Technology sits at the heart of everything we do at MI5, enabling us to disrupt serious threats to UK national security. We're currently looking for students who want to learn from experienced business analysts working within our pioneering technology department, working on a project for an 11-week summer placement.

Our Teams

We build products and make process improvements that provide capability aligned to our full range of MI5 business areas. Our multi-disciplinary teams are made up of business analysts who will work alongside product owners, software engineers and agile delivery colleagues to ensure MI5 business areas get the solution they need.  
We have a strong graduate programme that place more junior staff alongside experienced business analysts to support their development.
 

The Role – Covert Technical Operations Specialist

MI5’s intelligence collection operations utilise technology in a way you’d never thought possible. Our Covert Technical Operations Specialists take the lead in deploying a wide range of advanced MI5 technical capability to enable intelligence collection in fast paced and high-profile investigations. Our specialists enable a unique insight into the complex and evolving threats to national security, developing methods to allow us access to the computers and devices used by terrorist groups that pose a serious threat to the UK.

Computer and mobile device security is advancing at a rapid pace and it’s vital for MI5 to stay ahead of the game. This is why we need individuals with the brightest technical minds and the drive to meet the challenges of MI5’s legally authorised covert operations.

Key Responsibilities

This is an office-based role where our specialists work to tight deadlines and rapidly solve technical problems in the most innovative, tactical and covert ways possible within a strict legal framework. As the role involves working closely with other intelligence collection and investigative teams, our specialists need to be comfortable explaining complex technical topics to a wider audience, to ensure the success of our operations.

During your internship, you will be working with the teams that help develop our capabilities and will work on projects that can be used to drive forward our investigations.

The Person

For success in this role you’ll be expecting to achieve by Autumn 2022, at least a 2:2 in your degree or equivalent qualification in a technology related field such as computer science, computer security, software engineering, digital forensics or another similar subject. You’ll also have an understanding of, and experience in, one or more of computer/network security, computer/digital forensics and/or penetration testing.

Due to the nature of the role you will need to be able to adapt to evolving requirements, be able to meet the challenges of high operational tempos and have the drive to see complex requirements through to completion. In return we’ll give you all the support you need to develop the skills required for a rewarding career at the forefront of computer security.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to apply, you must be a British Citizen. One of your parents must be a British Citizen or must have one of the nationalities or citizenships from one of the following: British Overseas territory, British subject, British National (Overseas), British protected person, citizenship of the Commonwealth, EEA nationality, or citizenship of the United States of America. If deceased, have had such citizenship or nationality before death. If you hold dual nationality, of which one component is British, you will nonetheless be considered. If successful, you will not normally be required to give up your non-British citizenship but, as a condition of your employment or secondment, MI5 may impose restrictions on your postings, work travel and/or general use of that nationality. Candidates must normally have been resident in the UK for seven out of the last ten years. This is particularly important if you were born outside the UK. Each case will be carefully considered on its own facts. You can apply at the age of 17 years and 6 months, if successful you will not be offered a start date prior to your 18th birthday. Discretion is vital. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member. 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 of the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. Further information on our eligibility criteria can be found on the Applying section.

Recruitment Process

Please ensure you follow all our guidance, read about our vetting process and check you meet our eligibility criteria before you apply. If you omit, conceal or offer misleading information during the recruitment process, we’ll view it very seriously.

If you meet our initial criteria after completing our pre-screening questions you’ll begin your application by creating a personal account. You’ll set up a login with your full name, email address and a memorable password. Then you’ll complete an initial registration form, including contact details and equal opportunities monitoring information.

You’ll then complete the online application form. If you’re successful, you may also be asked to take an online Codility test dependant on the role you’ve applied for. If you pass these, we’ll invite you to an assessment centre, which will involve both competency and technical interviews. Succeed at the assessment centre and we’ll invite you to a security interview with a vetting officer.

Please note applicants will be required to come to London to attend our recruitment assessment centres which will take place between November 2020 and December 2020 and a separate security interview with our vetting officers.

Offer of Interview (OOI)

As part of our commitment to the ‘Disability Confident’ scheme we offer an interview to all candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the job vacancy that they are applying for.  This is known as the Offer of Interview (OOI).

Along with the standard eligibility requirements for this post, your application will be assessed on how far you meet the job requirements. Your application must score the minimum amount of points set.  On successful completion of this stage, you will be invited to interview.  This will normally be a telephone interview and is our offer of interview’

Confidentiality

Discretion is vital. You should only discuss your application with either your partner or a close family member.

Equal Opportunities

The UK Intelligence Agencies are Equal Opportunities employers, committed to reflecting the society we protect.  Our recruitment process is fair, transparent and based on merit. We are particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates.

Please be aware that we withhold the right to being forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful on this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.

To apply please click here.