Are you a Data Scientist who is looking to get involved in projects and data relating to our national security?Data Scientist (AI/ML)Location: London, Surrey, Cheltenham or ManchesterClearance: Active eDV Clearance RequiredSalary: £50,000-£85,000 per annum + DV BonusIf you're tired of building models that never leave the notebook, this one goes live.You'd join a specialist security and intelligence consultancy that works on live government programmes, putting ML into operational systems that analysts and mission teams use every day. You'll sit in a small, multi-disciplinary agile team with data engineers, software engineers and the end users themselves, so you see what your work changes.You won't be "the data person" bolted onto someone else's delivery team. You'll help shape the AI/ML approach, get close to the customer, and have a say in how models are built, validated and deployed in secure environments.What you'll be working on ML and NLP models for intelligence data: pattern detection, data matching, anomaly spottingAutomated triage and analysis of large, messy, multi-source datasets (sensor, geospatial, comms)Graph analytics and time-series workData and ML pipelines built for production, not demosDashboards and tools that non-technical users can act onPython (Pandas, scikit-learn, PyTorch/TensorFlow), Spark and AWS  Why it's worth a look Real operational deployment, not endless proofs of conceptDirect contact with the people using what you buildRoom to lead on AI/ML strategy and best practice as you grow Must have: Experience of Python-based data science and ML, and some exposure to NLP or graph analytics.Comfortable with sensitive data.Able to explain complex analysis to non-specialists. As an industry leading, nationwide Marketing, Digital, Analytics, IT and Design recruitment agency, we are continually receiving new assignments to work on, so keep a close eye on our website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages for a full list of current permanent and interim opportunities as well as marketplace news and fun stuff. Forward Role is operating as an employment agency.

A defence and national security consultancy is looking for a senior engineer to own the design of its cloud-native data platformsTitle: Data EngineerLocation: London, Cheltenham, Manchester or SurreySalary: £55,000 - £85,000 plus DV bonusClearance: Active eDV requiredLevel: Mid/SeniorTired of keeping pipelines alive? Move into a role where you own the architecture.The customers are in Defence, Government and National Security, and the datasets are big, messy and multi-source.You'll work closely with data scientists, software engineers and architects, and directly with the client, so you always know what the platform is for.What you'll be working on Data platforms and pipelines, batch and streaming, built for scaleData lakes and cloud-native architecture on AWS or AzureIngesting and integrating data from lots of different sourcesData foundations for analytics, AI and ML workloadsDevSecOps and Infrastructure as CodePython, SQL, Spark, Docker, Kubernetes and CI/CD  Why it's worth a look Real influence over how platforms get designed and builtClose to the customer and the decision-makersExposure to AI/ML workloads, not just moving data from A to B  Must have: commercial data engineering experience, strong Python and SQL, hands-on Spark, and cloud-native platform experience on AWS or Azure. Comfortable with Docker, Kubernetes and CI/CD.Nice to have: data modelling and metadata management, AI/ML pipelines and feature engineering.As an industry leading, nationwide Marketing, Digital, Analytics, IT and Design recruitment agency, we are continually receiving new assignments to work on, so keep a close eye on our website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages for a full list of current permanent and interim opportunities as well as marketplace news and fun stuff. Forward Role is operating as an employment agency.

