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, you'll gain plenty of exposure to unique technology and grow in both confidence and experience.
This role involves collaboration in both big and small teams, depending on the project, and engagement with a range of customers. Additionally, you'll collaborate with analysts across varied missions and the wider technical community to develop customer-driven infrastructure, meet unique requirements, develop pioneering solutions, and support 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. Enthusiastic, motivated, and eager to learn, you'll thrive in this role.
Organised and adaptable, you prioritise tasks effectively and stay focussed under pressure. You analyse problems and are willing to explore different approaches to find creative solutions. You communicate those solutions clearly to customers. Regardless of your career stage, if you have a passion for learning new skills in a collaborative, knowledge-sharing, and innovative environment, this opportunity is for you.
Training and Development
When you start, you'll be assigned a “buddy” and a mentor to help you settle into the role and life at GCHQ. You'll engage in formal and on-the-job training and be given ownership of tasks early in your role. Initially, you'll collaborate with your team and line manager on responsibilities to develop your skills and ease into your projects. As an Infrastructure Engineer, you'll rotate through each of the three areas of our large team, spending 6 months in each, gaining comprehensive knowledge and well-rounded experience. After 18 months, you'll be placed in the team that best matches your skills. Note that the rotation and training programme is specific to our Samlesbury location; Manchester will have its own tailored programme.
Depending on your specialism, you'll have opportunities to develop skills in:
* 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 aim to develop your knowledge through exposure and appropriate technologies. As your skills develop, we'll support applications for specialist skill payments and encourage external training to enhance your knowledge and qualifications.
Rewards and Benefits
Starting salary of £36,408, with opportunities for additional skills payments and benefits including:
* 25 days of 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 such as gym, restaurant, coffee bars (at some locations)
* Paid parental and adoption leave
Equal Opportunities
GCHQ values diversity and inclusion, reflecting society in our workforce. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups, including women, ethnic minorities, disabled individuals, and those from low socio-economic backgrounds. More information is available on our website.
We are a Disability Confident Leader, committed to fair recruitment and support for disabled candidates. To secure an interview, candidates must meet essential criteria including GCSE Maths Grade 4/C or above, motivation, analytical skills, and awareness of emerging technologies, assessed during the application process.
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, and applicants are advised to continue current employment until final offers are made.
Before You Apply
Applicants must be UK residents, hold security clearance (DV), and meet eligibility criteria. Consider practicalities like location and travel costs, as relocation isn't covered. Applications from overseas should be made when visiting the UK. Please keep application details confidential and use a generic email address for contact.
We reserve the right to close the application early if sufficient applications are received.
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