date. We value your engineering mindset, tenacity and perseverance with problems that seem unsolvable.

You might have just left college or university. Or maybe you’re looking for a career change to follow your passion for software engineering. This is an entry-level role, so training is provided. Above all, you’ll be someone who enjoys collaborating, sharing insights, and learning every day. Your passion for technology will be supported by having studied a STEM subject at college or university, having previously attended an intermediate level full stack software engineering bootcamp and your hands on project experience. What’s more, you’ll be self-motivated, supportive, and open to learning about Agile ways of working and new and emerging technologies.

Diverse teams really are the best teams. So, if you are excited about working with us and think you can do much of what we are looking for but aren’t sure if you are 100% there yet, we’d still love to hear from you.

Our culture is centred on embracing a growth mindset, equality, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best self to work each day.

We’re Disability Confident

GCHQ are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain, and develop disabled people. Being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a person-to-person interview to any candidate that self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role. This is our “Offer of Interview” (OOI). To secure an interview for this vacancy, the essential criteria (in order of application process) are:

• Evidence of formal full stack software engineering training at intermediate level – usually 6 months plus.
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge of at least one modern language/framework, such as C++, Golang, Java, JavaScript, Net, Node, Python, Rust.
• Experience of a hands-on project.
• Have studied a STEM subject at college or university

Benefits

As a Trainee Software Engineer, you’ll receive a starting salary of £32,092 plus an additional one-off recruitment bonus of £2,000, 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
• Interest-free season ticket loan (parking and travel)
• Excellent pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Facilities such as a gym and restaurant, and on-site coffee bars (at some locations)
• Paid parental and adoption leave.

Please follow the 'apply' link to the website for further information on our Training and Development provision.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:

• Application sift
• Technical and competency-based interview including a presentation.

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process in order to progress to the next. Your application may take around six to nine months to process including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.

Before You Apply

To work at GCHQ, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here.

The 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 here.

Please note we have 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.

The roles are based in Central Manchester and Greater Manchester, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application.

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Name : careers@recruitmentteam.org.uk Email : careers@recruitmentteam.org.uk

Recruitment team

Email : careers@recruitmentteam.org.uk