Security Engineer (Ref 21232)

This position is based Nationally

Security Engineer

Location: National*

Closing Date: 1st September

Interviews: W/C 14th September (subject to change)

Grade: SEO

(MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain this grade on lateral transfer)

Salary**: National: £42,914 - £51,675 (which may include an allowance of up to £8761). London: £49,325 - £56,050 (which may include an allowance of up to £6725)

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working, Job share

Contract Type: Permanent

• We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office. Office locations can be found ON THIS MAP

The Role

Please note this role requires you to pass Security Check clearance. Please click on the link for details.

We’re recruiting for a Security Engineer here at Justice Digital, Data and Science (JDDS) to be part of our warm and collaborative Technology Services team.

This role aligns against Response Lead from the Government Security Profession framework.

The Technology Services team within JDDS is responsible for all infrastructure, end user computing, onsite support and delivery of technology projects. It has responsibility for 95,000 devices and infrastructure across 900+ sites.

JDDS was set up to change the way that people access and use justice services. Our goal is to make the justice system simpler and quicker while saving public money.

Within the technology platform and security team, our mission is to secure the department (including its arms length bodies) against cyber threats vulnerabilities. We protect our nationwide internal IT infrastructure and high-profile digital services.

You’ll receive a range of excellent benefits when you join our department, including:

• A generous employer pension contribution of 28.97% through the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
• 25 days of annual leave, (increasing to 30 days once you have reached 5 years of service), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday.
• Flexible working arrangements including hybrid working, working part time or compressed hours. Designed to support a positive work–life balance.
• Employees are allocated 10% of their working time for personal and professional development.
• A £1k per person learning budget is in place to support all our people, with access to best-in-class conferences and seminars, accreditation with professional bodies, fully funded vocational programmes and e-learning platforms.
• Compassionate maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave policies, with up to 26 weeks leave at full pay, 13 weeks with partial pay, and 13 weeks further leave. And maternity support/paternity leave at full pay for 2 weeks, too!

You can find more details of the Benefits we offer here. To help picture your life at MoJ Justice Digital, Data and Science please take a look at our blog.

Key Responsibilities

• Guide the implementation of cutting-edge cyber security solutions across network infrastructures.
• Document security protocols comprehensively, addressing potential threats proactively.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to improve platform and service security.
• Proficient in XSIAM principles, Palo Alto Networks’ Cortex platforms, and security automation.

If this feels like an exciting challenge, something you are enthusiastic about, and want to join our team please read on and apply!

Person Specification

Essential

• Understanding of security platform management (SIEM and SOAR).
• Understanding of enterprise-level monitoring and supporting large user bases.
• Knowledge of creating and managing security playbooks and of public sector security standards.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Proven understanding of Cortex XDR, Cortex Data Lake and Cortex XSOAR, or demonstrable experience with equivalent security platforms.
• Understanding of cloud security, network / system security fundamentals, and scripting for automation.
• Familiarity with compliance and security standards (GDPR, HIPAA and NIST).

Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for SC clearance.

We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring and do not discriminate based on culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor.

Our values are Purpose, Humanity Openness and Together. Find out more here about how we celebrate diversity and an inclusive culture in our workplace.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

Salary Information**

Base salary for this role is – National: £42,914 to £46,182. London - £49,325 to £53,081.

• New entrants to the Civil Service joining the MoJ are expected to start at the minimum of the pay band.
• Existing Civil Servants moving on a level transfer will retain their current base salary or move to the minimum of the pay band for the role, whichever is higher.
• Existing Civil Servants who are promoted will either move to the bottom of the new grade’s pay band or receive a 10% uplift, whichever provides the greater increase.
• Candidates may also be eligible for a non‑pensionable Government Digital & Data Allowance of up to £6725 per year (London) or £8761 (National). This is a temporary allowance, reviewed annually and may be retained, amended, or withdrawn.

The final offer will reflect the skills and experience you demonstrate during the assessment process.

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)

How to Apply

In Justice Digital, Data and Science, we recruit using a combination of the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability, Government Security Profession, and Success Profiles Frameworks. We shall assess a combination of your Experience, Technical skills and Behaviours during the assessment process.

Stage 1 - Application and sift:

To apply for this position, you must submit the following as part of your application:

• A CV detailing your career history (including any relevant qualifications). Your CV will be assessed against the essential criteria outlined within the Person Specification of this advert.
• A Personal Statement (no more than 750 words) which should outline your experience and skills, giving clear examples of work undertaken. It should specifically address the following criteria listed below, using a separate paragraph for each.
• Proven understanding with Cortex XDR, Cortex Data Lake, and Cortex XSOAR.
• Understanding with security platforms management (SIEM, SOAR).
• Knowledge in creating/managing security playbooks and knowledge of public sector standards.

A diverse sift panel will review the information in your CV and Personal Statement to assess the sift criteria specified above. We operate an anonymous shortlisting process. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement do not include your name or any other identifying details.

Should we receive a high volume of applications, a pre-sift based on the following criteria will be conducted before the sift -

• Proven understanding with Cortex XDR, Cortex Data Lake, and Cortex XSOAR.
• Understanding with security platforms management (SIEM, SOAR).

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply - Application Guidance

Stage 2 - Interviews:

Successful candidates who meet the required standard will then be invited to a panel interview held via Microsoft Teams. At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements - Experience, Technical Skills and the following Behaviours:

• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

Appointments are made strictly in merit order. In the event that two or more candidates receive identical interview scores, the ‘Understanding with security platforms management (SIEM, SOAR)’ criterion will be applied as the primary lead criterion to determine the final merit order.

Should you be unsuccessful in the role that you have applied for but demonstrate the capability for a role at a lower level, we reserve the right to discuss this opportunity with you and offer you the position without needing a further application.

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, from which further appointments may be made.

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