Graduate Engineer – IT Platforms and Cyber

About the Role

Launch your career in IT and Cyber Operations

The IT Platforms and Cyber Engineer role at UKTL involves building and protecting the environments within our lab. Are you interested in building, supporting and defending cutting-edge network environments?

The UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL) Graduate Programme offers the chance to work on cutting-edge telecoms technologies while helping to secure and operate critical infrastructure that supports the UK's digital future.

UKTL also offers Graduate Engineer roles in Security Research and Testing. Before submitting your application, we encourage you to review both opportunities and choose the one that best aligns with your interests, skills, and career aspirations. Please submit one application only.

What you'll be doing

As a Graduate IT Platforms and Cyber Engineer, you'll join one of the following teams:

• Cyber Security Operations and Capabilities Development
• Network Connectivity, Telecommunication & IT Platforms.

Through your placements, you could gain exposure to a broad range of cyber security and telecoms disciplines, including cyber risk management, security operations, governance, compliance, incident response, cyber resilience, and security architecture. You'll also contribute to designing, building, and supporting the IT and telecoms systems that enable UKTL's world-leading testing and research programmes. Working alongside experienced professionals, you'll develop an understanding of how security, infrastructure and operational technologies are embedded within business processes, research activities, and technical decision-making. Additionally, you'll help manage and support the critical systems used across UKTL.

You'll receive structured development, mentoring, and technical training throughout the two-year programme, giving you the opportunity to develop specialist expertise in IT platforms, cyber security, and telecoms.

Your work could include

• Monitoring and securing critical telecoms and digital infrastructure
• Supporting Cyber Security Operations Centre (SOC) activities and threat monitoring
• Working with networking, cloud, and emerging telecommunications technologies
• Supporting RAN, Packet Core, and next-generation mobile network environments
• Investigating cyber security incidents, vulnerabilities, and emerging threats
• Improving cyber resilience, operational performance, and security controls
• Contributing to security governance, risk management, and compliance activities
• Building, maintaining, and securing telecoms platforms and services
• Working with enterprise IT platforms and services that support UKTL's testing and research environments
• Deploying, managing, and optimising virtualisation and containerisation platforms
• Supporting the delivery, maintenance, and continuous improvement of operational IT services
• Helping to build and manage the IT infrastructure that enables UKTL's research, testing, and laboratory activities
• Promoting security awareness and supporting best practice across teams

Location

Our site is conveniently located within easy reach of Birmingham, with excellent transport links. We are accessible by rail, with the nearest being Birmingham International station, and are also served by local bus routes. Free on-site parking is available for those travelling by car.

Hybrid working

Successful applicants will be expected to attend our Birmingham office a minimum of two days per week to facilitate collaboration in our lab.

About the Recruitment Process

We're looking for curious, passionate problem-solvers who want to help shape the future of the UK's telecoms ecosystem. Our selection process is designed to help us understand your potential, not just your experience.

• Submit your application
• If shortlisted, complete an online assessment
• Attend a virtual first-stage interview
• If selected, you'll be invited to an Assessment Centre at our Solihull office in January or February 2027 (date to be confirmed)
• Successful candidates will join UKTL in September 2027

We'll keep you informed throughout the process and look forward to learning more about what you can bring to the team.

About You

Desired degree backgrounds

We welcome applications from any degree background but typically our graduates' study Cyber Security, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electronic or Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, and other STEM disciplines.

We'd be especially interested if you have done any of the following:

• Completed academic projects, coursework or research related to cyber security, infrastructure, networking or cloud technologies
• Participated in cyber security competitions, Capture the Flag (CTF) events, hackathons or coding challenges
• Undertaken work experience within an IT, cyber security, or technology environment
• Built or supported technical solutions as part of university projects, personal initiatives, or collaborative assignments
• Explored topics such as security operations, threat detection, incident response, risk management or cyber resilience
• Completed relevant certifications, online learning, or independent study to develop your technical knowledge

We don't assess candidates on spelling, grammar, or their ability to write polished responses. Instead, we're interested in your genuine experiences, motivation, and passion for the role. We expect you to be ready to share more about the exciting things you've put in your application.

Security Clearance

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in this specific area means that nationality, residency, and security requirements are more tightly defined than others. To work in this role, you will need to hold SC clearance with no restrictions. You are welcome to apply without already holding SC clearance; however, you will not be able to start in post until the clearance has been successfully granted.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert; therefore, we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.

About Us

UKTL is building leading edge Telecoms testing facilities to keep our telecommunications networks safe, accelerate the roll-out of new technologies, and grow our world-leading telecoms sector to maintain resiliency and security.

Successful candidates will join a state-of-the-art facility and be supporting the team conducting testing and research on the latest technologies and innovations in the industry. You will work alongside our infrastructure and Cybersecurity professionals to ensure that the UK's world-class Telecoms infrastructure grows in a resilient and secure manner, underpinning growth in other industry sectors.

As a trusted and independent national capability, UKTL interacts with standards bodies, Academia, and Government Departments as well as Communications Service Providers and equipment vendors.

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering, and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK.

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled, black, Asian, and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process and will make reasonable adjustments available throughout the selection process.

At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity. As part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome.

We offer a wealth of above industry standard benefits, such as an enhanced pension scheme and flexible working. Our values are at the heart of what we do and they shape the way we interact, develop our people, and celebrate success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process.