CDC 1st Line Cyber Apprentice

Cyber Security / Technology / Group Manchester Airport Fixed Term Contract leading to a permanent role, subject to completing the apprenticeship and meeting professional standards. Shifts will cover 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Competitive salary with annual increases throughout the apprenticeship.

Why MAG? At MAG we provide the airport facilities and travel services that people need to connect with the world. As the largest UK owned airport operator, we serve over 60 million passengers a year from Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands Airports. With over 270 destinations across the globe, our businesses not only bring people together but also support the prosperity of the regions in which we operate. We recognise creating a first‑class journey for our customers starts by creating a first‑class career journey for our colleagues and we are committed to creating environments in which our people can thrive.

You’ll also have access to some great benefits including:

• 6% company contribution pension
• 24 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Free parking
• Subsidised public transport
• Huge range of company discounts

The Role: This position is a 3‑year apprenticeship leading to a Level 6 qualification. On‑the‑job practical training will also be provided. This role will be based within the MAG Cyber Security Operations Centre, triaging, handling, escalating and responding to security alerts and incidents from IT systems within the MAG estate. This includes managing potential Cyber security incidents, liaising with MAG and third‑party technical resources. The Cyber Security Operations Apprentice role forms a key part of MAG’s last line of defence against Cyber security attacks which have the potential to massively impact MAG’s operations and could lead to substantial regulatory fines.

During the 3‑year programme, you will learn to be responsible for:

• Continuously monitoring internal infrastructure using Security Information Event Management tools and other technologies to detect security events, vulnerabilities, and unusual activity.
• Responding to and investigating security alerts, including phishing and malware incidents, escalating to relevant teams when necessary.
• Overseeing identity and access controls, ensuring appropriate use of permissions and detecting potential abuse by authorised users.
• Identifying system weaknesses and implementing protective measures such as firewalls, encryption, and intrusion prevention systems.
• Analysing intrusion attempts and malware using open‑source and vendor tools and preparing detailed reports and briefings on findings and methodologies.
• Creating and updating SIEM rules using appropriate coding languages to enhance threat detection capabilities.

What Will Make You Successful in This Role? Successful candidates will possess:

• Good knowledge of Information Systems and IT fundamentals, with the ability to apply analytical thinking to security requirements and controls.
• An awareness of data protection legislation including GDPR and the Data Protection Act, and how these apply to security governance.
• An understanding of information security principles, risk management practices, and technical countermeasures, including firewalls, encryption, and malware analysis is desirable.
• Effective communication and team working skills, with the ability to work across all levels of our business and maintain a strong customer/client focus.
• Innovative problem‑solving skills and the focus required to operate in a safety‑critical aviation environment.

Minimum Requirements: English