NCSC AI Security Architect

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 youll 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 Governments lead authority on cyber security. The organisation is at the heart of the Governments cyber security strategy aims to make the UK the safest place to live and work online.

At the NCSC, an AI Security Architect plays a key role, leading a wide-ranging portfolio that spans strategic programmes, security research, and cutting-edge architectural design. Youll collaborate with leading experts across government, industry, and academia to tackle complex security challenges and deliver impactful advice to our users. The role places you at the forefront of shaping secure adoption of emerging technologiesespecially Artificial Intelligencewhile directly supporting critical national outcomes.

The role

In this role, the focus will be on researching how to design secure architectures and systems around AI, rather than building or securing models directly. Close collaboration is expected with teams researching core GenAI security, as well as those examining broader socio-technical considerations and supporting capabilities.

Assessing how AI technologies can be integrated into both existing and emerging architectural models is a key aspect of the role. This includes working with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, Google and GCP, as well as areas like identity and access management, AI agents, and hybrid cloud environments. Responsibilities also include contributing to the development and evaluation of secure frameworks, tools and architectures, and supporting the development of NCSC guidance on the safe adoption of GenAI.

This work provides an opportunity to further develop expertise as a security architect while contributing to a wider range of AI and broader architectural initiatives.

About you

Your experience spans designing and building a range of systems and services, or providing expert technical advice, together with the ability to apply specialist security capabilities to real-world challenges. This is underpinned by a solid understanding of how technological vulnerabilities arise, how they are discovered and how they may be exploited. Experience in developing or supporting systems using modern technologies, including cloud services and AI, is also valued. Alongside this, a broad background across a variety of technologies is expected, complemented by a deeper expertise in an area of particular personal interest.

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 youre familiar with those, youre already on the right track.

At Level 3, well be looking at how you demonstrate the following:

Driving Innovation and Change (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Changing and Improving)

Communicating and Influencing (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Communicating and Influencing)

Working Collaboratively (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Working Together)

Delivering Outcomes (Civil Service Behaviour Equivalent: Delivering at Pace)

Further information on Civil Service Behaviours

Training and development

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