Research and Development Engineer

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.
This is an awesome opportunity to join a well-established software research and development team. As part of this specialised team, you will be responsible for delivering exciting and often unique projects which you will find challenging and intellectually rewarding.
The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) is seeking software developers to deliver capabilities to maintain and enhance GCSB's Intelligence mission.
The role
This is a diverse role requiring broad skills across several areas. To be successful in this role, you will have strengths in a number of the following areas:
C, C++, C#,.NET, Python software development
Development for the Win32/POSIX API, and/or networking APIs
Planning and conducting independent research
Cyber security concepts and vulnerabilities, exploit techniques and methods for their remediation
Assembler or embedded systems programming
Analysis and design of network protocols
Linux and/or Windows systems administration & security
Reverse engineering
Automating the testing and deployment of systems and products
DevOps, Docker, Agile and various modern development systems and approaches
The development of complex networking, IOT, mobile or embedded systems
Enthusiasm and tenacity will be necessary as you research, design, implement, and maintain our software and Intelligence systems. You will solve unique, challenging problems to support the security and wellbeing of New Zealand and enhance your skills collaborating across our various teams, systems and technologies.
Why work for us
Alongside getting to work with other 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
Great work-life balance
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.
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
Job Details
Reference #
9266
Location(s)
Wellington
Salary
Band G $87,048 (90%) - $111,228 (115%), Band H $103,009 (90%) - $131,622 (115%), Band I $120,358 (90%) - $153,791 (115%)
Midpoint of the salary range (100%) reflects full competence in the role
Closes on
12 Nov 2025 23:55
Work type(s)
Permanent full-time
Job level(s)
Entry, Graduate, Experienced
Expertise
Cyber Security, Technical Engineering, Information Technology, Security & Intelligence