Senior Cyber Platform Engineer

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, tests and supports tools and solutions that strengthen our cyber resilience and help keep DWP’s data and services secure.

We’re looking for a software engineer with a special interest in testing, quality engineering and continuous improvement. You’ll work across a variety of projects, helping to test and assure resilient digital services while staying ahead of emerging threats and evolving technology challenges.

A core part of the role will involve ensuring the solutions we develop are secure and fit for purpose. This includes designing and executing structured tests, implementing effective test strategies, identifying defects and vulnerabilities, and evaluating products against functional, non functional and security requirements.

We’re looking for someone who can apply a systematic approach to testing and assures quality, resilience and security throughout the software delivery lifecycle. You’ll define test coverage and ensure issues are identified early in the development process.

A curious mindset is essential. We want people who enjoy understanding products at a deep technical level, exploring edge cases and uncovering issues others may overlook. You’ll use a mixture of testing approaches to assess how systems behave under different conditions and user scenarios.

Run integration testing, security testing, performance testing, CI/CD pipelines and cloud deployments.

As part of the senior team, you’ll also share knowledge, mentor junior colleagues and contribute to the growth of our testing and quality engineering capability.

This is a great opportunity to develop your career in a supportive, forward thinking and mission driven environment.

If you’re passionate about technology, security, technical testing and building resilient digital services, and want to be part of the dream team, we’d love to hear from you.

Job description

You’ll join the Cyber Resilience Centre, where you'll help develop, 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 building and managing scalable, cloud native applications, often setting direction and guiding others along the way.

We’re particularly interested in people with a strong interest in technical testing, quality engineering and test driven development, who enjoy understanding products deeply across multiple technologies and infrastructure layers. In this role, you’ll be trusted to take technical ownership of major projects, embedding effective test strategies and increasing automation and quality engineering practices throughout the software delivery lifecycle. You’ll help evaluate products and technical controls, improve resilience and reliability, and ensure services are secure and fit for purpose. You’ll be hands on across the full stack, whether that’s writing new code, configuring applications, designing and executing structured tests, developing automated solutions, exploring emerging technologies, integrating systems, triggering CI/CD pipelines, or working across data and infrastructure engineering.

Person specification

We’re looking for a motivated, adaptable team player with a strong technical background and a real interest in testing, quality engineering and secure software delivery.

You’ll be able to design, implement and improve test strategies that help assure secure, scalable and low maintenance solutions across complex environments.

You’ll bring a systematic and analytical approach to testing, with the curiosity to understand products deeply, explore edge cases, challenge assumptions and identify defects, vulnerabilities and failure scenarios early.

You’ll be comfortable designing and executing structured tests across functional, non functional, API, integration, security, performance and resilience testing.

You’ll role model by improving test coverage and helping ensure that quality is built in from the start rather than added at the end.

You’ll be skilled in troubleshooting and resolving complex issues across diverse technology stacks, using evidence, logs, metrics and root cause analysis to understand what has failed and why.

You’ll be confident evaluating products, platforms and technical controls against user needs, business goals, security requirements and operational standards.

You’ll be comfortable working closely with engineers, customers and operational teams, providing technical support and helping services remain reliable, secure and fit for purpose.

You’ll have deep experience in software development, including agile delivery, DevSecOps and modern engineering practices.

You’ll have a developing knowledge of enterprise IT, cybersecurity and how internet scale services work behind the scenes, with the curiosity and drive to keep building your expertise.

You’ll be interested in secure development practices and keen to explore tools and approaches that improve testing, automation, assurance and delivery confidence.

You’ll be ready to get hands on with Infrastructure as Code and Configuration as Code, helping to test and assure environments as well as applications.

You’ll have good familiarity with data platforms and databases, or a willingness to learn quickly, and be able to use data to support testing, investigation and decision making.

You’ll bring curiosity about data science and demonstrate an understanding of its concepts, particularly where it can help improve detection, analysis and quality.

Your tools of the trade include Mac, AWS, Big Data Platforms, GitLab, Terraform, Python, Docker and Claude Code and loads more!

You’ll be willing to occasionally work out of hours as part of a 24/7 critical service, with an additional allowance.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• Secure Development
• Technical Testing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,946, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £16,786 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

DWP Employee Benefits: Discover what we offer

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

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.

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 500 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 video interview where candidates will be assessed on Behaviours, Technical Skills & Experience.

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

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical Skills:

• Secure Development
• Technical Testing

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 and Interview dates in the candidate pack.

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.

Offers of employment: Following the interview stage, should you not reach the required standard for the advertised G7 role, we may be able to offer you a role which would be a grade below the advertised post under our “Near Miss” process. Any candidates falling into this category will be contacted once the interview results have been released. You will be asked to indicate if you are interested when completing your application.

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, Civil Service Principles and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/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

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

Applicants are required to meet the UK residency requirements so that National Security Vetting (NSV) checks can be conducted. DV Developed at least 7 of the last 10 years, 2 of which must have been the immediately preceding years from the point of applying for this job.

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.

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 developed vetting (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

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)

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 : William Wilson
• Email : william.wilson@dwp.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: HR.BUSINESSASSURANCE@DWP.GOV.UK.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Candidate Pack Jun 2026 technical test engineer Opens in new window (odp, 6957kB)DWP Terms and Conditions January 2024 Opens in new window (docx, 17kB)Success-Profiles-Candidate-Overview Opens in new window (pdf, 635kB)