Are you a Business Analyst who's operated inside UK government, defence, or intelligence environments? This is a rare opportunity to join a growing consultancy at the forefront of secure digital delivery, in a brand-new position with real influence from day one. Business Analyst   Location - Milton Keynes or Cheltenham (hybrid)Salary - £65,000 - £85,000 + DV Bonus + benefitsClearance - You are required to hold an active eDV level security clearance. The opportunityYou won't be filling a seat. You'll be shaping how complex, mission-critical products get built, working directly with customers and delivery teams to translate classified operational needs into outcomes that matter. You'll be embedded in Agile delivery teams, working directly with customers, product owners, and technical specialists to translate complex mission needs into clear, actionable outcomes. This isn't a back-office BA role, you'll be hands-on, visible, and central to delivery. From requirements discovery and backlog management to stakeholder workshops and continuous improvement, you'll own the full analysis lifecycle in one of the most operationally significant delivery environments in the UK. Role duties Lead requirements discovery - eliciting, analysing, and validating business, user, data, and technical needs across complex delivery programmes.Write sharp user stories, acceptance criteria, and process maps that engineering, design, and data teams can actually work from.Own and continuously refine product backlogs, supporting prioritisation with product owners based on mission value and delivery constraints. Run stakeholder workshops and governance forums, turning competing views into shared understanding and clear decisions.Sit at the centre of Agile ceremonies, sprint planning, refinement, reviews, retros and drive continuous improvement in how teams work. Bridge the gap between business intent and technical delivery, managing dependencies, assumptions, and requirements changes throughout.  Essential skills/experience Experience working in UK Security & Intelligence, defence, or classified government environments.Business analysis, product management, and Agile delivery across multidisciplinary teams.Hands-on Scrum or Kanban delivery, sprint ceremonies, backlog refinement, reviews and retrospectives.Ability to engage, challenge, and facilitate across technical and non-technical stakeholders.Comfortable working alongside software engineering, data, DevOps, and UX teams.Workflow analysis, business rules capture, and requirements traceability through change control. As an industry leading, nationwide Marketing, Digital, Analytics, IT and Design recruitment agency, we are continually receiving new assignments to work on, so keep a close eye on our website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages for a full list of current permanent and interim opportunities as well as marketplace news and fun stuff. Forward Role is operating as an employment agency.

I’m currently supporting multiple Cloud, DevOps and Platform hires across a mix of specialist SMEs Cloud / DevOps Engineers (DV/eDV) – Multiple National Security Roles Locations: Opportunities across all compass points, including Cheltenham/Gloucester, London, Hampshire, Bristol and ManchesterLevel: Mid-level through to Senior / LeadClearance: Active DV / eDV required across the majority of roles I’m currently supporting multiple Cloud, DevOps and Platform hires across a mix of specialist SMEs, engineering-led consultancies and established National Security teams. Different organisations. Different working patterns. Different stages of growth. The common thread is modern engineering, good technical people and opportunities to keep progressing. Current demand Cloud Engineering – AWS/Azure, Infrastructure as Code, secure cloud environments DevOps / DevSecOps – Terraform, CI/CD, automation, Kubernetes, Linux Platform Engineering / SRE – reliability, observability, container platforms and platform tooling Senior / Lead roles – broader technical ownership, architecture and mentoring Why people are moving The conversations I’m having tend to be less about salary and more about: Getting out of BAU-heavy roles Broader technical exposure Better engineering culture More ownership and influence Stronger progression More flexibility where programmes allow We’ve already helped engineers join several of these teams, so I can give you a view based on what people actually tell us after they start, not just what’s written in the job description. Clearance Most of these roles support live National Security programmes, so active DV or eDV clearance is typically required. If you’re already cleared and curious about what else is moving across the market, send me your profile and I’ll give you a straight view of where your background is likely to fit. As an industry leading, nationwide Marketing, Digital, Analytics, IT and Design recruitment agency, we are continually receiving new assignments to work on, so keep a close eye on our website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages for a full list of current permanent and interim opportunities as well as marketplace news and fun stuff.Forward Role is operating as an employment agency.

