Weapons Systems Analyst Ref. 2886

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Technology Roles
Cheltenham, Yorkshire
£32,092 - £51,209 per annum depending on your level of skill and experience, such as experience of designing or testing weapons systems or their civilian equivalents.*

Hours: We are open to a wide range of flexible working options including part-time and compressed hours. However, owing to the nature of our work, working from home is only possible to a limited extent.


About Us

At GCHQ, we unlock the complex world of data and communications to keep the UK and its citizens safe, both in the real world and online. Working closely with our British Intelligence partners in MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from threats including serious organised crime, terrorism, and cyber-attacks. A role in GCHQ means you’ll have varied and fascinating work in a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.


The Role

The UK maintains a detailed overview of the threats posed by foreign weapon systems, and when you join us in this role, you’ll play a vital part in ensuring that the nation can defend itself now and in the future. Using a wide range of tools and techniques, you’ll analyse complex data as you develop an understanding of the capabilities of the systems you’re focused on. Some of these tools will already be in use, but we’ll also expect you contribute to the development and writing of new ones.

Working both independently and with colleagues in GCHQ and partner agencies, it’ll be your task to provide reliable, informed guidance to an expert community both in this country and overseas. And as you develop your knowledge and experience and become the go-to expert in your field, you’ll also take on mentoring opportunities to support colleagues with their own development.


About You

To be successful in this role you’ll have – or expect to achieve – a minimum of a 2:2 degree or equivalent qualifications in a STEM subject, or relevant work experience in a technical/ engineering role that involves detailed data analysis and report writing. You’ll also have four or more GCSEs or their equivalent, including passes in Maths and English Language. You’ll possess the ability to solve complex problems and use your communication skills to present your analytical findings, and enjoy working both independently and in collaboration with others. We’ll also expect you to be committed to making a positive difference and be ready to learn a wide range of analysis techniques.

Any directly relevant experience – for example, working with military hardware – would be an advantage, as would practical knowledge of data-science. But most importantly, you’ll be tenacious, curious, enthusiastic and committed to acquiring new skills and learning about unfamiliar technology. 


Training and Development

All new starters are assigned a mentor who’ll help you complete your training plans, and while there is some formal or classroom training, much of the learning takes place on-the-job; this means your contributions begin within months of joining. You’ll be encouraged to move around within the team, so you’ll constantly be exposed to new learning experiences across multiple locations which will enable you to bounce ideas off your colleagues and learn new things. There are even opportunities for postings to other UK or overseas locations.


Rewards and Benefits

In addition to your staring salary, you’ll receive other benefits including: 

-    25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays
-    Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
-    Interest-free season ticket loan
-    Excellent pension scheme
-    Cycle to work scheme
-    Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (at some locations)
-    Paid parental and adoption leave.

*Salary detail: most new starters can expect to start at the lower end of our pay range. (Salary includes £2330 Concessionary Payment.) Candidates who both meet our higher competency requirements and can demonstrate evidence of our very specialised technical work can expect to receive a higher starting salary, potentially up to £51,209 per annum. Skills payments are made for those staff reaching Level 2 of our specialist skill, typically this is after around 2 or 3 years – skills payments are subject to review. The current payment for Level 2 is £7800 per annum.


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: those 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 those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, 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 are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. Being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a person-to-person interview to any candidate who self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role. This is our ‘Offer of Interview’ (OOI). To secure an interview for this vacancy, the essential criteria (in order of application process) are:

   You must have one of the following (assessed at Application sift):
-    a degree (2:2 minimum) or equivalent qualification in a STEM subject;
-    or a degree apprenticeship in a technical subject;
-    or relevant work experience in a technical/engineering role that involves detailed data analysis and report writing
   You’ll also have GCSE (4 or above) or equivalent maths and English Language
   Be able to demonstrate clear motivation for wanting to work as a Weapons Systems Analyst – assessed at CV sift.


What to Expect

Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:

   CV sift
   Interview to assess both competencies and technical aptitude (estimate interviews to start W.C 5th June)
   If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 - 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 need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteria here.

This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. You can find out more about the vetting process here.

Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.

The role is based in Cheltenham or Yorkshire, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application, as we do not offer relocation costs.

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 impact on 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 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.