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 will do varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that emphasises teamwork.
The role
As a Senior Software Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in solving mission‑critical challenges. You will contribute to the architecture and design of both new and existing systems, establish and promote best practices, and deliver high‑quality software solutions. You will review pull requests, define code‑review, branching, and deployment strategies, and work across a variety of software engineering frameworks.
Responsibilities
* Architect and design high‑impact systems to support GCHQ’s mission.
* Lead code reviews, set code‑review, branching, and deployment standards.
* Introduce and champion new engineering techniques, tools, and best practices.
* Collaborate with technical and non‑technical stakeholders to align on priorities.
* Mentor junior engineers and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.
* Operate at a deep technical level using JavaScript, Java, C++, Node.js, Python, Rust, Go, and .NET.
Qualifications
* Extensive experience with modern programming languages and frameworks such as C++, Go, Java, JavaScript, .NET, Node.js, Python, Rust.
* Proven track record leading Agile project teams and delivering high‑quality software solutions.
* Experience working with cloud platforms: AWS, Azure, GCP.
* Strong communication skills to bridge technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
* Strategic, self‑driven, and able to thrive in fast‑paced, innovative environments.
* Passion for learning and applying new technologies; experience mentoring and influencing teams.
Training and Development
We invest in your growth – you will receive a comprehensive induction, ongoing mentorship, and support for formal qualifications. Up to 30% of your time can be dedicated to personal development, and we provide access to learning resources, conferences, and tools like Cloud Academy, Pluralsight, O’Reilly.
Rewards and Benefits
* Starting salary £48,782 – £58,194 (inclusive of a concessionary payment of £2,658 and a one‑off payment of £3,500).
* 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days after 5 years) plus 10.5 days public/privilege holidays.
* Recognition through employee performance scheme.
* Interest‑free season ticket loan.
* Excellent pension scheme.
* Cycle‑to‑work scheme.
* On‑site facilities (gym, restaurant, coffee bars) at some locations.
* Paid parental and adoption leave.
Equal opportunities
At GCHQ, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those traditionally under‑represented in the workforce (women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, etc.). We are a Disability Confident Leader and will provide an offer of an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.
Requirements for Applicants
Applicants must be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality and must be able to obtain the highest level of security clearance (Developed Vetting, DV). The role is based in Cheltenham, Manchester, or Samlesbury, and candidates must be able to live within commutable distance.
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