Trainee Software Engineer
GCHQ
Apply before 10:00 pm on Tuesday 22nd October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Flexible Working: While flexibility is our top priority, there will be occasions when specific attendance on certain days and times is essential, such as for formal training courses. During the training programme, which will take place in Central Manchester, you’ll need to work full-time with set hours for approximately 14 weeks.
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 do varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.
GCHQ is offering you an exciting opportunity to join our organisation as a Trainee Software Engineer.
You’re not expected to come to GCHQ with a wealth of knowledge or skills on day one. If you have a passion for technology and are keen to grow a career in software engineering, this is the role for you.
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.
Job description
A typical day as a Trainee Software Engineer involves placement in an Agile team, tackling real-world problems using a variety of software engineering methods, languages and frameworks such as JavaScript, Java, C++, Node, Python, Rust, Go, and .NET. Initially, you’ll receive training in essential skills before exploring different teams to expand your knowledge. 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 growing your skills in the process.
Our culture is centred on embracing a growth mindset, equality, and encouraging teams and leaders to bring their best self to work each day.
Person specification
While the languages we use most at the moment are Javascript, C++, Java and Python, it’s far more important that you’re able to learn new languages and libraries and keep yourself up to date. We’ll value your tenacity and perseverance with problems that seem unsolvable.
Whether you’re looking to switch careers to pursue your passion for software engineering, have just left college, or graduated from university, this opportunity is for you. We also welcome undergraduates nearing the end of their degree. This is an entry-level role, with full training provided. A passion for technology and some prior knowledge and experience is necessary. The ideal candidate must enjoy collaborating, sharing insights, and learning every day. A passion for technology is essential, supported by a higher education in a STEM subject but not necessarily a degree. Additionally, candidates must have completed an intermediate level full stack software engineering bootcamp and possess hands-on project experience.
We believe that diverse teams are the strongest. If you’re excited about joining us and feel you can do much of what we are looking for but aren’t sure if you are 100% there yet, we’d still love to hear from you.
Benefits
Training and Development
At GCHQ we take pride in providing an inclusive and supportive working environment. As a Trainee Software Engineer, you’ll receive dedicated support and training, we value and nuture talent and in every capacity, we’re committed to helping you reach your potential. We appreciate your ability to learn and adapt to new challenges, so we’ll invest in your skills and preferred learning method, whether through books, study, courses, conferences, or engaging projects with team support.
Training and career development is encouraged with a minimum of 30% of your work time dedicated to this. We strongly support each individual’s pursuit of their educational goals, whether that involves obtaining qualifications (such as Cloud or framework-specific methodologies), advancing academic qualifications like like MSc/PHD degrees, or working towards recognised professional statuses like chartered engineer status (CCENG/ENG).
You’ll be encouraged to drive and shape your own personal development, and you’ll have access to learning and development opportunities tailored to your role. You’ll be supported to gain professional qualifications and certifications, 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
As a Trainee Software Engineer you’ll receive a competitive salary of £34,663. Plus, enjoy a one-time recruitment bonus of £2,000, and a range of other exciting 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 (parking and travel)
- Excellent pension scheme
- Cycle to work scheme
- Facilities such as a gym and restaurant, and on-site coffee bars (at some locations)
- Paid parental and adoption leave.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
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 a person-to-person interview to any candidate that 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:
- Evidence of formal full stack software engineering training at intermediate level – usually 6 months plus
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge of at least one modern language/framework, such as C++, Golang, Java, JavaScript, .NET, Node, Python or Rust
- Experience of a hands-on project
- Have studied a STEM subject in higher education.
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.
- If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment, subject to vetting.
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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : careers@recruitmentteam.org.uk
- Email : careers@recruitmentteam.org.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : careers@recruitmentteam.org.uk
