Principal Cyber Engineer

Are you an experienced cyber engineer ready to lead the development of innovative solutions that address some of the UK's most complex cyber challenges?

Dstl is seeking a Principal Cyber Engineer to provide technical leadership across a diverse portfolio of cyber projects, helping to shape and deliver capabilities that support critical defence and national security outcomes. Working alongside highly skilled engineers, scientists and operational stakeholders, you will influence technical direction, solve complex engineering problems and lead the delivery of cutting-edge cyber capabilities.

This is a senior technical role offering the opportunity to work at the forefront of cyber capability development. You will be responsible for defining technical approaches, shaping architecture decisions and ensuring the delivery of secure, resilient and effective solutions. You'll work across multidisciplinary teams, integrating innovative technologies and providing trusted technical advice that influences customer decisions and future investment priorities.

Beyond technical delivery, you'll play a key role in developing organisational capability through mentoring, coaching and knowledge sharing, while driving continuous improvement in engineering practices, tools and ways of working.

If you have a passion for cyber engineering, technical leadership and delivering innovative solutions that make a real operational impact, we'd love to hear from you.

This role is eligible for an additional specialist allowance of £2758 annually subject to meeting extended onboarding requirements. The role may be eligible for additional skills allowances depending on the skills and experience of the applicant.

What you'll do

• Lead the design, development and delivery of innovative cyber capabilities, software solutions and technical prototypes.
• Provide technical leadership across complex cyber engineering activities and programmes.
• Shape technical strategies, architectures and engineering approaches to ensure solutions are secure, effective and sustainable.
• Apply expertise in software engineering, cyber technologies and secure development practices to solve challenging technical problems.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop and integrate advanced cyber technologies.
• Influence and advise customers, stakeholders and decision-makers through evidence-based technical recommendations.
• Drive the delivery of technical outputs to agreed time, cost and quality requirements.
• Champion engineering excellence by improving tools, processes, standards and ways of working.
• Mentor, coach and support the development of less experienced engineers.
• Monitor emerging technologies and industry developments, identifying opportunities to enhance Dstl's cyber capabilities.
• Ensure work is carried out safely, securely and in accordance with organisational policies and governance requirements.

For more information on the job responsibilities, please see the job profile attached below.

Relevant STEM-based degree such as Electronic Engineering, Embedded Systems, Computer Science, Physics or Mathematics. Individual with equivalent skills qualifications or experience are also actively encouraged to apply.

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

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

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

At the application stage, we will assess your submitted application against the essential criteria set out in the job profile.

Sifting will take place week commencing the 23rd of November with interviews taking place from the 30th of November.

Your interview will consist of behavioural and technical competency-based questions. You will also be required to deliver a 10-minute presentation. Further details for the presentation will be provided to candidates invited to interview.

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