I’m supporting a large technology consultancy hiring DevOps Engineers into it's Secure Division Senior DevOps Engineer (Clearable) Locations: Manchester, Bristol, Cheltenham or PlymouthSalary: Up to £80,000 base + wider packageLevel: Mid-level to Senior | broadly SFIA 3–5Clearance: No active clearance required, but you must be eligible and willing to go through UK security vetting A genuinely rare one for this market: You do not need to already hold DV/eDV clearance. I’m supporting a large technology consultancy hiring DevOps Engineers into it's Secure Division, bespoke technical solutions across Central Government, Defence, National Security, Critical National Infrastructure and Law Enforcement. The team builds secure, highly available platforms for complex government customers, with a strong emphasis on hands-on engineering, modern cloud tooling and long-term technical development. What you’ll be working with AWS Kubernetes, Docker and Helm Terraform GitLab CI / Jenkins Prometheus, Grafana and Elastic Automation and secure deployment Platform monitoring and reliability Troubleshooting across complex secure environments AWS is a key requirement here. You’ll be joining at mid-to-senior level, with scope to stay hands-on while progressing through a clear SFIA structure into broader technical ownership, mentoring and leadership. Why it’s worth a look Rare route into secure government work without already holding active clearance Broad exposure across multiple government and critical infrastructure sectors Strong technical communities and engineering guilds Structured coaching, training and progression Project variety without needing to leave the business to broaden your remit Established regional teams with a collaborative, less corporate feel than you might expect from a larger consultancy This is particularly relevant if you’ve built a strong AWS / DevOps background commercially and have previously found the clearance barrier difficult to get around. You’ll need to meet the eligibility requirements for UK security vetting and be willing to go through the process. If you’re already working across AWS, DevOps, Platform or SRE and want a route into more secure, complex engineering work, this is well worth a conversation. As an industry leading, nationwide Marketing, Digital, Analytics, IT and Design recruitment agency, we are continually receiving new assignments to work on, so keep a close eye on our website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages for a full list of current permanent and interim opportunities as well as marketplace news and fun stuff.Forward Role is operating as an employment agency.

Are you a Linux specialist who thrives on building resilient, high-performing infrastructure? Linux Infrastructure Engineer Location - CheltenhamSecurity Clearance - eDV required£50,000 - £75,000 + Excellent Benefits We're looking for a Linux Infrastructure Engineer to take ownership of the systems that keep business-critical services running - with real scope to shape automation, security, and cloud strategy along the way. What You'll Be Doing Designing, implementing, and supporting Linux infrastructure (RHEL, Ubuntu, CentOS) across physical, virtual, and cloud environmentsAutomating provisioning and configuration using Ansible, Puppet, or TerraformDriving performance tuning, capacity planning, and proactive system monitoringOwning root cause analysis and resolving complex infrastructure/OS-level issuesManaging patching, backups, and disaster recovery processesHardening systems and embedding security best practice across the estateSupporting deployments, migrations, and new software releasesActing as a go-to for 2nd/3rd line infrastructure supportPartnering with cross-functional teams to drive service improvements  What You'll Bring Strong Linux system administration experience (RHEL, Ubuntu, CentOS)Scripting proficiency (Bash, Python)Hands-on configuration management experience (Ansible, Puppet, or Chef)Cloud platform knowledge - AWS, Azure, or GCPSolid networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, firewalls)Monitoring/logging tool experience (Nagios, Prometheus, Splunk)Exposure to containerisation (Docker, Kubernetes) and virtualisation (VMware, KVM, Hyper-V)A sharp troubleshooting mindset and comfort working at pace  Nice to Have Infrastructure-as-Code experience (Terraform, CloudFormation)CI/CD pipeline and DevOps exposureLDAP, DNS, or identity management experienceFamiliarity with security frameworks and compliance standardsExperience in secure or regulated environmentsA degree in Computer Science, IT, or related field (or equivalent experience)RHCSA, RHCE, or CompTIA Linux+ certification  Why Apply?This is a chance to work on infrastructure that genuinely matters - with the autonomy to automate, harden, and modernise as you go, backed by excellent benefits and a salary that reflects your expertise. As an industry leading, nationwide Marketing, Digital, Analytics, IT and Design recruitment agency, we are continually receiving new assignments to work on, so keep a close eye on our website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages for a full list of current permanent and interim opportunities as well as marketplace news and fun stuff. Forward Role is operating as an employment agency.

