Software Engineers

Salary: £42,630, made up of a base salary of £35,134, a concessionary payment of £2,758, and a skills payment of up to £4,738 from day one, reflecting the skills and experience you demonstrate during the selection process. Plus, a £2,000 recruitment bonus.

Flexible working: We recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance and offer a range of flexible working arrangements, including part-time and compressed hours. Where business needs allow, we can also offer flexibility around start and finish times. Due to the nature of the role, homeworking isn’t available.

GCHQ is an intelligence and cyber 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 alongside our intelligence partners, MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from terrorism, cyber-attacks and espionage. At GCHQ, you’ll take on varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment where teamwork is at the heart of everything we do.

From day one, you’ll contribute to meaningful projects while continuing to develop and broaden your technical skills. You’ll work across a variety of environments, including on-premises and cloud-based solutions, collaborating with other engineers to deliver innovative and scalable systems.

You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to large-scale projects, share knowledge with the wider engineering community and learn from experienced colleagues. We encourage engineers to take ownership of their work and provide the support and autonomy needed to develop their expertise.

If you’re successful in securing a Software Engineer role, please note that occasional travel to another GCHQ site may be required. Where overnight stays are necessary, GCHQ will fully cover travel and accommodation expenses.

Beyond delivering impactful work, you’ll be part of a culture that values collaboration, learning and development, where everyone is encouraged to contribute and reach their potential.

To join us, you’ll need a higher education background in a STEM subject (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics), gained through a degree, apprenticeship, or equivalent qualification. Applications from candidates in the final year of their studies are welcome.

Practical experience in software engineering is also required and may have been gained through software development projects, employment, internships, industrial placements or summer placements.

Naturally curious and analytical, you’ll enjoy solving problems and take a logical, persistent approach to technical challenges. You’ll be keen to explore new ideas and broaden your knowledge.

You communicate clearly with technical and non-technical audiences, sharing information in a way that supports collaboration and effective delivery. You work well with others, value different perspectives, and contribute positively within a team environment.

Experience with generative AI would be advantageous, including AI-assisted development tools, agentic patterns, or applications that use large language models. An understanding of how to use these technologies responsibly, securely and effectively would also be beneficial. Most importantly, curiosity and a willingness to develop your knowledge as these technologies evolve will help you succeed in the role.

A passion for technology and the ability to thrive in a collaborative environment where knowledge sharing and continuous learning are valued will help you succeed in the role.

We invest heavily in professional development and provide a range of learning opportunities to help you build your skills and progress your career.

You’ll have a minimum of 30% of your working time…