Defence Intelligence: Counterspace Analyst

Job summary

An exciting opportunity exists to join the Capability Assessment space team, within Defence Intelligence (DI). The successful candidate will be working alongside a high performing team that works on understanding adversary threats from and to the space domain, with a wide range of customers from across Defence and Whitehall.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Defence Intelligence (DI) is a world-class organisation that supports policy and decision-making at the heart of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the cross government national security community. In DI, our people solve problems, create understanding, and give perspective to the diverse and complex Defence threats and challenges in a rapidly changing world. Together our civilians and military personnel inform decision-making in Defence, manage complex programmes, and develop new technology.

DI is a key element of the UK’s national intelligence community, working closely with partners across Defence, Cabinet Office, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the intelligence agencies and other intelligence assessment bodies such as the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and Joint Intelligence Organisation.

The Space Ops 4 role is one of four MOD Civil Service positions responsible for assessing the capabilities of foreign space-related threat systems, including their terrestrial support infrastructure. The Space Team is currently divided into two areas of focus: space utilisation and counterspace capabilities. This role sits within the counterspace team and works closely with the line manager to deliver intelligence assessments, with a particular emphasis on electronic warfare capabilities.

This is an excellent opportunity for an individual with a technical or programme analysis background who is looking to broaden their strategic awareness, leadership, and communication skills. It would also suit an experienced intelligence analyst seeking to expand their knowledge and experience within Defence Intelligence Capability Assessment (DI CA), particularly in the space domain.

This role requires: a proactive, self-driven, scientifically curious individual - ability to collate large data sets and identify key significant findings; excellent presentation and communication skills - especially written assessment; strong organisational skills with ability to prioritise, work under pressure and to meet deadlines; good interpersonal and teamworking skills.

The post holder will be responsible for producing high-quality all-source assessments. It is essential that the postholder can maintain good working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and customers, including experts from academia and industry. The role requires both national and international travel. The post holder will be expected to maintain their skills and an awareness of new developments in their area of responsibility. Ideally the post holder will have some industry experience. This is a new post, and the appointee will be a self-starter able to work on their own developing the post and their intelligence analysis skills.

In DI we believe your unique experiences, view and understanding of the world could provide a vital perspective and contribution to our work. We recognise that great minds do not think alike and are striving to increase our diversity representation at all levels. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire, train and promote people based on merit and aspire to create an inclusive workplace free of discrimination. We also offer flexible working arrangements such as flexitime; job share and compressed hours. All job adverts in DI are subject to fair and open competition.

Responsibilities

• Lead on intelligence analysis of counterspace electronic warfare capabilities and systems.
• Support intelligence analysis across the broader range of counterspace threats and capabilities.
• Manage intelligence requirements, identify capability gaps, and support collection planning opportunities.
• Work closely with the contracted analysis team to coordinate and develop counterspace intelligence outputs.
• Produce written intelligence products, including Threat Web entries, RFI responses, capability assessments, threat statements, and briefings within your area of responsibility.
• Provide support to UK and international conferences, exercises, and wargames as required.
• Identify areas of space threat capability and vulnerability that would benefit from further research and assessment.

Person specification

What are we looking for?

Essential

• Ability to analyse information from a range of sources, identify key findings, and draw clear, evidence-based conclusions.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team, building positive working relationships and contributing to shared objectives.
• Ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly to non-specialist audiences, including senior decision-makers.
• Ability to approach problems creatively and develop innovative solutions to analytical challenges.

Desirable

• Understanding of the space domain and the challenges and opportunities associated with its use.
• Working knowledge of orbital mechanics, gained through education or relevant experience.
• Working knowledge of radio frequency and electromagnetic spectrum concepts, gained through education or relevant experience.
• Background in, or demonstrated interest in, national security, defence, or international security issues.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• DI aspires to be an exemplar equal opportunity employer creating a workplace which values diversity and is free from any form of unfair discrimination.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month p