Job Description

Details

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Reference number

425128

Salary

39,445
GBP

Job grade

Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Type of role

Information Technology

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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London

About the job

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Job summary

Flexible Working:

This is an office-based role. We offer the opportunity to work flexitime covering core office hours.

About Us

MI5 keeps the country safe from serious threats like terrorism and attempts by states to harm the UK, its people and way of life. We carry out investigations by obtaining, analysing, and assessing intelligence, and then work with a range of partners including MI6 and GCHQ to disrupt these threats. Through our protective security arm, we provide advice and guidance to government, businesses and other organisations about how to keep themselves safe. A role in MI5 means you'll do unique and challenging work in a supportive and encouraging environment, making a real difference to UK national security.

Job description

The Role

As the world moves to a new way of working, we are looking for innovators who would like to help us shape the future of technology at MI5. For us, technology plays a crucial and increasingly frontline role in safeguarding our nation from terrorism, espionage and cyber-attacks. Our Technology Graduate Development Programme offers you the unique opportunity to apply and develop your skills in this vital area of work. It is designed to fully equip you with the skills, knowledge and experience needed to be an effective part of MI5's technology workforce, while making the UK a safer place for everyone.


You'll be expected to complete the structured two-year development programme before taking on a Digital, Data and Technology role for a minimum of 24 months. Please note, you won't be permitted to leave the programme early, so we'd ask that you ensure you're able to commit to the full four years before applying. Successful applicants will start in Autumn 2026, and must be able to live in or commute to Central London. Further information about travel will be shared during the recruitment process.


Upon joining as a Technology Graduate in your chosen role, the work and projects you undertake will combine your current knowledge whilst teaching you new skills to make a difference to MI5's core missions.


No matter the team, you'll play a key role, develop your skills and experience while working alongside friendly, welcoming and supportive colleagues in an inclusive environment. You'll be given opportunities to take on responsibility that will give you the kind of exposure that you simply wouldn't find on any other graduate scheme.


You may only apply for one role in totality for the programme, so please bear this in mind should you wish to apply for any of the roles detailed below or as also detailed in the MI6 Programme .

Business Analysis

Business Analysts use a structured approach to undertake research and analysis to understand problems and opportunities within MI5's strategic context. By understanding business and user needs you'll formulate options, considering the impact of these changes. You'll work on various challenges - often unique and unusual - collaborating with a range of stakeholders and multi-disciplinary delivery teams to design a solution that delivers value.

Delivery Manager

You will cover a diverse range of activities to support the delivery of our products and services, working with software engineering teams (please note that this role doesn't require software engineering knowledge, but it's nice to have). You will build your ability in maintaining delivery momentum, planning, team collaboration, communicating between technical and non-technical teams, all while applying agile and lean practices and methodologies (e.g. Scrum and Kanban) to successfully take products through their lifecycles. The role will equip you with the skills and qualifications to grow in this profession. The roles and responsibilities are similar to other industry standard job titles such as Scrum Master and Agile Lead.

User Experience (UX) Design

Working as an Interaction Designer you will incorporate experience design into every stage of product development, delivering highly usable and accessible products that delight end-users. Whether providing unique insight, prioritising areas for change, focussing on the way users interact with products, or developing captivating visual concepts, you will be at the heart of designing MI5's future mission capabilities.

Engineering (Software & Data)

You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary product team to build and run secure applications and products that drive our investigations, analysis, and corporate functions. This programme will provide you with opportunities to gain experience working across a variety of teams. As the programme progresses, you will continue to learn and grow in your specialised role, whether that's software engineering or data engineering.


As a data engineer, you might contribute to the design and implementation of data models and architectures that enable secure, efficient access to data, supporting analytics and informed decision-making across the organisation. As a software engineer, you would design, develop, and maintain robust, scalable applications and services that power our core systems and user-facing tools.


