NCSC Cyber Physical AI Researcher in Manchester

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 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 puts the emphasis on teamwork. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, is the UK Government’s lead authority on cyber security. The organisation is at the heart of the Government’s cyber security strategy and aims to make the UK the safest place to live and work online.

The role

As an AI Specialist within the Cyber Physical Systems team, you play a key role in strengthening the security and resilience of technologies that underpin everyday life across the UK. These systems range from industrial control systems to operational technology and are embedded within Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), including the energy, water and transport sectors, as well as within defence and wider society. You'll work alongside other specialists from across the organisation, bringing together expertise in system architecture, telecommunications, RF security, socio-technical design and secure technologies. By collaborating across these disciplines, the team takes a holistic approach to strengthening the robustness and trustworthiness of digital systems.

In this role, you'll help advance our understanding of the security and resilience of cyber-physical systems, with a particular focus on AI. Your work will involve exploring how AI can be used to strengthen the resilience of cyber-physical systems; understanding how it could be used to threaten or compromise them, and identifying the security measures needed to use AI safely and securely within cyber-physical environments.

As you build your expertise in both current and emerging cyber-physical technologies, you'll develop an understanding of the security and resilience challenges they face. This knowledge will be combined with data science concepts and techniques used across Critical National Infrastructure (CNI).

Working closely with colleagues and partners across the NCSC, industry operators, technology suppliers, government bodies and international partners, you'll contribute to a broad range of research and security challenges. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the secure use of AI within the critical systems and infrastructure that society relies on every day.

About you

We're looking for people who bring existing skills or experience in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Information Assurance (IA), or related technology disciplines. You may have gained this expertise through academic study, professional experience, or a combination of both. Your background may include a qualification in a STEM subject such as cyber security, computer science, engineering, mathematics, or a related field. We also welcome applications from those without a STEM qualification who have developed relevant technical expertise through their professional experience and are curious, enjoy tackling complex challenges, and are motivated to deepen their understanding of technology.

Whether through academic study, professional experience, or an engineering apprenticeship, you'll have developed a solid technical foundation and the ability to apply your knowledge in practice. You'll be comfortable analysing complex problems, identifying appropriate solutions, and applying sound judgement to achieve effective outcomes. Above all, you'll be enthusiastic about learning, collaborating with others, and contributing to the secure and resilient use of AI within the systems that underpin everyday life in the UK.

GCHQ Competencies

As part of the selection process, the NCSC will assess you using competencies aligned with those used across the UK Intelligence Community. These are closely based on the Civil Service Behaviours, so if you're familiar with those, you're already on the right track. At Level 3, we'll be looking at how you demonstrate the following:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Continuously Developing
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Collaboratively
• Making Effective Decisions

Further information on Civil Service Behaviours

Rewards and benefits

At NCSC and GCHQ, we are proud of our inclusive and supportive working environment, which is designed to encourage open minds and attitudes. As organisations that value and nurture talent, we are committed to helping you fulfil your potential. With comprehensive training and development opportunities, tailored to your needs and the requirements of your work, we will enable you to flourish in your role and perform to the very best of your abilities.

You'll receive a starting salary of £45,841, including a concessionary payment of £2,758. This role attracts a skills payment, for which you will be evaluated during the interview. The criteria for the skills assessment will be provided when you are invited to interview. If you qualify for a skills payment following assessment, payments start at £4,738.

Other benefits include:

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

Equal opportunities

At GCHQ 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.

Disability Confident

GCHQ 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. As a Disability Confident Leader, we aim to ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who best meet the essential minimum criteria for this position are offered an interview, where it is practical for us to do so. This is known as Offer of an Interview.

To secure an interview for this role under the scheme, you must meet the following minimum criteria:

• 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.
• The following criteria will be assessed during the sift stage:
• Demonstrate curiosity, problem solving and an interest in understanding how technology works
• Demonstrate proficiency in applying Artificial Intelligence (AI), Information Assurance (IA), or technology-related skills to achieve effective outcomes

What to expect

Initial online application. Online Situational Judgement Test (SJT) in which you rate the appropriateness of responses to a series of short scenarios. Application sift. Online Interview, during which you'll be assessed against the relevant competencies and, where applicable, for eligibility for a skills payment. If successful, you'll receive a conditional offer of employment.

Please note that you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 to 9 months to process, including vetting, so we advise you to continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.

Before you apply

To work at NCSC, you must be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It's something undertaken by everyone in the UK Intelligence Community.

Please note we have a strict drugs policy. Once you start your application, you must not take any recreational drugs, and you'll be required to declare any previous drug usage at the relevant stage.

Before you apply, we recommend setting up a separate email address for correspondence regarding your application. This will help ensure that your personal and application-related communications remain separate.

The role is based in Manchester, so you'll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practical arrangements 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.

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 before submitting an application. Applications submitted from outside the UK may affect our ability to progress your application.

The closing date for this role is: 24th August 2026 at 23:55.

Right to withdraw statement: Please be aware that we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date for this role once a certain number of applications has been received. We therefore encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment.