Senior Data Scientists Ref. Technology, Engineering & Research
£Flexible Working: We offer full-time and part-time opportunities with flexible working hours. Remote working may be possible, and there will be opportunities for some home working. It will be structured as 80% office-based and 20% from home, with one day a week dedicated to a combination of learning and working from home.
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 puts the emphasis on teamwork.
As a Senior Data Scientist, you’ll leverage data science to advance our mission and inform policy and strategy decisions. While this role is data-centric, collaboration is at its heart.
In this role, you’ll collaborate with data scientists and mission teams to utilise our services for problem-solving and discovering new applications. You’ll work with project teams to research and implement both established and novel models, and adapt AI techniques into our microservice architecture. Supporting our Development Operations (DevOps) team, you’ll explore innovative Machine Learning Operations (ML Ops) tools and learn to host large language models across multiple Graphic Processing Units (GPUs). After a year in this role, you’ll have opportunities to manage data scientists and engineers,
You understand the power of data for a business, and at GCHQ, we know how to use it for good. Every bit of data you work on is mission-critical and not driven by commercial gain, so you can be confident that your work makes a positive impact.
There may be annual opportunities for overseas travel for collaboration, conferences, and training.
A STEM or computer science-related degree, or an equivalent qualification, will be beneficial. Ideally, you’ll have a deep understanding of machine learning, including training deployment, and maintenance. Additionally, you should be proficient in exploratory data analysis, statistical reasoning, and data driven decision-making.
Your experience in data science or software engineering enables you to communicate effectively with experts in both fields. Technically, you’re well-versed in the entire lifecycle of machine learning projects, capable of transforming a prototype capability (such as one in a Jupyter notebook) into a functional system component. Additionally, you’re proficient in a range of technologies, including but not limited to some of Python, Kubernetes, Docker, JavaScript, and Java.
Training and Development
We understand that everyone learns differently, so we’ll tailor your development to suit your needs – whether that’s through books, studying, courses, or conferences. Additionally, we offer an internal Data Science learning pathway with a significant taught component. Successfully completing this pathway will open up a variety of other learning opportunities, aligned with ambitions, career direction, and our mission requirements. The programme includes modules on exploratory data analysis, and visualisation, mathematics and statistics, machine learning, algorithms and graph theory, and big data technologies.
You’ll receive a starting salary of £41,935 – £49,892 depending on skills and experience. 25 days annual leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days of public and privilege holidays
~ Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
~ Interest-free season ticket loan
~ Excellent pension scheme
~ Cycle to work scheme
~ Facilities such as a gym, restaurant, and on-site coffee bars (at some locations)
~ Paid parental and adoption leave
At GCHQ, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. 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 underrepresented in our workforce such as women, those from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.
Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website.
We’re Disability Confident
GCHQ 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 offer a fair and proportionate number of person-to-person interviews to any candidate who self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role. To secure an interview for this vacancy, the essential criteria (in order of application process) are:
A STEM or computer science-related degree, or an equivalent qualification or relevant experience in lieu of a degree – assessed at sift.
Demonstrate a deep understanding of machine learning, including training, deployment, and maintenance.
A competency based and technical interview – assessing your motivation for the role and your understanding of data science
This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. 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.
This is good practice and will help you manage your application with us more discreetly.
Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application, as we do not offer relocation costs.
If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application.