Our tech stacks vary between products and include technologies such as Java, C#, React, TypeScript, MongoDB, Python, and Oracle. We also make use of cloud platforms like AWS and Azure. Whatever you work on, it will be unique, varied, and will have a direct and rewarding impact on the success of our organisations.

Information & Cyber Security

You will develop knowledge and skills that will equip you to help protect our critical information and systems, such as researching cyber threats to and vulnerabilities in technologies that will impact the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data and systems. You will also identify and advise on technical and process security controls to mitigate identified risks. Working across multidiscipline security, engineering and business teams, you will ensure security is all-inclusive and embedded across the organisation. While the ability to communicate security risk to technical and non-technical stakeholders will be key to your success.

Data Science (Machine Learning and AI)

You will learn to apply state-of-the-art data science and machine learning techniques to identify insights from our data at scale. Following a data science training pathway, you will work as part of a multi-disciplinary data science team to research, develop, test, and optimise machine learning capabilities, and have the opportunity to apply these capabilities to mission focussed requirements from across our organisation.

Person specification

About You

To join the development programme, you will have a passion for technology and have (or be expecting) a 2:2 by September 2026 in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) subject. We are keen to hear from you, whatever your background.


Whether you have a specific skill set or are looking to try something new, we are keen to find people with a positive attitude to change and an enthusiasm to learn. Working on issues with real-world impact, you'll bring your ideas, perspectives, and your experience to help us create an inclusive and forward-thinking culture.

Benefits

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Training and Development

MI5 is a unique and stimulating place to work and we will ensure that you have all the ongoing support and development you need to build a rewarding and successful career with us. During the programme, you'll receive a combination of extensive on the job and more formal training. You will also train alongside other members on the programme.


In addition, further external and accredited training and qualifications will be funded by us to support your future career. You'll also be able to continually develop your personal skills and gain management and leadership skills. Our training programme is designed to enable you to meet your potential as an innovative technology professional and equip you with the skills and ability to manage and lead in different areas of our technology departments in the future.


You will spend 80% of your time in placements and 20% of your time as a development programme cohort. Cohort activities may include team building events, challenges and presentations.


MI5 is a great place to work, and your work-life balance is important to us. We are also proud of our inclusive and supportive working environment. As an organisation that values and nurtures a diverse range of talent, we're committed to helping you fulfil your potential throughout your career.

Rewards and Benefits

You'll receive a starting salary of either 39,445 plus other 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 Personal Learning Budget Opportunities to work flexibly, subject to business needs Interest-free season ticket loan Excellent pension scheme Cycle to work scheme Facilities such as a subsidised gym and restaurant, and on-site coffee bars at some locations Paid parental and adoption leave

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

Equal Opportunities

At MI5 diversity and inclusion are critical to our missions. 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: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and 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, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.


Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website:


www.MI5.gov.uk/careers/working-at-MI5/diversity

We're Disability Confident

MI5 is 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 that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview where practicable; this is known as 'Offer of an Interview'. To secure an interview for this vacancy, the minimum criteria (in order of application process) are:

Online Test - You will be required to reach the pass mark set for our online test Score the minimum pass mark in the questions about your motivation to join the organisation - to be assessed at application form sift

There is a wide range of extra support available throughout the recruitment process to enable you to do your best, 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:

Pre-screening questions to find out if you meet our initial criteria Initial Application Form Online aptitude test Application Form Online Assessment Centre

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 - 9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.

Before You Apply

To work for us, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. Read about our eligibility criteria on our website.


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 on our website.


Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can't take any recreational drugs and you'll need to declare your 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 having identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surname and date of birth. This is good practice and will help you to manage your application with us more securely.


The roles are based in Central London, so you'll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application. An interest-free loan is available to assist with relocating into privately rented accommodation to take up the offer of employment.

Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.

Right to Withdraw Statement

Please be aware that we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting .



See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : careers@recruitmentoffice.org.uk Email : careers@recruitmentoffice.org.uk
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Recruitment team

Email : careers@recruitmentoffice.org.uk

Further information

https://www.mi5.gov.uk/careers