Operational Cyber Engineer - Manchester - National Security West

Location(s): UK, Europe & Africa : UK : Manchester 

BAE Systems Digital Intelligence is home to 4,500 digital, cyber and intelligence experts. We work collaboratively across 10 countries to collect, connect and understand complex data, so that governments, nation states, armed forces and commercial businesses can unlock digital advantage in the most demanding environments.

Early Careers Operational Cyber Software Engineer

Job Title: Operational Cyber Software Engineer – Early Careers

Job City: Gloucester, Manchester, London

Professional Area: Engineering – Software

Grade: GG08

Operational Cyber Group is home to industry‑leading specialists in high‑assurance software development, research, reverse engineering, and vulnerability research. Focused on National Security, we tackle some of the UK’s toughest and most meaningful technical challenges. Our teams deliver mission‑changing capability across a wide range of platforms and technologies.

We are looking for Early Careers Software Engineers —graduates, career‑changers, or those with emerging experience—who are excited to apply strong technical skills, creative thinking and problem-solving in the ever‑evolving space of cybersecurity. You don’t need prior experience in cyber or defence: your success will be supported through training and mentorship.

Role Description

• Technical delivery: apply modern development practices to build secure, reliable solutions for our customers.
• Implementing robust solutions: design, develop, test, and document software in accordance with business & industry best practices, to meet our customer requirements, leveraging continuous integration where appropriate.
• Adaptability: work with a range of languages, tools, and technologies to support real‑world missions, including exploring and learning to use emerging languages and technologies.
• Collaboration: work alongside experienced engineers to deliver high-assurance code, taking part in peer reviews and technical discussions.

What We’re Looking For

We do not expect you to have mastered everything listed below—if you believe that your skillset lies in low‑level software engineering, exploit development, or complex problem‑solving through programming, we want to hear from you.

• Familiarity with a variety development tools (IDEs, debuggers, or version control) and techniques (unit testing, mocking, continuous integration, test-driven development).
• Understanding of computing principles (e.g. stack/heap distinction, compiled/interpreted languages).
• Proficiency with at least one solution language (e.g. C++, Java, C#) and one utility language (e.g. Python, JavaScript, Perl, PowerShell).
• Understanding of the internals of at least one major operating system.
• Ability to pick up new languages and technologies quickly.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively, including with people from non‑technical backgrounds.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work: you will be addressing the most critical cyber needs of governments and businesses across the globe, with a meaningful and tangible impact on UK National Security.
• Flexible Working: we offer flexible hours, part‑time options, and a minimum of 25 days’ holiday per year.
• Benefits Package: private medical and dental insurance, competitive pension scheme, cycle‑to‑work scheme, discount cards, childcare vouchers, and more.
• Supportive Community: we are inclusive and friendly team, committed to helping each other learn and succeed. We have active Diversity & Support groups focusing on wellbeing, neurodiversity, mental health, and more.
• Clear Career Progression: with structured progression pathways, mentorship, and training throughout your career, your growth is supported from day one.

Security Requirements

Please be aware that this role is subject to security restrictions. We do not expect you to have a security clearance before applying, but you will need to be eligible to work in the UK and be able to successfully achieve an eDV UK security clearance. For more details see . Our recruiters are happy to explain the process in more detail.

Why BAE Systems Digital Intelligence?

BAE Systems Digital Intelligence is home to 4,500 digital, cyber and intelligence experts. We work collaboratively across 10 countries to collect, connect and understand complex data, so that governments, nation states, armed forces and commercial businesses can unlock digital advantage in the most demanding environments.

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Life at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence 

We are embracing Hybrid Working. This means you and your colleagues may be working in different locations, such as from home, another BAE Systems office or client site, some or all of the time, and work might be going on at different times of the day.

By embracing technology, we can interact, collaborate and create together, even when we’re working remotely from one another. Hybrid Working allows for increased flexibility in when and where we work, helping us to balance our work and personal life more effectively, and enhance well-being.

Diversity and inclusion are integral to the success of BAE Systems Digital Intelligence. We are proud to have an organisational culture where employees with varying perspectives, skills, life experiences and backgrounds – the best and brightest minds – can work together to achieve excellence and realise individual and organisational potential. 

Division overview: Capabilities

At BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, we pride ourselves in being a leader in the cyber defence industry, and Capabilities is the engine that keeps the business moving forward. It is the largest area of Digital Intelligence, containing our Engineering, Consulting and Project Management teams that design and implement the defence solutions and digital transformation projects that make us a globally recognised brand in both the public and private sector.

As a member of the Capabilities team, you will be creating and managing the solutions that earn us our place in an ever changing digital world. We all have a role to play in defending our clients, and this is yours.