NCSC AI Technologist

Job summary

About us
GCHQ is an intelligence, cyber and 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 places a strong emphasis on teamwork.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, is the UK Government’s lead authority on cyber security. The organisation is at the heart of the Government’s cyber security strategy and aims to make the UK the safest place to live and work online.

Job description

The role
AI is transforming how organisations design, build and defend technology — and the NCSC is looking for outstanding technical talent to help protect the UK in ways that only we can. Join us to research, develop and deploy agentic solutions that strengthen the nation’s cyber security and resilience.

As an AI technologist, you’ll contribute to our unique mission while working in classified environments alongside people who share a commitment to protecting the UK. You’ll help design, build, deploy and scale intelligent solutions that transform how people work, learn and interact with technology.

Working as part of multidisciplinary teams and alongside some of the world’s leading cyber experts, you’ll help advance AI capabilities and turn innovative ideas into production-ready systems. Depending on your skills and interests, work may involve agentic systems, conducting technical research, applying AI to cyber security challenges, engineering secure solutions, supporting the adoption of AI in operational environments, or providing technical insight to government and industry partners.

These broad roles support a wide range of GCHQ and NCSC missions across engineering, operations and applied research. Opportunities span the development and assurance of AI-enabled systems, AI and cyber security research, software and infrastructure engineering, MLOps, solution architecture, and the secure deployment of emerging technologies. As your expertise grows, you may also engage with leading organisations across industry and academia, helping to ensure we remain at the forefront of AI innovation.

This is an opportunity to contribute to one of the most significant technological shifts of our time as part of the UK’s National Technical authority for cyber security. We’re looking for people who can combine technical expertise with curiosity, collaboration and a passion for solving complex challenges. If you’re excited by emerging technologies and want to help shape how the UK securely harnesses AI, these roles offer the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on national security.

Person specification

About you
We’re looking for curious and motivated individuals with foundation-level experience in the development and application of AI technologies and/or agent development. You’ll bring a genuine enthusiasm for cyber security and a desire to continuously learn about emerging technologies, threats and a broad range of cyber topics. You may have gained experience through software development, designing and building systems and architectures, or technical research and analysis, whether through work, study or personal projects. The ability to quickly grasp unfamiliar concepts and apply them in practice will be important.

Success in these roles requires a collaborative approach and a willingness to work across different technical disciplines, building relationships with colleagues and stakeholders from across and beyond the organisation. Curiosity, adaptability and a commitment to developing new skills will be highly valued.

We welcome applications from people of all educational and professional backgrounds and have no formal qualification requirements. Instead, we’re interested in evidence of your technical ability, potential and achievements. Depending on the role and your skills, you may be eligible for specialist pay. These roles require 80% office attendance, subject to role requirements and business need.

Pleasenote: The NCSC is advertising a number of roles at the moment. Please submit an application for each role you wish to be considered for. Applying for other roles will not be detrimental to your application for this role and, if you are successful in a number of roles, you will be able to choose which role you prefer at the point of conditional job offer.

GCHQ Competencies
As part of the selection process, the NCSC will assess you using competencies aligned with those used across the UK Intelligence Community. These are closely based on the Civil Service Behaviours, so if you’re familiar with those, you’re already on the right track.

At Level 2, we’ll be looking at how you demonstrate the following:

• Driving Innovation and Change (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Changing and Improving)
• Continuously Developing(Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Developing Self and Others)
• Working Collaboratively(Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Working Together)
• Making Effective Decisions(Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Making Effective Decisions)
• Delivering Outcomes (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Delivering at Pace)

To help you prepare your application, further information on Civil Service Behaviours can be found here.

Benefits

Rewards and benefits:
At NCSC and GCHQ, we are proud of our inclusive and supportive working environment, which is designed to encourage open minds and positive 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.

You’ll receive a starting salary of £37,892 which includes a concessionary payment of £2,758.

Candidates with technical skills in information assurance, data science, or related fields may qualify for specialist skills payments ranging from £5,000 to over £44,000 per annum in this role. Skills will be assessed at interview.

For roles based in London, you’ll receive an additional £6,250 London Allowance.

Other benefits include:

• 25 days’ annual leave, automatically rising to 30 days after five years' service, plus an additional 10.5 days of public and privilege holidays
• opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
• an interest-free season ticket loan
• a cycle-to-work scheme
• Facilities such as a subsidised gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (at some locations)
• Paid parental and adoption leave
• Excellent pension scheme - Civil Service pension

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