Our client is looking for several Systems Engineers to take technical ownership of complex projects and programmes from scoping through to integration and assurance. This is a client-facing role. You'll set the technical direction, run the workshops that get stakeholders aligned, and make sure delivery stays on time, on budget and de-risked. Systems Engineer - National Security Location - Cheltenham Clearance - eDV required Contract - Excellent day rateDuration - 6 months plus extension What you'll be doingDefining and designing Scoping projects with stakeholders and confirming technical feasibilityDesigning the full lifecycle approach for complex projects and programmesRunning requirements elicitation, technical design, risk analysis and pre-mortem workshops Delivering and assuring Coordinating internal teams, third parties and vendors through delivery, integration and assuranceKeeping projects within scope and budget, managing risk and controlling changes to scope, schedule and cost using appropriate verification techniquesProducing and maintaining Systems Engineering artefacts: SEMPs, system models, plans, requirements, integration logic and test methodologies Advising and communicating Coaching and advising clients on Systems Engineering best practiceBuilding strong relationships with clients, stakeholders and vendorsReporting to and presenting for senior management  What you'll bringEssential Experience as a Systems Engineer in software, networking, digital or cyber securityBackground in a consultancy, large systems integrator or public sector organisation delivering complex products and servicesWorking knowledge of SE tools, standards and methods: V-model, spiral and agile lifecycles, technical risk management, options trade-offs (risk vs cost vs capability), requirements management, modelling, delivery assurance and IV&VTechnical depth to get into the detail when neededExcellent written, verbal and client-facing communicationStrong organisation and attention to detail, with the ability to juggle multiple workstreamsDegree or equivalent experience Desirable Systems Engineering delivery for defence, government, national security or law enforcement clientsSE accreditation (e.g. INCOSE) or a project management qualification  Interested?Apply here or message Rob Wall directly for a confidential conversation. Not quite the right fit? We're always keen to hear from cleared Systems Engineers, so get in touch. As an industry leading, nationwide Marketing, Digital, Analytics, IT and Design recruitment agency, we are continually receiving new assignments to work on, so keep a close eye on our website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages for a full list of current permanent and interim opportunities as well as marketplace news and fun stuff. Forward Role is operating as an employment agency.

Specialist ML and MLOps teams where machine learning is the core capability, spanning research, prototyping, productionisation and deployment into real National Security environments.National Security Location: Manchester or CheltenhamLevel: Mid-level through to Senior / LeadClearance: Active SC minimum | DV/eDV highly desirableWorking pattern: Hybrid working - Secure Site working required There are plenty of roles where “AI” is somewhere in the job description. This isn’t really one of those. I’m working with specialist ML and MLOps teams where machine learning is the core capability, spanning research, prototyping, productionisation and deployment into real National Security environments. You’ll be working with people who genuinely care about the discipline, keep close to the research, experiment with new approaches and still care about getting models into production properly. What you could be working across Python PyTorch, TensorFlow or scikit-learn LLMs, RAG, agents and evaluation ML research and rapid prototyping MLOps and production ML pipelines Model deployment, monitoring and lifecycle tooling AWS, Docker and Linux CI/CD and software engineering best practice The strongest candidates tend to sit somewhere between research and engineering. You might be taking ideas from papers and applying them to real customer problems, building production ML systems, or working with Platform and Data Engineers to make sure models actually perform reliably outside a notebook. Why it’s worth a look The teams I’m supporting offer: Genuine ML/AI specialism rather than generic consultancy work Exposure across research through to production Strong technical peers Time and encouragement to keep learning Real-world impact rather than endless PoCs The chance to work across some of the most interesting secure AI problems in the UK You don’t need every framework listed above. Curiosity, strong Python fundamentals and a genuine interest in how ML systems work in the real world matter more than ticking every box. Clearance You’ll need active SC as a minimum, with willingness/eligibility to go through higher levels of clearance long-term. If you’re already working in ML/AI and curious about what the specialist labs and engineering teams are doing differently, send me your profile and I’ll give you a straight view of where you might fit. As an industry leading, nationwide Marketing, Digital, Analytics, IT and Design recruitment agency, we are continually receiving new assignments to work on, so keep a close eye on our website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages for a full list of current permanent and interim opportunities as well as marketplace news and fun stuff.Forward Role is operating as an employment agency.

