About the job

Job summary

The first duty of Government is to protect the public. Since 1782, the Home Office has led work to keep the country safe from those who seek to do it harm; in doing so, we make a vital contribution to HM Government’s plan for a stronger, fairer, outward-looking and united Britain.

The Home Office covers three systems: Homeland Security, Public Safety and Borders, and Immigration and Citizenship. These systems work collaboratively to deliver our cross-cutting priorities, whilst providing increasingly efficient and secure services for the public.

These are challenging areas that can rapidly change in the global environment we work in – this makes us one of the most exciting and stimulating government departments in which to work.

If you work with us, you'll be making a real difference.

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working.  This is a non-contractual arrangement where employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in the office.  Applicants can request further information regarding how this may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details).

We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from women, people with disabilities and LGBT+ as they are currently under-represented in the Home Office at this grade level. Appointments will be made on merit on the basis on fair and open competition

Job description

Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) enables the Home Office to keep citizens safe and the country secure, as well as at the front line of making the Home Office a modern and capable department at a time of unprecedented global change.

We design, build and operate services that are critical in helping the department achieve its mission. You could be designing and building solutions to help people prove their identity or apply for visas, or working on the critical IT systems that support policing and counter terrorism, and help protect UK borders. Our success in this role depends on our ability to exploit the latest technologies to create leading-edge, world class solutions whilst ensuring they are secure and resilient.

This is an exciting time to work for the Home Office as we develop some of the most challenging and transformative technology projects the department has ever seen. You’ll have a chance to shape the future and support our goal to provide exceptional services for everyone.

Our work is guided by these fundamental principles:

• Put user needs first.
• Delivery and outcomes over process.
• Make the most of openness: open standards, open source, open data and open markets.

We value everyone's skills and provide a creative and supportive environment to help you do your best work.

Our CSOC Engineering team supports the Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC) team provide protective security monitoring and response across the Home Office estate.

We are seeking candidates to join the CSOC Engineering team to help build new and improved solutions to further advance protective monitoring effectiveness.

You will assist CSOC analysts in automating the build of infrastructure platforms for protective monitoring. You will be responsible for underpinning good DevOps and Development processes including tuning, central code control, maintaining development standards and writing software that automates systems.

You will be confident in using cloud based technologies such as Amazon Web Services, Terraform, EC2 and containerised platforms.

You will ensure efficient use of resources and integration of multiple systems and technology. You will analyse current processes and identify opportunities to optimise processes and lead teams to deliver service improvements. You will explore the benefits of cross-government alignment of systems and services and provide mentoring and leadership to other DevOps and Development staff.

Accredited training and certifications are provided as part of an extensive learner journey.

Person specification

What you’ll do

• End-to-end technical onboarding of new systems into the Cyber Security environment.
• Develop and script tools and functionality through programming languages, such as Python and Bash, utilising Cloud Computing and Amazon Web Services.
• Developing automation and CI/CD technologies to help support colleagues.
• Design, build and maintain bespoke applications to support CSOC analysts in their operational role, working to improve their monitoring capability.
• Provide a 3rd line role in handling critical incidents.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to junior colleagues, supporting the development of their skills.

You will be someone who

• Is passionate about a career in cyber.
• Is capable of thinking innovatively to find new ways to solve problems.
• Is highly motivated with a positive attitude.
• Is an effective communicator and mentor to less experienced colleagues.
• Is adaptable and can fit into an Agile team.
• Has deep technical knowledge, and can demonstrate how they have supported delivery teams and solved complex problems.

Who you will work with 

• Cyber Analysts in the Home Office & across government
• Cyber Programmes in the Home Office & across government
• Business contacts and stakeholders from the Home Office & across government
• Security professionals from private industry
• Training providers
• Law Enforcement Agencies

You will have the following essential skills and experience 

• Knowledge of network topology in relation to cloud services.
• Knowledge around full stack monitoring and utilising visual and metric monitoring systems and software in a IAAS style (infrastructure as a service).
• Hands on experience in creating and configuring CI/CD pipelines.
• Knowledge of GIT.
• Knowledge of Agile ways of working – ITIL certified would be beneficial, however willingness to learn.
• Security by design awareness.

