Infrastructure Engineer (Identity Access Management) in Manchester

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About us

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 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.

Salary £44,404, including a concessionary payment of £2,658. You may also qualify for a skills payment ranging from £4,513 to £9,812 and a recruitment bonus of £3,500, both dependent on technical ability and successful assessment during the interview process.

The role

As an Infrastructure Engineer within Identity and Access Management, you’ll join a technically specialised capability that underpins secure access across the UK’s security services. Working across a wide range of systems and environments, the position ensures identity and access services remain stable, secure and compliant. This work supports both national and international partners, safeguarding the integrity of mission‑critical systems.

In this technical role, you will be part of one or more product teams delivering and running identity services, supporting large and complex strategic programmes across the intelligence community. Responsibilities include:

• Acting as a product Subject Matter Expert (SME) working with stakeholders with a focus on maintaining existing capabilities and developing new ones for future initiatives.
• Day‑to‑day work covers identity operations, incident resolution and dealing with service requests across multiple platforms and technologies.
• Active participation in product development and roadmap planning ensures alignment with key initiatives and platform improvements.
• Collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen access management and maintain compliance and reliability.
• Knowledge sharing, including mentoring and training to promote secure access practices and technical excellence.

Occasional travel to Cheltenham and London will be required, with some limited opportunities for international travel.

About you

You’ll bring technical knowledge and practical experience in identity and access management, supported by a solid infrastructure background in either Windows or Linux environments. The role requires confidence in working with core identity technologies and security components such as directory services, public key infrastructure, identity providers, authentication mechanisms and privileged access solutions, ensuring robust and secure access across complex environments.

Comfort with solving complex problems and communicating technical concepts to a wide range of stakeholders, including senior leaders and non‑specialist users, is essential. Experience working across geographically dispersed teams is also important, as the role demands balancing operational support with strategic delivery. Initiative, knowledge sharing and a positive contribution to team culture are key in a high‑trust, mission‑critical environment.

Learning and development

From day one, you’ll be supported by a structured induction and a tailored development plan designed to help you grow into the role. Bringing your experience in identity and access management, you’ll enhance your skills through advanced training, formal learning and opportunities to share knowledge with peers.

• Technical delivery – gaining practical experience and guidance from experienced mentors
• Professional development – pursuing certifications from Microsoft, Linux, CyberArk and more
• Collaboration – engaging with colleagues across teams and participating in cross‑organisational initiatives
• Continuous learning – accessing workshops, reading groups, internal conferences and recognition schemes

As your expertise grows, there are opportunities to take on more responsibility, whether through technical leadership, mentoring or wider engagement across the organisation. Our culture champions autonomy, collaboration and continuous learning.

Benefits

You will enjoy 25 days annual leave, rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, alongside 8 bank holidays and 2.5 additional leave days (set dates throughout the year). We also offer a competitive pension, with employer contributions of at least 28.97%, an interest‑free season ticket loan and more.