Cloud, DevOps & Platform Engineers, Explore the National Security Market Locations: Opportunities across all NS compass points - Manchester, Samlesbury, Milton Keynes, London, Cheltenham Level: Mid-level through to Senior / Lead | broadly SFIA 3–6 Clearance: Active Green Badge If you work across Cloud, DevOps or Platform Engineering and want a clearer view of what’s actually moving across National Security, this is a good place to start. We work with a carefully selected mix of specialist SMEs, engineering-led consultancies and product businesses across the market, with current demand spanning: Cloud & DevOps – AWS/Azure, Terraform, CI/CD, automation Platform & SRE – Kubernetes, Linux, observability, reliability and cloud-native engineering Architecture & Technical Leadership – senior technical ownership, platform strategy and customer-facing roles The opportunities vary significantly by level and environment. We’ve secured packages from around £60k through to £130k+ across different SFIA grades, so the right conversation depends much more on where you are technically and what you want next than matching you to one fixed salary band. Why speak to FR Secure? We’ve already helped engineers move into several of the teams we represent We get direct feedback on culture, progression and working patterns after people join We work across multiple organisations, so the conversation starts with what you want, not whichever vacancy happens to be open We can give you an honest comparison of the market across different compass points Clearance A simple one. If you hold an active Green Badge and are able to work on National Security programmes, we're talking to you. These roles predominantly support live National Security programmes and require active clearance. If you don’t know what the above means, this particular advert isn’t the right route for you. If you’re curious about what else is out there, send over your profile and we’ll arrange a conversation to give you a straight view of where your background is likely to fit. As an industry leading, nationwide Marketing, Digital, Analytics, IT and Design recruitment agency, we are continually receiving new assignments to work on, so keep a close eye on our website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages for a full list of current permanent and interim opportunities as well as marketplace news and fun stuff.Forward Role is operating as an employment agency.

Our client is a specialist technology company trusted by government, defence and critical infrastructure customers to keep the nation's most sensitive systems safe. They're now looking for a Campaign Lead to take ownership of their Cyber & Secure Communications domain and drive its next phase of growth.   Campaign Lead - Defence & National Security Location: Hampshire or Gloucester Salary - £85,000 - £100,000 + DV bonus Clearance: eDV or MOD DV   This is a strategic leadership position at the intersection of technology, customer insight and commercial growth, where you'll set direction for a portfolio spanning secure end-user devices through to cyber test ranges, R&D, consultancy and rapid prototyping.   What you'll be doing Set and maintain a multi-year growth strategy for the domain, prioritising the customers, segments and opportunities that matter most, and acting as the final word on domain-level trade-offs and decisions. Build a deep, evidence-based understanding of customer missions and emerging threats, and become the go-to voice, internally and externally, on where this market is heading. Pull together a virtual team across sales, marketing, product, engineering and delivery. Align priorities, resolve conflicts, and turn many moving parts into one coherent, executable plan. Connect capability to customer need Work with product and engineering to shape integrated solutions, influence the technology roadmap, and identify where investment should go next. Drive market engagement Partner with marketing on positioning, go-to-market strategy and demand generation, then work with account teams to convert that into pipeline and won business.   What we're looking for Deep domain knowledge of cyber security and secure communications, including the operational challenges facing defence, government and national security customers A track record of leading cross-functional or virtual teams and delivering results through influence rather than direct authority Comfort operating in ambiguity, with the judgement to make good calls on incomplete information Commercial acumen suited to long, complex sales cycles, including opportunity shaping and market development experience Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation and facilitation skills, with the ability to turn diverse input into a clear plan of action   Why apply This is a rare opportunity to shape the strategic direction of a growing, high-impact capability area, with genuine influence over investment priorities, market positioning and go-to-market execution, in a business solving problems that matter for national security.   Interested in finding out more? Apply now or get in touch for a confidential conversation.   As an industry leading, nationwide Marketing, Digital, Analytics, IT and Design recruitment agency, we are continually receiving new assignments to work on, so keep a close eye on our website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages for a full list of current permanent and interim opportunities as well as marketplace news and fun stuff.Forward Role is operating as an employment agency.