The skills listed above are reflective of the Home Office DDaT Profession Skills and Competency Model (based on the industry standard SFIA framework). Please see below for the relevant skills required for your role:

• Data Management (DATM) – Level – 3
• Application Support (ASUP) – Level – 3
• Programming/Software Development (PROG)– Level – 2
• Testing (TEST) – Level – 2
• Software Design (SWDN) – Level – 2
• Systems Integration (SINT) – Level – 2

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,350, Home Office contributes £9,274 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement. 

Please note your CV and personal statement should include all relevant experience that relates to the essential criteria listed in the advert and job description.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Remove information that identifies you (for example your name, age or place of education) so that you’ll be judged on merit alone and not your background, circumstances, race or gender.

(Do NOT include e-mail addresses or links to online profiles, resumés, or prior work, either personal or business. Active links or e-mail addresses will result in your application being rejected)

Application tips

• It’s crucial that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria set out in the job advert. (Do not just list languages / platforms - do provide context.)
• You should include enough information and describe examples that demonstrate your skills and experience
• You should give yourself plenty of time. You can start an application and come back to complete it before the job advert closes

More guidance can be found here – completing you application 

Sift Stage 

The sift will be held on the CV and personal statement (max 500 word count) 

(Do NOT include any links or e-mail addresses to online profiles, resumes, or prior work, either personal or business. Active links or e-mail addresses may result in your application being rejected)

Candidates showing the required standard will be invited to attend an interview. The interview will assess the key behaviours, and your Technical Skills & Experience using technical and experience-based questions.

Sift and interview dates 

Sift will be conducted week commencing 2nd January 2024

Interviews will be held week commencing 22nd January 2024 (via MS Teams)

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advertisement. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. (subject to panels operational requirements)

Further information 

For meaningful checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time to enable appropriate checks to be carried out and produce a result which provides the required level of assurance. You should normally have been resident in the United Kingdom for the last 3 years if the role requires CTC clearance, 5 years for SC clearance and 10 years for DV. A lack of UK residency in itself is not necessarily a bar to a security clearance and applicants should contact the Vacancy Holder/Recruiting Manager listed in the advert for further advice.

• Higher Security Clearance - This post requires the successful candidate to hold security clearance at minimum SC level (normally requiring a five year UK footprint). Job offers to this post are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.
• Visa Sponsorship Statement - Please take note that the Home Office DDaT does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License and are unable to sponsor any individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Please read the essential skills for this position carefully. We will only consider those who meet the listed requirement. 

If you have previously made an unsuccessful application for a role with the same essential skills and are not able to demonstrate how you have developed these skills since your last application please reconsider applying as your application is unlikely to be successful.

We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or a lower grade than they have applied for, we may offer the candidate that role without the need to go through a further selection process providing the role has the same competencies and essential skills.

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

Every day, Home Office civil servants do brilliant work to develop and deliver policies and services that affect the lives of people across the country and beyond. To do this effectively and fairly, the Home Office is committed to representing modern Britain in all its diversity, and creating a welcoming, inclusive workplace where all our people are able to bring their whole selves to work and perform at their best.

We are flexible, skilled, professional and diverse. We work to recruit and retain disabled staff and area Disability Confident Leader. We are proud to be one of the most ethnically diverse departments in the civil service. We are a Social Mobility Foundation top 75 employer.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

For further information please see the attached notes for candidates which must be read before making an application.

Existing Civil Servants should note that some of the Home Office terms and conditions of employment have changed. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the Terms and Conditions they will adopt should they be successful in application and should refer to the notes for candidates for further details.

Transfer Terms: Voluntary.

If you are invited to an interview you will be required to  bring a range of documentation for the purposes of establishing identity and to aid any pre-employment checks.

Please see the attached list of Home Office acceptable ID documents.

Any move to the Home Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Reasonable Adjustments

If a person with disabilities is at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service via HOrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance Required” section in the “Additional Requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a language service professional

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

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

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). 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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.