Infrastructure Engineer Ref. 3481
Department: Engineering
Location(s): Manchester, Samlesbury
Salary: £36,408, plus a recruitment bonus of £2,000, dependent on skills assessed during the interview. Additionally, there is an opportunity to obtain a skills bonus of £4,513, based on a skills review during your first year in the role.
Job description
Flexible Working: This role is primarily office-based, with most of the work undertaken in the office and a small proportion of time working outside of the office. We offer flexible working hours, including options for compressed and part-time shifts. While working from home isn't guaranteed, it might be possible on occasion, based on personal and business needs. Once you're fully trained, you may also be required to join an on-call rota.
About Us
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.
The Role
As an Infrastructure Engineer, you'll become part of a friendly and skilled team dedicated to finding end-to-end solutions that optimise our systems and support our mission. You'll be assigned a specialism based on your suitability, either at recruitment stage or following an in-role assessment. Specialisms include:
* Tailored Acquisitions
* Platform Engineers
* Network Engineers
* DevOps Engineers
* Web Technology SMEs
Whatever your specialism, you'll have real influence and impact. You might develop solutions for existing and future infrastructure or create innovative approaches to operational challenges. By contributing to your team's success, you'll also hone technical skills that advance your career. Whether you're troubleshooting infrastructure issues or supporting operational tasks throughout their lifecycle, gain plenty of exposure to unique technology and grow in both confidence and experience.
This role involves collaboration within both large and small teams, engaging with a range of customers, analysts, and the wider technical community to develop customer-driven infrastructure, meet unique requirements, develop pioneering solutions, and enable our mission's success.
About You
Are you passionate about IT and technology? Do you thrive in vibrant environments and love learning new skills? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!
You only need one qualification: GCSE grade 4/C or above, or an equivalent Level 2 qualification in Maths. No other specific qualifications or deep technical background are required. You might have a background in STEM, experience working in a small company with exposure to end-to-end products, or simply a passion for IT and technology. Enthusiasm, motivation, and eagerness to learn are key.
Organised and adaptable, you prioritise tasks effectively and stay focussed under pressure. You analyse problems and explore different approaches to find creative solutions, communicating those solutions clearly to customers. Regardless of your career stage, if you have a passion for learning in a collaborative, knowledge-sharing, and innovative environment, this opportunity is for you.
Training and Development
Upon starting, you'll be assigned a “buddy” and a mentor to help you settle in. You'll engage in formal and on-the-job training, taking ownership of tasks early on. You'll rotate through three areas of our large team, spending 6 months in each, to gain comprehensive knowledge and experience. After 18 months, you'll be placed in the team that best matches your skills. Note: The rotation and training program is specific to our Samlesbury location; Manchester will have its own tailored program.
Depending on your specialism, you'll have opportunities to develop skills in areas such as:
* Technical risk management
* Operational security
* Domain services (Windows/Linux)
* Operating system administration and security (Windows/Linux/Android/iOS)
* Web technologies (Tor/VPNs/Proxies/CDNs/Cloud)
* Scripting languages (Python/PowerShell/Bash)
* Virtualisation technologies (vSphere, Hyper-V)
* Networking (Cisco, Juniper, NSX)
* Automation Tooling (Terraform/Ansible/Docker)
* Monitoring and analysis (ELK, Splunk)
* Storage (3PAR & Primera)
We support your growth through exposure to various technologies, applications for specialist payments, and external training to enhance your skills and qualifications.
Rewards and Benefits
Starting salary of £36,408, with potential additional skills payments, plus benefits including:
* 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 after 5 years, plus 10.5 days of public holidays
* Recognition through our employee performance scheme
* Interest-free season ticket loan
* Excellent pension scheme
* Cycle to work scheme
* Facilities like gym, restaurant, and coffee bars (at some locations)
* Paid parental and adoption leave
Equal Opportunities
GCHQ values diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from under-represented groups, including women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and those from low socio-economic backgrounds. More info on our culture and diversity can be found at:
https://www.gchq-careers.co.uk/life-at-gchq/diversity-inclusion.html
Disability Confident
GCHQ is a Leader within the DWP's Disability Confident scheme, committed to fair recruitment and support for disabled applicants. The essential criteria for interview consideration include:
* GCSE or Level 2 in Maths (Grade 4/C or above)
* Motivation to work at GCHQ
* Analytical and problem-solving skills
* Awareness of emerging technologies
Further support details are available at:
https://www.gchq-careers.co.uk/how-to-apply.html
What to Expect
The recruitment process includes:
1. Application Sift
2. Interview with skills assessment
3. Conditional Offer
Application processing may take 6-9 months, so continue your current employment until final offer.
Before You Apply
Eligibility requirements include UK citizenship or dual nationality, security clearance (DV), and residence within a reasonable distance of the location. Relocation costs are not covered. Please prepare a separate, non-identifiable email for correspondence and be mindful of the application timing and privacy considerations.
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