UK Ministry of Defence
Army CyISOC Data Engineer
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North Colerne, SN14 8QY
We are passionate about Smarter Working and believe that a combination of flexible working practices, digital technology, and modern workspaces will give you the opportunity to enjoy a healthy work-life balance, while ensuring you deliver your outcomes effectively and efficiently – we expect you to know where to be to have the most impact, balancing your individual needs with that of your team and the organisation. However, recognising the benefits of face-to-face working, especially for new joiners, there is an expectation that you would be in the office at least 60% of the time (3 days a week).
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.
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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
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
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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.
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
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