Important information about this opportunity

This role is part of a dedicated partnership where STEM Returners is supporting the hiring of full-time Senior Software Engineers into the client’s Returnship Programme.

Unlike our standard 12-week returner programme model, this opportunity follows a different process and leads directly to a permanent role with the organisation.

The process will be as follows:

1. Submit an expression of interest through STEM Returners
2. Take part in an initial STEM Returners screening call
3. If suitable, complete a full job application with support from a STEM Returners career coach
4. Applications are reviewed by the client
5. Selected candidates are invited to interview
6. STEM Returners provides interview preparation support and coaching
7. Following the interview, the recruitment process continues directly with the client

Please note:

• This is not a 12-week placement programme
• Roles are full time positions within the client’s Returnship Programme
• STEM Returners’ direct support concludes after the interview stage

Key eligibility requirements

• To work at GCHQ, you must be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. Read the full eligibility criteria 
• This role requires the highest level of security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes.  Find out more about the vetting process.
• Please note, GCHQ have a strict drugs policy. Once you start your application, you must not take any recreational drugs, and you’ll need to declare any previous drug usage at the relevant stage. 

About GCHQ

GCHQ is an intelligence, cyber, and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe. We use cutting-edge technology, ingenuity, and partnerships to identify, analyse, and disrupt threats. Working with our intelligence partners, MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from terrorism, cyber-attacks, and espionage.  At GCHQ, you’ll do varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that emphasises teamwork.

The role

As a Senior Software Engineer, you’ll play a pivotal role in solving mission-critical challenges. You’ll contribute to the architecture and design of both new and existing systems, establish and promote best practices, and deliver high-quality software solutions. Drawing on your expertise in various software engineering methodologies, you’ll introduce fresh ideas and innovative approaches that make a real impact at the core of our mission: keeping the UK safe, both in the real world and online.

This is a practical, impact-driven role with plenty of opportunities to develop yourself and others. You’ll review pull requests, define code review, branching, and deployment strategies, and work across a variety of software engineering frameworks. Operating at a deep technical level, you’ll apply your expertise in languages such as JavaScript, Java, C++, Node.js, Python, Rust, Go, and .NET.

You’ll bring a genuine enthusiasm for discovering and applying new software engineering techniques. As part of a wider network of peers, you’ll collaborate and learn from others. With your experience, you’ll set the standard, introduce innovative ways of working, and identify new priorities.

Whether leading and mentoring a team or acting as the technical expert within a high-performing group, you’ll apply your knowledge of diverse methodologies to deliver impactful solutions. You’ll engage confidently with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, making a real positive contribution to the wider engineering community.

About you

As a Senior Software Engineer, you’ll bring expertise in modern programming languages and frameworks such as C++, Golang, Java, JavaScript, .NET, Node.js, Python, Rust, along with experience working with cloud platforms AWS, Azure, GCP. You’ll have successfully led Agile project teams, evaluated customer business requirements, and delivered high-quality software solutions that make a real impact.

Strategic and self-driven, you’ll serve as a bridge between teams, communicating technical information with clarity and confidence. You’ll thrive in a fast-paced, innovative environment where creativity is key to solving complex and unprecedented challenges.

We welcome experienced professionals from a variety of related fields, including software engineering and security, site reliability engineering, and data engineering. Your genuine enthusiasm for software engineering, combined with your ability to mentor others, collaborate effectively, and stay ahead of emerging technologies, makes you a valuable contributor to a forward-thinking engineering community.