Working at GCHQ

One of the greatest things about working here is knowing that your contribution is helping to keep the nation safe. Everyone, from our Project Managers and Admin Officers to our Intelligence Analysts and Cryptographers, plays their part in making a difference to our nation's security.

From our beginnings in World War One, we've been defined by our unique mix of talents and our ability to combine different ways of thinking to create breakthroughs that unlock the most complex challenges.

That still holds true today - we need the right mix of minds to meet the challenges of the future. 

We need people from all walks of life. People with aptitude and raw talent whom we can nurture. People with formal qualifications and experience of working elsewhere. People who can lead and make decisions. People who can work in teams and support and celebrate the success of others. People who can be role models and mentors.

To support our unique mission, there are certain areas where we need specific experience and skills - these include areas such as Computer Network Operations, Applied Research, Engineering, Languages, Mathematics & Cryptography, IT Services, and Information Assurance.

There are other roles where we're looking for potential and a willingness to learn, and we'll teach you the rest. These include opportunities in Analysis, as well as structured development programmes in areas such as Cyber Security.

Equally, we also need to employ the sorts of people that enable the smooth running of a large modern organisation. We need people who can work in areas including Human Resources, Project Management, Legal Services, Information Management, and Communications.

There are many different ways into our organisation. Some people start as apprentices, some apply for roles based on their degrees or specialist skills, some join through generic analyst or leadership development schemes, some people are directly hired from industry or the public sector. 

You can create a job alert to be notified about new opportunities as soon as they are posted on our vacancy page.