The role
As a Network Engineer within the Network Capability Centre (NCC), you’ll design, implement and maintain secure, scalable network infrastructure that underpins critical organisational systems. Working in a large, multidisciplinary environment, there is a shared contribution to the delivery and ongoing reliability of network services supporting national security outcomes.
Your work may include activities across a full lifecycle of network delivery. This includes designing and building solutions, supporting deployments, and monitoring and troubleshooting live environments to maintain availability, performance and security. There is also involvement in ongoing operations, including updates, patching and optimisation, alongside contributions to disaster recovery and business continuity activities.
Day-to-day, work is a mix of independent tasks and collaboration, working closely with internal teams, customers and external organisations to resolve issues and strengthen network capability. Continuous improvement is a key part of the role, helping to evolve network services and supporting the adoption of technologies that enhance resilience and security.
Operating within a large team, initial work sits within a smaller specialist area, with opportunities to broaden your experience as you develop. This role is particularly well suited to early-career or developing engineers looking to build their technical capability, gain exposure to a wide range of networking technologies and progress into a more senior engineering role.
About you
You’ll have GCSEs (or equivalent) in Maths and English at Grade 4/C or above, along with a solid foundation in network engineering. This may come from a dedicated networking role or a broader IT position, but you’ll be confident in building, testing and maintaining network infrastructure, as well as diagnosing issues and supporting live environments. Experience with Cisco or similar networking technologies is essential.
A good understanding in configuring and supporting network technologies is expected, alongside knowledge of systems such as Linux or Windows. You may also have experience across areas such as automation, cloud platforms or core services like DNS and DHCP.
A practical approach to problem-solving is key, together with an interest in working with live systems, identifying faults and maintaining reliable services. The ability to work effectively within a team, communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical colleagues, and take a proactive approach to resolving issues is essential. A genuine interest in networking and emerging technologies will help you get the most out of the role, and you’ll be motivated to continue developing your technical skills and expanding your knowledge.
Training and development
When you join, you’ll complete a structured induction within the Network Capability Centre, giving you a broad understanding of the networks, systems and technologies that the team designs, builds and supports.
Development is practical and continuous. You’ll build your capability by working alongside experienced engineers on live systems, contributing to real projects from the outset. This is complemented by access to internal and external training, including core networking courses, specialist technologies and industry-recognised certifications such as Cisco.
Support is provided within a collaborative team environment, with a buddy to help with getting started and mentors to guide your ongoing development. As skills grow, there are opportunities to move across teams and technologies, broadening your experience and building a well-rounded and rewarding career in network engineering.
Rewards and benefits
You’ll receive a starting salary of £37,892 plus other benefits including:
- 25 days’ annual leave, rising automatically to 30 days after 5 years' service, along with an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays
- opportunities to be recognised through the employee performance scheme
- an interest-free season ticket loan
- an excellent pension scheme
- a cycle-to-work scheme
- access to facilities such as a subsidised gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (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: people from different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations and ways of thinking, as well as 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, people 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.
We’re Disability Confident
GCHQ is proud to have achieved Leader status within the Department for Work and Pensions 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 fair and proportionate number of person-to-person interviews 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'll be required to reach the minimum pass mark for the online Situational Judgement Test (SJT), which assesses criteria important for all roles in our organisation
- The following criteria will be assessed at sift:
- Meet the minimum pass mark in both motivational and technical questions
- Demonstrate the ability to analyse and solve technical problems
- Demonstrate an inquisitive approach to understanding or adapting technology
There is a wide range of extra support available throughout the recruitment process to enable you to do your best. Please see our website for information on reasonable adjustments we can offer.
What to expect
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:
- An initial online application form, including pre-screening questions, to ensure you meet our eligibility criteria.
- An online Situational Judgement Test (SJT), in which you rate the appropriateness of responses to a series of short scenarios.
- A full online application form.
- An Interview, including competency and technical questions.
- If successful, you’ll 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 to 9 months to process, including vetting, so it is advisable to 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. Read about our eligibility criteria.
This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. Find out more about the vetting process.
Please note, we have a strict drugs policy. Once you start your application, you must not take any recreational drugs, and you’ll need to declare any previous drug usage at the relevant stage.
Before you apply, we advise you to consider setting up a separate email address for your contact with us, to ensure your personal and application correspondence remain separate. Try to avoid including identifying details in your email address, such as your name or date of birth. This is good practice and will help you manage your application more securely.
The role is based in Manchester or Cheltenham, 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.
We offer reasonable reimbursement of travel costs for candidates attending in person appointments during the recruitment and vetting process. Full details will be provided with your interview or assessment invitation.
Reimbursement is discretionary and will only be made in line with the Candidate Expenses Policy, as amended from time to time. Candidates must book their own travel using the most economical option and provide original hardcopy receipts for reimbursement.
Please note, you should only submit your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to apply. Applying from outside the UK may impact our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss your application with anyone other than with your partner or close family member.
Right to withdraw statement:
Please be aware that we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date for this role once a sufficient number of applications have been received. To avoid disappointment, please submit your application at your earliest convenience.