Experience with real-world systems is essential, identifying and solving security issues, alongside a solid understanding of core security principles such as Secure by Design. You'll have applied techniques such as threat modelling, vulnerability assessment or security testing, and be confident thinking critically about how systems can be exploited and secured.

You communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders and are comfortable working collaboratively to resolve issues. Curious and pragmatic, you’re motivated to keep learning and apply your expertise to complex, high-impact challenges.

Training and development

From the moment you join, you’ll be supported to develop your expertise in cyber security through a blend of hands-on experience and structured learning. You’ll work closely with experienced colleagues across a range of security challenges, gaining exposure to different systems, tools and approaches.

A wide range of development opportunities is available, including on-demand learning platforms, virtual cyber ranges and formal training aligned to your role. There is also support available to achieve industry-recognised certifications, such as SANS (The Sans Institute), GIAC (Global Information Assurance Certification), CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional Qualification) or Offensive Security qualifications, alongside opportunities to attend UK-based and international security conferences.

As you grow in the role, you’ll take on increasingly detailed work, building both technical depth and influence, with the support of your team, mentoring opportunities and exposure to real-world threat intelligence.

Rewards and benefits

You’ll receive a starting salary from £64,005 to £66,332, depending on location, plus other benefits including:

• 25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays
• opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
• dedicated development budget
• interest-free season ticket loan
• excellent pension scheme
• cycle to work scheme
• facilities such as a gym, restaurant, and on-site coffee bars (at some locations)
• paid parental and adoption leave

Equal opportunities

At MI5 diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.

Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website.

We’re Disability Confident

MI5 is proud to have achieved Leader status within the Department for Work and Pensions Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain, and develop disabled people. Being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a fair and proportionate number of person-to-person interviews to any candidate who self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role. This is our ‘Offer of Interview’ (OOI). To secure an interview for this vacancy, the essential criteria (in order of application process) are:

• You'll be required to reach the minimum pass mark for the online Situational Judgement Test (SJT), which assesses criteria important for all roles in our organisation
• Demonstrate practical familiarity in a security-focused role – to be assessed at application sift
• Demonstrate the ability to identify and solve real-world security issues including applying threat modelling, vulnerability assessment, or security testing, and a solid understanding of Secure by Design principles – to be assessed at application sift

There is a wide range of extra support available throughout the recruitment process to enable you to do your best, see our website for information on reasonable adjustments we can offer.

Before you apply

To work at MI5, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. Read about our eligibility criteria. (Penna link to appropriate website Eligibility sections)

This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. Find out more about the vetting process. (PENNA link to org website vetting page).

Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.

Before you apply, we advise you to consider setting up a separate email address for your contact with us, to ensure your personal and application correspondence remain separate. Try to avoid having identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surname and date of birth. This is good practice and will help you manage your application with us more discretely.

The role is based in London or Greater Manchester so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application, as we do not offer relocation costs.

We offer reasonable reimbursement of travel costs for candidates attending in-person appointments during the recruitment and vetting process. Full details will be provided with your interview or assessment invitation.

Reimbursement is discretionary and will only be made in line with the Candidate Expenses Policy, as amended from time to time. Candidates must book their own travel, using the most economical option, and provide original hardcopy receipts for reimbursement.

Please note, you should only launch your application from within the UK. If you are based overseas, you should wait until you visit the UK to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.