Army CyISOC Data Engineer

Job summary

The Army Cyber & Information Services Operations Centre (ACyISOC) operates and defends the Army’s Cyber Domain (ACD) ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Army’s systems, platforms and information in a dynamic digital battlespace to achieve cyber mission assurance and decision superiority.

The ACyISOC is evolving, expanding and recruiting a HEO Data Engineer. Your work will be an integral part of transforming the Army’s defensive cyber capability using state of the art tools, advanced analytics, and next generation technology, helping the Army protect its critical assets against its adversaries. We are looking for a team player with the attitude, aptitude and competencies to develop the data engineering function within the ACyISOC and make a difference.

This post may be eligible for a Digital Skills Allowance of up to £3,500 per annum. Eligibility for this allowance will be assessed at interview against the 4 core technical skills only and reviewed in line with departmental policy.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The ACyISOC data engineer role offers the opportunity to shape, develop and champion the data engineering function, making a tangible impact on the Army’s cyber resilience. You will contribute directly to the protection of the Army’s Cyber Domain (ACD) through the development, optimisation and implementation of data ingest pipelines in order to support the effective protective monitoring of the ACD. You will be responsible for parsing, transforming, and ingesting diverse log formats into a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tool.

You will be part of a dynamic, diverse team comprising Civil Servants, military personnel, and industry partners working collaboratively to reduce cyber risk and strengthen national defence. You will work efficiently across multiple systems, platforms and security classifications, operating at pace in a complex and dynamic environment. We offer training and professional development opportunities to equip you with the skills needed to excel and progress your career within the MoD and the digital, data and technology profession.

The MoD is committed to supporting your career growth while respecting your work-life balance through flexible working practices. You will gain a deeper understanding of the security challenges facing the ACD and contribute to protecting the UK’s Armed Forces from evolving threats. Occasional UK travel, primarily to Andover and Blandford will be required with minimal overnight stays.

Main Responsibilities:

• Contribute technical subject matter expertise to the data engineering function within ACyISOC.
• Design, build, maintain, and iteratively improve data ingestion and processing pipelines feeding SIEM platforms to support effective protective monitoring of the ACD.
• Develop and implement system contextualised data ingest pipelines, parsing and transforming diverse log formats such as but not limited to JavaScript Object Notation (JSON), Common Event Format (CEF), System Logging Protocol (Syslog),and Apache Avro.
• Understand, document and maintain pipeline designs, data standards, and operational runbooks to support ongoing operations and continuous improvement.
• Support the onboarding of new log sources by working with security and IT teams.
• Develop and optimise scripting such as Python to automate enrichment, alerting, and other data processing tasks.
• Collaborate cohesively with Army counterparts and wider Defence stakeholders to ensure a whole force approach to data engineering.
• Provide regular updates on progress and technical matters to the ACyISOC Cyber Engineering Manager.
• Embody a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and self-development within the ACyISOC.

Person specification

Essential Skills & Experience Required:

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders across government, Defence, and industry.
• A proactive team player capable of working independently to deliver robust data engineering solutions that support operational and strategic objectives is required.
• Experience in data engineering or a related development role.
• Proven hands on experience with Elastic SIEM components (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana).
• Experience working with log formats such as JSON, CEF, Syslog, and Avro.
• Experience with designing and optimising data flows.
• Ability to prioritise work independently and contribute proactively.

Desirable Skills & Experience:

• Experience with Apache NiFi data flow design and management.
• Knowledge of containerisation tools such as Kubernetes.
• Experience scaling and tuning Elasticsearch clusters.
• Familiarity with Windows event logging and syslog collectors.
• Good understanding of Linux system administration and network protocols.
• Experience working within a Defence environment.
• Proficiency in Python for data processing, enrichment, and automation.

Learning & Development Opportunities:
Relevant training and professional development is available to enhance and support data engineering and cyber security skills. This may include formal qualifications, vendor certifications, and membership of professional bodies. The MoD is committed to providing ongoing learning opportunities to support career progression within the Government Security Profession and wider Defence community.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Developing Self and Others
• Delivering at Pace
• Leadership
• Working Together

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Data development process
• Data modelling
• Programming and build (data and analytics engineering)
• Technical understanding

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Highly competitive pension scheme
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development

We believe that everyone has the potential to make a difference and you will be supported to help you learn and advance in your career. This includes working towards membership of a professional body and/or undertaking a modern apprenticeship as part of your role.

A modern apprenticeship is a combined package of work and training. Through the schemes available you will gain a professional qualification, practical experience, and the broader skills required to develop in your current role and pave the way for your future career.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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

At application stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Your CV
• Personal Statement - of no more than 500 words detailing how you meet the essential skills criteria
• Behaviour - Changing & Improving
• Behaviour - Delivering at Pace

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift will be conducted based on the evidence you provide in support of Delivering at Pace.

The remaining elements will only be reviewed if you are successful at this initial sift.

At interview stage you will be assessed against the following:

• Behaviour - Leadership
• Behaviour - Working Together
• Behaviour - Developing Self and Others
• Technical - Data engineer - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework
  • Data development process
  • Data modelling
  • Programming and build (data and analytics engineering)
  • Technical understanding

Application sifting will be scheduled to take place within 7 days of the application closing date. Interview dates are to be confirmed and will be held in person. We endeavour to keep to these time frames, but these are subject to change around business needs.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Mr Andrew Wilson
• Email : andrew.wilson330@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

Data engineer - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework Opens in new window (pdf, 392kB)ARMY Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 273kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)