Flexible Working: Due to the sensitive nature of the role, there are minimal opportunities for home working. However, we know how important a good work/life balance is, which is why it’s likely to be possible to work from home one day a week. We also offer part-time (minimum 3 days) and compressed hours, agreed on a case-by-case basis.
About Us
We’re MI6, also known as the Secret Intelligence Service, or SIS. Our mission is to protect the security and economic wellbeing of the UK from overseas threats such as regional instability, terrorism, and cyber-attacks. Working across the globe and in close partnership with MI5 and GCHQ, we help the Government to counter these threats through the provision of secret intelligence. A role in MI6 will see you providing vital support to this work, within a supportive and encouraging environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.
The Role
Our diverse team of data scientists use their skills to support MI6’s work. Which makes them critical to our mission, and those of our partners and allies. We work on projects that no other organization does that require a uniquely creative approach to solve one-of-a-kind data problems.
As a Data Scientist, you’ll work on a wide variety of interesting projects working across our organisation and with our partners too. Taking data from incredibly varied sources, you’ll turn it into intelligence to, ultimately, help the UK make informed decisions about foreign policy.
This is an opportunity to bring your expertise, unique perspective and fresh approach and apply them creatively while collaborating with a diverse team of data scientists to have an impact on a huge scale. It’s purposeful, rewarding, fulfilling work that comes with a sense of pride and satisfaction. Where your experience will contribute to something more – working on new challenges that you won’t find elsewhere. There will be projects which will challenge you and your team to develop the most creative strategies to solve uniquely difficult problems.
The sensitive nature of our work means that we unfortunately can't go into too much detail here about what we get up to. But rest assured that you would be applying yourself to some of the hardest and most interesting data problems in the world.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are changing the way everyone is thinking about data - and MI6 is no exception. You’ll help us to apply these technologies robustly, securely, and at scale. You’ll also apply rigorous techniques to extract knowledge and insights from noisy, structured and unstructured data.
You’ll help technical and non-technical customers across the organisation to best understand the world around them so that they can make sensible, proportionate, evidence-based decisions. This will involve using an evolving range of data analysis tools and techniques to explore and present the ‘story’ of data in a meaningful way. You’ll also build credible statistical models from the data and use best coding practices to generate reproducible work. Working with policy and operations to understand where data science can add value, you’ll also support strategic operational decision making.
Given our international role, there are occasional opportunities for overseas travel, if this is something you are interested in. Work with partners in the UK is more common, and may require overnight trips from time to time.
About You
In our organisation, we use the cross-Government Digital, Data, and Technology (DDaT) Data Science capability framework to define our technology roles. More details on this framework can be found online here:Data scientist - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework. This role maps to the “Data Scientist” level against this framework. At this grade, we’d expect you to operate independently with support. The framework lists a lot of expected criteria that may not have been applicable in your previous working experience, and therefore we would not expect you to perfectly align with this framework – don’t self-censor if you don’t meet all the criteria.
You’ll bring commercial experience of working in a data science role in which you’ll be able to demonstrate how you’ve been applying a range of data science skills in a rigorous way. You’ll also have a knowledge of Python and be comfortable with Machine Learning. Able to operate independently, albeit with the support of more experienced engineers, you’ll also bring plenty of adaptability – a key skill which we’d like to see evidenced.
You’ll be able to explain concepts to a varied audience, including non-technical customers. A lifelong learner, you have a keen appetite to learn and develop within data science. And you’re able to learn new ideas and techniques or apply them in different settings.
Training and Development
You’ll have plenty of opportunities for development in-post, and will operate independently as well as playing your part in an interdisciplinary team with enough support to assure your work and to help you to continue to grow.
The wide variety of projects you work on will ensure you’re continually developing your skills and acquiring new ones. A proportion of your time will be co-ordinated as part of the team's combined effort, but a significant proportion of your time will be spent performing learning and development, innovative research, or pioneering new projects or new ways of working with internal customers.
There are a range of different training programmes available covering both more technical subjects and softer professional skills. You’ll complete courses with our partners in defence and technology including GCHQ-related development programmes for coding and languages. There is also likely to be opportunity to develop more niche skills specific to our organisation’s mission.
We offer a generous learning and development offer to promote continuous learning – if you find a course or qualification relevant to your role, it’s highly likely you’ll be enrolled. There are also opportunities to attain AWS certifications, Accredited DDaT Data Science Skills during the role.
The first six months of your time with us will be an intensive introduction to our data science and related teams. You'll embark on a range of projects and tasks designed to get you up to speed with our underpinning technologies, data sources, and collaborative ways of working. This will be tailored to your existing experience to equip you with the skills, knowledge, and expertise needed to hit the ground running and make a meaningful impact from day one.
And when it comes to your future, there are clearly defined career development pathways – several of our current Senior Data Scientist were promoted from Data Scientists – so you know exactly what you need to further your career.
Rewards and Benefits
You’ll receive a starting salary of £61,813 plus other benefits including:
- 25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays.
- Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme.
- Interest-free season ticket loan.
- Excellent pension scheme.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (at some locations).
- Paid parental and adoption leave.
Equal Opportunities
At MI6 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.
Find out more about our culture, working environment and diversity on our website:
There is a wide range of extra support available throughout the recruitment process to enable you to do your best, see ourwebsitefor information on the reasonable adjustments we can offer.
We’re Disability Confident
MI6 are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s 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. Being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a person-to-person interview to any candidate who self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role. This is our ‘Offer of Interview’ (OOI). To secure an interview for this vacancy, the essential criteria (in order of application process) are:
• Demonstrate ability to write python code independently (assessed at application form sift).
• Demonstrate the ability to research, develop, evaluate and apply data science capabilities, e.g. machine learning (assessed at application form sift).
• Demonstrate the ability to provide technical guidance for others, and to coach and support others with their work (assessed at application form sift).
What to Expect
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order:
• You’ll be invited to upload your CV and complete an online application form.
• If you pass, you’ll be invited to an interview where you will be asked questions relating to your motivation and our core competencies.
• If you pass, you’ll be invited to a technical skill-based interview based on the Digital Data and Technology Capability Framework for the role.
This will cover drawing upon your experience for the following DDaT skills:
1. Applied maths, statistics, and scientific practices.
2. Programming and build (Data Science).
3. Data science innovation.
Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 - 9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.
Before You Apply
To work at MI6, you need to be a British citizen or hold dual British nationality. You can read our full eligibility criteriahere.
This role requires the highest security clearance, known as Developed Vetting (DV). It’s something everyone in the UK Intelligence Community undertakes. You can find out more about the vetting processhere.
Please note we have a strict drugs policy, so once you start your application, you can’t take any recreational drugs and you’ll need to declare your previous drug usage at the relevant stage.
Before you apply, we advise you to consider setting up a separate email address for your contact with us, to ensure your personal and application correspondence remain separate. Try to avoid having identifying features in your email address, such as your first and/or surname and date of birth. This is good practice and will help you to manage your application with us more securely.
The role is based in Central London, so you’ll need to live within a commutable distance. Please consider any financial implications and practicalities before submitting an application. A loan is available to support people relocating to London.
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 to launch an application. Applying from outside the UK will impact on our ability to progress your application. You should not discuss your application, other than with your partner or a close family member.
Right to Withdraw Statement:
Please be aware that we withhold the right to bring forward the closing date for this role from the original closing date once a certain number of applications have been received. Please be mindful of this and submit your application at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
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