About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a Senior Cyber Operations Engineers to join the Cyber Security Operations team. We are a small team tasked with providing secure, robust and monitored systems across all technologies supported for DfT.

You will work closely with other teams within Live Services, Information Assurance, Architecture, and suppliers to develop and maintain our core infrastructure and services, ensuring they meet all Departmental and Government security standards.

Job description

In the Senior Cyber Operations Engineer role, you will deliver day-to-day cyber security operations portfolio of vulnerability remediation, protection, monitoring and response. Your responsibilities will include:

• providing specialist cyber security operations support for DfT’s digital, data and technology, including networks, data centre, end-user compute, platforms, databases and applications.
• implementation of technology and upgrades to provide protection against attack.
• actively and continuous analysing the activity of all of DfT’s digital and information systems (e.g. logs, trends, exceptional events).
• executing remediation actions needed to mitigate identified security risks, according to their criticality and priority, and in order to maintain the agreed level of cyber security compliance.
• working with collaborate regularly with the Assurance team to coordinate on policies and strategies for carrying out the above security audits and activities and agreeing cyber security operations priorities.

In return, we can offer you:

• access to new and emerging technologies
• support and investment to further your training and development.
• flexible and hybrid working supporting a healthy work-life balance.
• industry-leading pension and employee benefits package.

Please see the attached Role Profile for further information.

Additional Information 

A minimum of 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance. 

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.  

Person specification

As a Senior Cyber Operations Engineer, you will play an important role in supporting the testing, and application of security activities. 

Representing the team in design, architectural and project delivery forums you will have the drive and enthusiasm to contribute to the improvement of digital services, products, and platforms across DfT.

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits.

This includes:

• a generous annual leave entitlement
• attractive pension options with an average employer contribution of 27%
• flexible working
• good career development opportunities
• a variety of career paths
• inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport 

DDaT Allowance

The Senior Cyber Operations Engineer role is part of the DDaT profession and attracts an enhanced pay scale which is mapped to capability levels. The successful candidate’s starting salary will be determined by performance at interview and assessed capability level. There are two components to DDaT pay - base pay and DDaT allowance.

The role may also attract a DDaT allowance of up to £10,000. The amount, if afforded is determined by several factors one of which is assessed capability level.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo yearly capability assessments which may result in pay increases or decreases. A drop in capability in any given assessment period results in 12 month pay protection to allow candidates to retain prior capability level. 

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.

How to Apply 

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

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

Within your CV and Personal Statement please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following: 

• delivering in-depth cyber security services in a complex organisation.
• working collaboratively with Security Operation Centres (SOC) and supporting third party cyber infrastructure services.
• strong background in security management, with proven knowledge across key areas including cyber strategy, risk, controls, and policy.
• understanding of incident management, risks, and potential responses.
• leading a cyber security team.

The sift is due to take place w/c 22nd January 2024.

Interviews are due to take place w/c 5th February 2024.

This interview could be conducted via a video interview, details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview. 

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. 

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include: 

• an interview 

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within. 

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity. 

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

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

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

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. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

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 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.