Evaluation Engineer – UK NACE

Based at Hanslope Park, near Milton Keynes, with some travel across the UK, and with the flexibility of hybrid working depending on business need

Free onsite parking, and free shuttle bus to and from the centre of Milton Keynes

You’re a strong communicator. A great team player with experience working in a small team. And you’ve got an inquisitive mind, with a keen interest in electronics and technology, and figuring out how they work. So, have you ever considered taking your career to a global level?

The UK National Authority for Counter Eavesdropping (UK NACE) protects national security by providing Technical Security expertise to the UK government, friendly foreign governments and the critical national infrastructure (CNI). We also provide leadership for the technical security profession across government. In the past year we have played a key role at both the G7 and COP26 summits, enabling ministers and senior officials to negotiate effectively whilst away from Whitehall. UK NACE is part of FCDO Services and works in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to protect our critical assets in Embassies overseas. 

Predominately based at our Milton Keynes estate, we require passionate and driven individuals to develop new technical security technologies and techniques, in order to maintain UK NACE’s expertise in the security field. 

Now, we’re looking for curious people to join the Research Development and Evaluation team to support their work researching, developing and evaluating tools and technologies that either threaten UK assets or help defend against technical espionage threats and attacks.

Facilitate the development of products that protect the UK

As an Evaluation Engineer, you’ll be responsible for any of the following; driving forward bespoke research projects (vocational or academic based), designing and prototyping hardware or equipment, or evaluating existing technological solutions, to help us adapt, exploit and enhance products to meet the user requirements and progress the technical development for UK NACE. The products you work on could vary significantly and are often industry leading or completely bespoke solutions. Projects may be tech related, software or hardware, and could include everything from, robotics, tracking equipment, WIFI/LIFI borne technologies to bespoke transmitting technologies and thermal imagery.

In this vital role, you’ll work closely with the Lead Researchers, to test and compare the capability of multiple products and evaluate how they can be improved. You’ll take products apart to understand how they work and find weaknesses that can be exploited so that you can create solutions. You’ll then create reports and recommendations of your findings and facilitate the next steps. 

Write reports, create prototypes and contribute to the improvement of our service

You’ll produce written outputs or prototype products of all kinds, including evaluation reports, user manuals, and installation guides, so you’ll benefit from experience writing technical submissions and documents. And you’ll use your expertise to coach and share knowledge with your colleagues, ensuring they’re compliant with policies and processes. Plus, you’ll be confident communicating to different teams, internally and externally, to acquire and deploy necessary resources. 

Every day will be different. Whether you’re testing products to ensure they meet security specification or expanding our testing regime to cover potential installation issues, you’ll enjoy varied, interesting work. So you’ll continue to be curious, maintaining your own professional development in the latest technologies and best practice to support and grow the business. 

Take your skills and career to new heights

When you join us, you’ll be contributing to protecting the nation’s interests at home and overseas. In return you’ll receive a competitive salary, 25 days’ annual leave and an excellent Civil Service pension. You’ll also have access to a wide range of training and development opportunities. This could include the opportunity to further your education through the business and to work with industry leading individuals to expand your experience. Depending on business need, we may in some circumstances offer hybrid working between the office and home. And while on-site, you’ll have access to an on-site gym, nursery, canteen, and we offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. Above all else, you’ll feel pride in doing work that helps us protect people, information and assets here and overseas. 

Every single colleague must be security cleared before joining us. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. You can find out more about vetting on our website: https://www.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/

Learn more and apply

Want to discover more about UK NACE? Visit fcdoservices.gov.uk/uk-nace/ or follow us on LinkedIn by searching ‘UK NACE’.

As we’re part of FCDO Services, you’ll be directed to the FCDO Services careers page to apply: FCOS Careers Current jobs (fcdoservicescareers.co.uk)

Closing date: Midnight 17th October 2023.

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world

The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues, with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And why we’re recognised as a ‘Carer Confident’ workplace. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.