Technical Leader - Data, Analysis & Engineering at Government Communications Security Bureau, Wellington

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Join our diverse and talented people and work at the heart of national security, providing essential intelligence to the NZ government to protect New Zealand and its people.

At the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) | Te Tira Tiaki, our mission is to protect and enhance Aotearoa New Zealand’s security and wellbeing. We provide Signals Intelligence and Cyber Security and resilience to organisations of national significance to successfully navigate in an unpredictable world.

Why work for us

Alongside getting to work with our talented people, we also offer a range of comprehensive benefits which include:

• Medical Insurance and Vision Care packages
• Enhanced employer contributions to your Kiwisaver
• Generous Leave benefits, including additional paid days off and enhanced sick and parental leave
• Childcare allowance for your preschoolers
• Onsite free gym
• Opportunities for personal and professional growth and career pathways across the intelligence community
• Flexible working options, and great work-life balance

The role

We are looking for a new Technical Leader in the Intelligence Directorate to lead an established team of talented technical analysts, whose skills principally encompass developing, delivering advanced data analytics (utilising AIML as appropriate), and engineering ETL pipelines.

The team perform both data analysis and data engineering functions. In data analysis, the team utilises advanced analysis techniques and machine learning to drive the intelligence mission forward. In data engineering, the team work to transform, normalise and deliver data to support their customers. The team build sustainable tools and proactively reduce technical debt. You will be a motivated people leader with technical expertise, and will lead and empower this team to deliver new data pipelines, capabilities and advanced data analysis in support of our wider intelligence mission.

You will shape the team's priorities and ensure that quality and timely products are delivered in line with user requirements, all while being able to pivot the team to new priorities as and where needed. You will have the ability to build and maintain strong relationships and engagements across the wider mission.

Key responsibilities

The Technical Leader supports and provides input to the unit's business plan, designs data-driven solutions, and provides technical and personal guidance to their staff. You will have the opportunity to identify, design and lead projects that use unique datasets from a variety of sources and rapidly deliver new capabilities. In addition, you may be asked to assist the coordination of Intelligence Directorate's operational response to urgent or complex customer needs to ensure the security and wellbeing of New Zealand.

Who we’re looking for

The Technical Leader will be fully performing when staff have the tools and skills to quickly respond to operational requirements. We’re looking for those who:

• Have experience in a line-management role
• Have a passion for developing people
• Have a data engineering, data analysis, software development, or system engineering background
• Have a strong background in machine learning and artificial intelligence
• Engage with technical best practice and minimise technical debt across our infrastructure
• Seek out opportunities to improve capability
• Effectively prioritise incoming work and requests
• Enjoy working in a collaborative and creative work environment

We are a diverse team of dedicated people who are mission-driven, and enjoy the unique and important work we get to do - you cannot do this type of work anywhere else.

Appointing range: $142,093 - $151,566.

Before you apply

Working within our unique environment means we have to ensure you're eligible for employment.

You must:

• Have been a New Zealand Citizen for at least 10 years OR Hold a current NZ Residency Class Visa and ideally have been a citizen of the UK, USA, Canada or Australia for at least 10 years

• Be eligible to obtain a Top Secret Special (TSS) security clearance
  • Ordinarily, this means you'll have a 15 year checkable background in countries NZSIS Vetting can make meaningful and reliable checks.

Still unsure? Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a TSS security clearance: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool 

The NZIC treats all applications for employment in the strictest confidence, and we expect that you maintain a similar level of confidentiality during the recruitment process and throughout your career.  

We'll provide you with information and tips throughout the recruitment process, but in the meantime check out some of our Security FAQs here: The security clearance process | Beyond Ordinary Careers 

You can also learn more about our work and understand our areas of focus by reading New Zealand's Security Threat Environment | New Zealand Security Intelligence Service