Industrial Systems Technical Analyst Ref. 2584

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Technology Roles
Cheltenham, Bude, Scarborough
Permanent
£30,831 An annual Specialist Skills Bonus may be available once skills are assessed at interview.

About Us

We’re GCHQ, and we unlock the complex world of communications to make a real difference to the safety of the nation. We work closely with our partners in the intelligence community to safeguard Britain's people, interests, and businesses from threats such as serious organised crime, people and drugs trafficking, terrorism and cyber-attacks.


The Role

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to work at the centre of technical and operational intelligence to maximise the UK's strategic advantage. As part of an analytical team, you’ll help inform and shape government decision making. Simply put, it’s a job you won’t find anywhere else.

Working in one of our core missions, our specialist analysts solve detailed problems - building up our knowledge on a daily basis using analytical techniques. You’ll enjoy piecing together how an industrial control system might work. And, you’ll be informing and recommending courses of action to stakeholders and explaining technical concepts to a non-expert audience.

Topics could include manufacturing systems, power generation/distribution or other industrial systems. You’ll regularly use your technical knowledge in understanding the function and capability of specific pieces of equipment, through to gaining insight into the role they play in the wider industrial setting.


About You

You’ll be naturally curious, enjoying digging deeper to make connections and patterns to understand the bigger picture. You’ll use your technical skills on tasks and projects to triage, understand, analyse and disseminate data.

You’ll have a keen interest in and understanding of the practical applications of industrial systems and processes (such as in gas, electric, nuclear or telecommunications).


You’ll need either:


  • a 2:2 degree (or equivalent) or above in a relevant subject (Physics, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, or similar topic covering industrial processes).
  • or STEM GCSEs grade 4(C) (or equivalent) or above plus industry experience in applying Physics/Chemistry/Electrical Engineering/similar in a practical way involving understanding industrial systems and processes.

 

Training and Development

There are numerous opportunities for you to take part in training and other personal development activities to help you stay updated in this exciting space. We offer basic analyst training - an established programme within GCHQ. In addition, we have a range of topic based training courses from introductory material through to very focused topics. We’ll support you with coaching from industry experts who we call on as the need arises. Within the team there are people at all stages of development and so there is always someone on hand to help you find the support you need. As you develop your understanding of the range of topics there are opportunities to specialise and focus your own learning to support business needs.


Rewards and Benefits

You will receive a salary of £30,831 and there may be an annual Specialist Skills Bonus available once skills are assessed at interview. Our other benefits also include:

 

  • 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
  • Opportunities to work flexibly, subject to business needs
  • Interest-free season ticket loan
  • Excellent pension scheme
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Facilities such as a subsidised gym and restaurant, and on-site coffee bars at some locations
  • Paid parental and adoption leave

Culture and Working Environment 

As part of our team, you’ll discover an inclusive workplace that’s welcoming, supportive and encouraging. You’ll be part of an organisation where people want to support one another and make a difference. Aside from fostering an open culture, we’ve got a range of growing affinity groups including:

 

  • Ethnic Minority and gender equality networks
  • Groups supporting wellbeing, mental health, neurodiversity and disability
  • Faith/No Faith communities
  • LGBTQ+ support networks

 

You’ll also find a variety of sports, activity, interest and social groups to help you settle in and connect with people with similar interests. 


Before You Apply

To work at GCHQ, you need to be a British citizen. We do 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.

Honesty and integrity are really important if you want to work at GCHQ. Take some time to read about the vetting process and make sure you meet the criteria in the vetting pages of the ‘How to Apply’ section. The process can take some time, but this is just because it’s thorough. Giving misleading information and omitting or concealing information during the recruitment and vetting process is viewed very seriously.

The role is based in Cheltenham or Bude, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application.

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.


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, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ages, 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.


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 ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview where practicable; this is known as ‘Offer of an Interview’. To secure an interview for this vacancy, the minimum criteria (in order of application process) are:


  • Minimum of STEM GCSE or equivalent, or higher qualification.
  • Demonstrate an aptitude for applying Physics/Chemistry/Electrical Engineering/similar in a practical way involving understanding industrial systems and processes.
  • Clear motivation for applying to work for GCHQ as an Industrial Systems Analyst – assessed in Application Form sift.

 

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, you must be a British Citizen. One of your parents must be a British Citizen or must have the nationality or citizenship from our approved list of countries (further information on our eligibility criteria can be found here. If you hold dual nationality, of which one component is British, you will nonetheless be considered. 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. You can apply at the age of 17 years, 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. 

 

What to Expect

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


  • Application Form sift
  • Interview

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process in order to progress to the next. Your application may take around six to nine months to process including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.


Our Vetting

To work in this role you will need the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community has to go through and it can take some time. As part of the DV process you will be asked to fill in a detailed questionnaire and attend an interview with a vetting officer. In your interview the vetting officer will have a thorough, compassionate and honest discussion with you about you as a person and your life experiences, to ensure holding a DV clearance is right for you. You don’t need to do any preparation for your vetting interview, just be honest and be yourself. All applicants for DV are treated impartially and consistently, irrespective of gender, race, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation and other protected characteristics.


Please return to the main job page to apply for this role. Click 'Submit' at the bottom of the page where you will be taken to complete the application form. Within the application you will be prompted to select which role you are applying for.


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.