Senior Software Engineers Ref. 3667

GCHQ; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 50,354 - 60,036; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave (30 after 5 years

Performance recognition scheme

Interest‑free season ticket loan

Excellent pension scheme

Cycle to work scheme

On‑site facilities: gym, restaurant, &

Parental and adoption leave

Job summary

GCHQ is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to help solve mission‑critical challenges by shaping system architecture, driving best practices, and delivering robust software across JavaScript, Java, Node.js, Python, Rust, Go, and .NET.

You will work with cloud platforms AWS, Azure, and GCP, lead Agile teams, and translate customer requirements into high‑quality solutions. The role offers a hybrid pattern with strong development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Expertise in modern programming languages and frameworks such as Golang, Java, JavaScript, .NET, Node.js, Python, Rust.
• Experience with cloud platforms AWS, Azure, and GCP.
• Led Agile project teams, evaluated customer business requirements, and delivered high‑quality software solutions.

Responsibilities

• Architect and design of both new and existing systems; establish and promote best practices.
• Deliver high‑quality software solutions across multiple frameworks and languages.
• Review pull requests, define code review, branching, and deployment strategies; work across teams.

Skills

Agile methodologies

Mentoring others

Cross-team communication

Problem solving

Tools

JavaScript

Java

Node.js

Python

Rust

Go

.NET

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

Salary

£50,354 to £60,036. This includes a basic salary, skills payment, and a concessionary payment of £2,758. The final amount depends on your skills and experience. You'll also receive a one-off recruitment bonus of £3,500, split into two payments: £1,750 on arrival and £1,750 after successfully completing probation. In the future, there may be an opportunity to qualify for a higher skill level following a successful skills assessment, which could increase your salary by £9,766.

Flexible working

We recognise the importance of a healthy work‑life balance and offer a range of working patterns, including full‑time, part‑time, and compressed hours. Hybrid working, which refers to a combination of working on‑site and from home, may be more limited due to the nature of the work. Some homeworking may be available depending on business needs. We also support flexible start and finish times, where possible, to help you manage your personal and professional commitments.

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 emphasises teamwork.

The role

As a Senior Software Engineer, you'll play a pivotal role in solving mission‑critical challenges. You'll contribute to the architecture and design of both new and existing systems, establish and promote best practices, and deliver high‑quality software solutions. Drawing on your expertise in various software engineering methodologies, you'll introduce fresh ideas and innovative approaches that make a real impact at the core of our mission: keeping the UK safe, both in the real world and online.

This is a practical, impact‑driven role with plenty of opportunities to develop yourself and others. You'll review pull requests, define code review, branching, and deployment strategies, and work across a variety of software engineering frameworks. Operating at a deep technical level, you'll apply your expertise in languages and frameworks such as JavaScript, Java, Node.js, Python, Rust, Go, and .NET.

For Cheltenham roles

We are looking for Data Engineers or Software Engineers with big data experience, alongside a working knowledge of cloud technologies.

About you

You have expertise in modern programming languages and frameworks such as Golang, Java, JavaScript, .NET, Node.js, Python, Rust, along with experience working with cloud platforms AWS, Azure, and GCP. You have successfully led Agile project teams, evaluated customer business requirements, and delivered high‑quality software solutions that make a real impact. Strategic and self‑driven, you serve as a bridge between teams, communicating technical information with clarity and confidence. You thrive in a fast‑paced, innovative environment where creativity is key to solving complex challenges.

We welcome experienced professionals from related fields, including software engineering, security, site reliability engineering, and data engineering. Your enthusiasm for software engineering, combined with your ability to mentor others, collaborate effectively, and stay ahead of emerging technologies, makes you a valuable contributor to a forward‑thinking engineering community.

Training and development

From day one, you'll have access to mentors and subject matter experts to help you settle into the role. We invest in your development and adapt to the way you like to learn, providing support and encouragement every step of the way. Up to 30% of your time can be dedicated to personal development. You will have access to learning and development opportunities across a wide range of disciplines, including front‑end design, site reliability engineering, data engineering, solution architecture, machine learning operations, UX, Agile, cloud engineering, and security. Formal qualifications are supported with dedicated funding; subscriptions to platforms such as Cloud Academy, Pluralsight, and O'Reilly are provided.

Rewards and benefits

You will receive a starting salary between £50,354 and £60,036, inclusive of a concessionary payment of £2,758, and a one‑off payment of £3,500 split into two payments: £1,750 on arrival and £1,750 after completing probation, along with other benefits including:

• 25 days of annual leave, automatically increasing to 30 days after 5 years of service, plus 10.5 days of public and privilege holidays.
• Opportunities for recognition through our employee performance scheme.
• Interest‑free season ticket loan (for parking and travel).
• Excellent pension scheme.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• On‑site facilities such as a gym, restaurant, and coffee bars (available at some locations).
• Paid parental and adoption leave.

Equal opportunities

At GCHQ, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone including people from under‑represented groups such as women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, individuals with disabilities, and those from low socio‑economic backgrounds.

Disability confident

GCHQ is proud to have achieved Leader status within the Department for Work and Pensions' Disability Confident scheme. This initiative encourages employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain, and develop disabled people. To secure an interview, you must meet the minimum criteria assessed during the application sift.

What to expect

Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. The stages are:

1. Application form sift.
2. Technical and competency‑based interview, including a presentation.
3. If successful, a conditional offer of employment subject to vetting.

Your application may take around 6 to 9 months to process, including vetting, so we advise you to continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.