Principal Research Lead Ref. 2546

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Cyber
Cheltenham
Permanent
£43,957 (plus an opportunity to qualify for Specialist Skills Payment of up to £40,000 per annum in the role)

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: those with different backgrounds, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodiverse conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce.

Short Summary of role

The NCSC Vulnerability Research Team is tasked with finding vulnerabilities in some of the world’s most complex software. Based in Cheltenham, we invest in training, development and infrastructure to give our researchers the time, space and expertise to find critical security vulnerabilities in widely deployed software used by UK government, industry and citizens.

We also work with the best external vulnerability researchers to deliver deep understanding of security on a wide range of the technologies that NCSC cares about. We build knowledge and tools for vulnerability discovery that are world-class.

As Principal Research Lead you will be responsible for discovering, triaging and mitigating important vulnerabilities in a range of technologies. You will be leading delivery with external vulnerability researchers as well as delivering personal research within one of the team’s research drives.

Job Description

What will the successful candidate be doing?

As Principal Research Lead you will be responsible for discovering, triaging, and mitigating important vulnerabilities in a range of technologies. You will be leading delivery with external vulnerability researchers, setting direction, collaborating closely where needed and ensuring the results are used for the benefit of the UK. You will also be delivering personal research within one of the team’s research drives, allowing you to develop the breadth and depth of your own technical expertise.

Working as part of the Vulnerability Research Team the successful candidate will be responsible for  

•    Delivery of vulnerability research tasks carried out by industry partners for a specific technology area
•    Working with technical leaders in other teams to ensure a successful research focus
•    Coordination with the UK Equities Process
•    Delivery of personal vulnerability research working with industry experts or in one of the VR Team’s drives on critical software including mobile, desktop and embedded devices.  This will account for 50% of the role.

This post carries the opportunity to develop your own VR skills and deliver VR with others. Previous experience of carrying out VR is highly desirable but more important is a desire to learn and deliver critical results for the benefit of the UK.


Responsibilities

We are looking for a talented, flexible and committed individual who is passionate about technological research with a proven ability to deliver with others.

The successful applicant will need to have: proven ability to deliver novel vulnerability research; a strong track record of leading technical delivery; a desire for developing their own (and others’) technical expertise.

Competency Requirements

•    Communication and Knowledge sharing  - Intermediate
•    Corporate Vision and Efficiency  - Intermediate
•    Change and Innovation  - Intermediate
•    Analysis and Decision Making  - Higher
•    Contribution to Delivery  - Higher
•    Managing the Customer Relationship  - Higher
•    Working with and Leading Others  - Higher

You can familiarise yourself with the general competencies we use to assess the aptitude of candidates here - Recruitment Process

If you’re excited about working with us and think you have some of what we’re looking for but aren’t sure if you’re 100% there yet… Back yourself and give it a go!

Benefits we offer

At NCSC and GCHQ, we are proud of our inclusive and supportive working environment that’s designed to encourage open minds and attitudes.  As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we are committed to helping you fulfil your potential.  With comprehensive training and development opportunities, tailored to your needs and the requirements of your work, we will enable you to flourish in your role and perform to the very best of your abilities.

•    Access to learning and development tailored to your role and support to gain professional qualifications and certifications.
•    An environment that supports a range of flexible working options (including a flexible working hour scheme).
•    A culture which encourages inclusion and diversity.
•    Support to gain professional qualifications and certifications
•    Membership of the Civil Service Pension Scheme which includes; Life cover, benefits for dependants, an average employer contribution of 27% of your pay and an attractive pension build up rate. For more information visit : www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/joining-the-pension-scheme/
•    25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days based on length of service.

Salary

Starting salary of £43,957 plus an opportunity to qualify for Specialist Skills Payment of up to £40,000 per annum in the role.

Location

Cheltenham

Selection Process

To apply for this position, you must meet our nationality, residency requirements. You’ll find more details here.

As a Disability Confident employer, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. This is known as the Offer of Interview (OOI).

To secure an interview for this role, candidates applying under this scheme will need to meet the minimum criteria for the role.

Be prepared to dedicate 60-90 minutes to completing your application. We’re conscious this might be more time than you expected, so our system will allow you to save your application at any time and come back to it later. But remember to submit your full application before the closing date.
 
Once we’ve established that you meet our eligibility criteria, the next steps of this selection process are:
 
-Paper sift
-Personal Interview
-Drugs test
-Vetting
 
If you successfully complete these stages, you’ll receive a job offer, conditional upon you completing our developed vetting (DV) process which enables you to obtain the level of security clearance required to perform this vital role.

The closing date for this role is 23:00 28th June 2022.

Please be aware that we withhold 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.

This Program / Vacancy is closed to applications.