Flexible working: We offer full-time and part-time hours, with a minimum commitment of three days a week. While flexibility is priority, there may be occasions when attendance on specific days for formal courses or in-house training is required. We offer a strong work-life balance, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for training and certifications. While we’re remote-working friendly, please note that due to the nature of our work, we cannot guarantee regular work-from-home opportunities.
About us
GCHQ is an intelligence, 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 with 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 that puts the emphasis on teamwork.
GCHQ is offering an exciting opportunity to join our organisation as an Associate Software Engineer.
You’re not expected to arrive with a wealth of knowledge or skills on day one. If you have a passion for technology and are keen to build a career in software engineering, this role is for you.
The role
A typical day as an Associate Software Engineer involves working within an Agile team to tackle real-world problems using a variety of software engineering methods, languages, and frameworks such as JavaScript, Java, C++, Node.js Python, Rust, Go, and .NET.
Initially, you’ll join us as an Associate Software Engineer, with a primary focus on enhancing and expanding your existing technical skills. Our approach on the Foundation Academy Programme combines both classroom-based learning and practical experience, complemented by a variety of project and placement opportunities across the business.
You’ll contribute to large-scale projects and work in diverse environments, including on-premise solutions and Cloud. You’ll always be learning from–and contributing to–the wider engineering community. This role gives you the autonomy to achieve the desired outcomes while continuing to grow your skills along the way.
Our culture is centred on embracing a growth mindset, equality, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best self to work each day.
About you
You’ll have the ability to demonstrate knowledge of at least one modern language or framework, such as C++, Golang, Java, JavaScript,.NET,Node, Python or Rust. While the languages we use most at the moment are Javascript, C++, Java and Python, it’s far more important that you can learn new languages and libraries and keep your skills up to date. We’ll value your tenacity and perseverance with problems that seem unsolvable.
To join us, you must have a background in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) subject at higher education level, such as a diploma, foundation degree, apprenticeship, or ongoing studies. A completed qualification is not essential, what matters most is a genuine interest in technology and a commitment to learning. You’ll also need to have completed a full-stack software engineering bootcamp (typically lasting six months or more), or have equivalent practical experience. This experience could come from a practical software development project, a software engineer-related role, or relevant employment, such as an industry or summer placement.
The ideal candidate will be passionate about technology and thrive in collaborative environments where sharing insights and continuous learning are valued. You should be eager to engage in a structured training programme spanning 6 to 12 months, which includes formal instruction, self-directed learning, and cohort-based development.
Training and development
At GCHQ, we take pride in providing an inclusive and supportive working environment. As an Associate Software Engineer, you’ll receive dedicated support and training. We value and nurture talent, and we’re committed to helping you reach your full potential.
We appreciate your ability to learn and adapt to new challenges, so we’ll invest in your development through your preferred learning methods– whether that’s through books, study, courses, conferences, or engaging team-supported projects.
Training and career development are encouraged, with a minimum of 30% of your work time dedicated to professional growth. We actively support each individual’s pursuit of educational goals–whether that involves obtaining qualifications (such as cloud or framework-specific methodologies), advancing academic credentials like MSc or PhD degrees, or working towards recognised professional statuses such as Chartered Engineer (CEng or Engineering Technician (EngTech).
You’ll be encouraged to drive and shape your personal development, with access to learning and development opportunities tailored to your role. You’ll be supported in gaining professional qualifications and certifications (e.g, Scrum Master, CISSP, AWS Certified Developer), with funding provided.
Our training covers a multitude of software disciplines, including front-end design, site reliability engineering, data engineering, solutions architecture, machine learning operations, UX, Agile, and cloud engineering.
Join us to hone your software skills and become an essential part of our world-class engineering team. You’ll have endless opportunities to learn and grow–whether it’s through mentoring, collaborating, or spending time with the wider tech teams.
Rewards and benefits
We provide a base salary of £33,750, plus an additional Concessionary Payment of £2,658
- 25 days of annual leave, automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, plus 10.5 days of public and privilege holidays
- opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
- interest-free season ticket loan
- an excellent pension scheme
- a cycle to work scheme
- on-site facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (available at some locations)
- paid parental and adoption leave.
Equal opportunities
At GCHQ, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word–individuals with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking, and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including from groups that are underrepresented in our workforce, such as women, individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.
Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website:
https://www.gchq-careers.co.uk/life-at-gchq/diversity-inclusion.html
We’re disability confident
GCHQ is proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme. This initiative encourages employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain, and develop disabled people.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who best meet the essential minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview, where practical. (This is known as an “Offer of an interview”).
To secure an interview for this role, applicants must meet the following minimum criteria,
- A STEM background in Higher Education that could include a degree, diploma, or apprenticeship. We’ll consider candidates who have completed or partially completed these qualifications.
- Attended a full-stack software engineering bootcamp (usually lasting 6 months or more) or equivalent experience. This experience could be gained through a practical software project or relevant employment, including an industry or summer placement.
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge of at least one modern language/framework, such as C++, Golang, Java, JavaScript, .NET, Node, Python, or Rust.
Note: this experience will be assessed during the application sift.
What to expect
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:
- Application sift
- Technical and competency-based interview, including a presentation.
Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 to 9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.
Before you apply
To work at GCHQ , you must be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here.
This role requires the highest level of security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV), which is undertaken by everyone in the UK Intelligence Community. You can find out more about the vetting process here.
Please note we have a strict drugs policy. Once you begin your application, you must not take any recreational drugs, and you’ll be required to declare any previous drug usage at the relevant stage.
Before you apply, we recommend setting up a separate email address for your correspondence with us. This helps keep your personal and application-related communications separate. Avoid including identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or last name or date of birth. This is considered good practice and will help you manage your application more securely.
The roles are based in Manchester, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application.
If you’re successful in securing an Associate 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.
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 the UK will affect our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.
Right to withdraw statement:
Please be aware that we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.