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Senior Cyber Platform Engineer

Department for Work and Pensions

Department
Department for Work and Pensions
Location
Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Glasgow, Blackpool, Newcastle
Openings
1 post
Grade
SEO
Salary
£44,447 to £46,547
Closing
12 days left
Profession
Engineering, Operational Delivery
Contract
Permanent
Security clearance
SC
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Apply on Civil Service Jobs

Job summary

We’re excited to offer an opportunity to join a high-performing team within the Cyber Resilience Centre, part of DWP Security and Data Protection.

This role plays a key part in helping to protect the Department’s systems and services. You’ll be part of a team that builds and supports tools and solutions that strengthen our cyber resilience and help keep DWP’s data and services secure.

You don’t need to be a hardcore coder – we’re looking for someone with a good understanding of software development and modern ways of working (like DevSecOps), who’s also interested in security and making a real difference. You’ll work on a variety of projects, contribute to our strategic goals, and help us stay ahead of emerging threats.

As part of the team, you’ll also support others by sharing your knowledge, mentoring junior colleagues, and helping to grow our capability. This is a great opportunity to develop your career in a supportive and forward-thinking environment.

If you’re passionate about technology, security and want to be part of the dream team– we’d love to hear from you.

What they’re looking for

  • We're looking for a motivated, adaptable team player with a technical background.
  • Ability to design and deliver secure, scalable, and low-maintenance solutions.
  • Curious and eager to learn new technologies and programming languages.
  • Skilled in troubleshooting and resolving complex issues across diverse tech stacks.
  • Comfortable working closely with customers and providing operational support.
  • Experience improving software systems in large, complex, and cross-functional environments.
  • Proven ability to design, build, and support software solutions that align with business goals and user needs.
  • You’ll have some experience in software development and an understanding of the software delivery lifecycle
  • You’ll be eager to build your knowledge of enterprise IT, cybersecurity, and how the internet works behind the scenes.
  • You’ll be interested in secure development practices and keen to explore DevSecOps tools and approaches.
  • You’ll be ready to get hands-on with Infrastructure and Configuration as Code.
  • You’ll have good familiarity with data platforms and databases, or a willingness to learn quickly
  • You’ll bring curiosity about data science and a basic understanding of its concepts.
  • You’ll have some exposure to AWS, Big Data, GitLab CI, Terraform, Docker
  • Willingness to occasionally work out of hours as part of a 24/7 critical service (with additional allowance).

Behaviours you’ll be assessed on

This advert says the panel will score you against these behaviours at SEO level. Each one links to worked examples.

Job description

You'll join the Cyber Resilience Centre, where you'll help design, build, test, and run security systems. These range from cloud-native cyber data science labs to enterprise data platforms and integrated solutions that protect one of the UK Government’s most complex and diverse IT estates.

You will be leading the way in architecting and managing scalable, cloud-native applications—often setting the direction and guiding others along the way. You're someone who thrives on solving complex incidents that span multiple technologies and infrastructure layers.

In this role, you’ll be trusted to take technical ownership of major projects, driving innovation and continuous improvement, while ensuring the whole team is engaged and aligned with your vision.

You’ll be hands-on across the full software stack—whether that’s writing new code, configuring applications, exploring emerging technologies, embedding new tools, integrating systems, triggering CI/CD pipelines, or working across data and infrastructure engineering.

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)

Selection process

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.

Further details on this are listed on the application form.

Application

Candidates will be required to provide a CV covering work history, achievements in role and qualifications. Additionally, a Personal Statement is required, demonstrating how you meet the Person Specification (listed in responsibilities section) for this role (maximum 1000 words).

The sift panel will use the information relating to your employment history (your CV) and your personal statement of suitability to assess your experience, skills and knowledge.

When giving details of your employment history, you should include details of the work that you have been involved in, outcomes, and your role therein.

All applications will be assessed and sifted based on the personal specification in the advert, using the information you provide in your completed application form.

The written sift will be conducted using evidence from your application form, CV and Personal Statement and will be assessed against the chosen key criteria within the advert.

Candidates who pass the initial Sift will be progressed to a full Sift or direct to interview.

Interview

Successful candidates will be invited to a interview where candidates will be assessed on Behaviours, Technical Skills & Experience.

We'll assess you against these Success Profiles at the interview stage:

Candidates will be asked to do a short (10-15 minutes) presentation on a specific topic. Further details will be provided to candidates invited to interview.

For these vacancies, we strongly recommend that applicants consult with an immigration specialist or qualified advisor to assess their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship before deciding to apply. Please note that while we consider sponsorship requests in accordance with current DWP guidance and Home Office policy, sponsorship cannot be guaranteed.

Sift should be completed by 9/10/26 and if invited to interview these would be w/c 19/10/26. These dates are subject to change.

Further Information​

At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:

  • If you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual Part Time Working Pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health).
  • If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.

Disability Confident Scheme

If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.

Reasonable Adjustments

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” 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.

Integrity, plagiarism and Civil Service Principles

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles.

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words.

Examples of plagiarism can include:

  • Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own
  • Copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own

Disclosure and Barring Service and Internal Fraud Database Checks

To process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service or Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check will be carried out.

Important

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

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. If you are a current employee and are successful you must be able to be released from your current post within four weeks.

Those on protected TUPE/ COSoP terms and conditions applying on promotion or voluntary permanent level move will adopt DWP’s Terms and Conditions and this may have a different impact on pay and allowances. Please review this prior to acceptance of a role.

Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing. Accepting a post will be taken to mean acceptance of revised terms & conditions.

Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.

Any move to DWP 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 the Childcare Choices Website.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Feedback

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