Apprentice - Software (Development & Testing) Ref. 611

Apprentices
Starting salary of £18,296 with annual increases

HMGCC has unique and exciting opportunities for Software Apprentices to join our growing cyber team. You will have the opportunity to work with the latest technology and equipment and you'll be working with software developers and cyber engineers who are amongst the best in their field. You will gain a solid foundation of software development and testing skills on which to build your future career.

What makes HMGCC different is that you'll have the opportunity to get involved in the whole process. You'll learn new skills and gain experience in a range of computer languages and IT systems whilst working with a variety of customers and systems engineers. We'll give you the opportunity to get creative, write and test code and help you to develop the necessary skills to get the work done, and deliver awesome software and cyber capability.

As a Software Apprentice, you will complete a two-and-a-half-year development programme towards the Apprenticeship Standard for the Level 4 Software Developer.

Your Technical Skills

The minimum technical skills and qualifications we need you to already have:

• A Level 3 Software Development Apprenticeship or an equivalent qualification, such as A Level in Computing or Maths
OR
• A BTEC National in Computing or an equivalent qualification

Your Personal Skills

To work as an HMGCC Software apprentice you will be the type of person who:

Behaves with integrity: you will be professional, honest and reliable
Wants to make a difference: you will want to add value to our organisation by delivering the best possible service, even when you're faced with a challenge
Can work in a team: you will be keen to cooperate, collaborate, support and respect your team members to ensure you understand and can achieve our goals
Is creative: you will be passionate about technology and eager to develop your own skills and knowledge to produce accurate, detailed work. You will have an aptitude for logical reasoning and problem solving

The Scheme

In the first year there is a 3 month accelerated academic training block at the start of the programme with face-to­ face learning delivered off-the-job. This allows you to build a solid foundation of practical skills and knowledge of technical programming. The remainder of your training is based on blended learning through online modules, mentored on-the-job work placements and customer projects. We also fund your membership with a professional organisation such as the British Computer Society.

Your apprenticeship programme will ensure you gain both the breadth and depth of experience you need to become a vital part of our future. We will offer you a positive and creative environment to work in and give you all of the tools and training to develop and be the best that you can be.

On successful completion of your apprenticeship, you will begin your career working at HMGCC as a Software Technician within the Development or Test & Evaluation Teams. We will continue to invest and develop your skills and knowledge in our organisation where the opportunities to progress are boundless if you have the potential and ambition.

As you progress through the scheme your salary will be reviewed, and will increase annually, if you are performing as expected throughout the course.

Scheme Qualifications

You will complete your apprenticeship with a nationally accredited apprenticeship Level 4 Software Developer. But your development doesn't stop there: you may still have the opportunity to continue your development towards a higher level, such as a degree apprenticeship.

Your Career

Here's a flavour of the types of thing you could be doing once you've achieved your apprenticeship:

The Software Development Team: You'll create user-friendly 'Apps' that make sure our customers can communicate securely: this could be via desktop, laptop, mobile phone or tablets. You'll be involved in creating and developing new products and will have the opportunity to research next generation telecoms and cyber technologies. You'll work with the cyber security team to spot and correct weaknesses in existing products and ensure new products are secure by design. You'll provide practical guidance and tools to help our customers make the best use of our products.

The Software Test and Evaluation Team: You'll be responsible for ensuring that HMGCC's customer products perform as intended and are reliable, safe and secure. You'll create ingenious testing activities using a varied range of testing tools and clever techniques to uncover unknown glitches, and record accurate test results. You'll work with products that can range in scale from a simple single-purpose item to a complex integrated, cyber system which crosses anything from IT systems, networking, wireless, acoustics, general electronics, mobile technologies and video systems.

Your application will not be eligible if you already hold a Level 4 Software Developer Apprenticeship or equivalent qualification.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to being a ‘Disability Confident Leader’ we offer an interview to all candidates with a disability who meet our minimum criteria for the role that they are applying for. This is known as the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS).

To secure an interview for this vacancy you will be asked a series of questions relating to this vacancy. If you meet the criteria you will be directed to the full application form. On successful completion and an application form sift, you will be invited to interview. This is our guaranteed interview.

You will play an integral part in ensuring that our Government's communication systems in the UK and around the globe are reliable and totally secure. In return we will offer you a positive and creative environment to work in and give you all of the tools and training to develop and be the best that you can be.

To find out more about HMGCC and how we are truly individual both as an organisation and an employer visit our 'about us' page.

*If you are relocating to the area then we can discuss the possibility of a relocation package.

Please note shortlisting will not be carried out until after the closing date for this role.

Please note dependent on the recruitment requirements, we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date.

This Program / Vacancy is closed to applications.