We are working with a leading consultancy who are looking for an experienced Senior Project Manager to join their team on a high-profile government programme. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of large, complex technical projects and play a key role in driving outcomes across Central Government and Defence.   Senior Project Manager -  National Security & Defence  Location: London (Hybrid Working)Clearance Required: eDV clearance Salary - £75,000 -£90,000 + DV bonus + excellent benefits The Role As a Senior Project Manager, you'll be responsible for ensuring successful project delivery from end to end. You'll lead teams, manage stakeholders, and adapt delivery methods to fit the needs of fast-moving and high-impact technology projects. Key responsibilities include: Lead end-to-end project delivery, ensuring alignment with client objectives, timelines, and budgets. Work directly with clients to understand their requirements and turn them into delivery plans. Provide project planning and support on activities including bids and proposals Manage project governance, reporting, and risk management activities, ensuring robust decision-making and timely issue resolution Managing customer and partner relationships, acting as a key point of engagement. Applying agile and scaled agile practices, alongside traditional project management methods. Providing strong leadership and direction to delivery teams. Essential experience: Background in delivering technical projects within government agencies or similar organisations. Extensive experience in managing projects that range from conceptual research through to sub-system development, delivery, and support of programmes up to £5m. Strong understanding of agile principles. Previous experience of working within multi-disciplined projects Excellent stakeholder engagement and conflict resolution skills. Commercial awareness across budgets, risk management, and forecasting. Ability to build, lead, and motivate high-performing delivery teams. You will ideally hold a recognised project management qualification such as PRINCE2, PMP, or Agile PM.   Due to the nature of the client's work, you are required to hold a high level of security clearance As an industry leading, nationwide Marketing, Digital, Analytics, IT and Design recruitment agency, we are continually receiving new assignments to work on, so keep a close eye on our website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages for a full list of current permanent and interim opportunities as well as marketplace news and fun stuff.Forward Role is operating as an employment agency.

Are you a cyber security professional looking to take ownership of security engineering work packages for a growing consultancy operating in the defence and national security space? Cyber Security EngineerSalary - £35,000 - £55,000 + excellent benefitsLocation - Cheltenham Clearance - Due to the secure nature of this position, candidates must hold or be eligible to obtain eDV Security Clearance.This is an opportunity to work across risk assessment, security architecture, and incident response, playing a central role in protecting critical digital assets and sensitive information. The RoleAs a Cyber Security Engineer, you'll play a crucial role in safeguarding the organisation's digital assets and ensuring the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of sensitive information. You'll implement and manage robust security measures, conduct risk assessments, and respond to security incidents, with genuine scope to shape and grow the wider cyber security capability. Key Responsibilities Deliver Cyber Security work packages for clients and internal delivery programmesDevelop Security Management PlansUnderstand and define capability context; perform Risk AssessmentsDefine and architect Security ControlsPlan Vulnerability Management activityDevelop Key/Certificate Management PlansProduce Security Case ReportsWrite clear, concise security policies and proceduresContribute to the ongoing development of the wider cybersecurity capability  What You'll Need Proven experience in cyber security roles, with a focus on security engineeringStrong understanding of networking, systems, and application securityKnowledge of security frameworks and standards (ISO 27001, NIST, etc.)Proficiency with security tools and technologiesExcellent problem-solving and analytical skillsStrong communication and collaboration skills As an industry leading, nationwide Marketing, Digital, Analytics, IT and Design recruitment agency, we are continually receiving new assignments to work on, so keep a close eye on our website, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages for a full list of current permanent and interim opportunities as well as marketplace news and fun stuff. Forward Role is operating as an employment agency.