Shaping the future of UK telecoms
Join us at UKTL
At UKTL, your cyber skills make a real difference. You’ll help protect the UK’s digital networks – keeping people, businesses and critical services safe from cyber-attacks.
You’ll research, test and improve the UK’s cyber security, working at the intersection of government, industry and academia. At UKTL, you’ll tackle real-world challenges and grow your career through structured training and mentorship.
Your expertise will safeguard critical national infrastructure, defend against evolving threats and shape the future of secure connectivity. We need people who think differently – innovators who challenge the norm and bring bold ideas to the UK’s cyber security challenges. We’re recruiting across:
• Cyber security
• Networks and infrastructure
• Telecoms (RAN / Packet Core / Device Security Evaluation)
• Vulnerability research
• Security testing
• Standards
Join our dynamic, supportive team and enjoy benefits designed for balance and growth. We offer enhanced maternity leave, flexible working and a generous pension. You’ll have access to structured training programmes to develop your technical skills and support your career progression – all while maintaining a healthy work-life balance and working on projects that matter. This is cyber with purpose.
Current vacancies
UKTL is offering the current roles featured below.
Step into the front line of telecom security Research. In this role, you won’t just follow instructions—you’ll explore the unknown, uncover hidden vulnerabilities, and help shape the future of secure telecommunications…….
Step into a senior position at the forefront of telecom security research. In this role, you won’t just explore vulnerabilities—you’ll define how they are discovered, understood, and mitigated across complex telecom ecosystems….
Lead Security Testing That Matters
Looking for more than another penetration testing role?
As a Senior Cyber Security Test Researcher, you’ll lead complex security assessments, influence testing approaches, mentor other specialists and help secure technologies critical to the UK’s future communications infrastructure.
This is an opportunity to remain hands-on technically while shaping how security testing is delivered across UKTL.
You’re someone who can’t help but ask “What’s really going on under here?”
Whether it’s a telecoms protocol, a complex system, or a bespoke piece of hardware, you’re driven by curiosity — and motivated by making real world technology safer…..
This Role Speaks to You If You’ve always been curious about how things work—especially when it comes to telecoms systems like 5G, fibre broadband, or Open RAN.
Maybe you know IP/TCP/HTTP but here you will work with SCTP/ NGAP / 5G SBI in carrier grade implementations that no one else has this level of access to!
Build Software That Makes a Difference
This isn’t software development for another commercial product.
As a Senior Software Engineer, you’ll design and develop systems that support the testing, research and security activities helping to strengthen the UK’s telecoms infrastructure. You’ll have genuine influence over architecture, engineering standards and technical decision-making while working alongside experts in cyber security, telecoms and research.
Turn Data Into Real-World Impact
Data tells a story. Your role will be to uncover it.
As a Senior Data Engineer, you’ll help build and deliver the data capabilities that support research, testing and innovation across the UK’s telecoms ecosystem. Working at the intersection of data, cyber security and telecommunications, you’ll transform complex information into intelligence that shapes critical decisions.
As a Security and Estates Lead within the UKTL Team, you’ll play a critical role in safeguarding our people, facilities, and reputation. You’ll lead on physical, personnel and cyber security, ensuring our security posture remains proportionate to risk and aligned with government standards, you’ll also be responsible for managing our site and facilities.
This is a hands-on role where you’ll design, implement, and oversee security measures across a complex environment, including secure facilities and data centre operations.
At UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL), we’re seeking an AI Engineer to help build and evolve our AI capabilities. This is an exciting opportunity to work with cutting-edge open-weight AI models, develop intelligent agents, and create innovative AI solutions that support research, engineering, and business operations across the organisation….
Join UKTL and help build the secure, resilient platforms that support the UK’s telecommunications security research.
We’re looking for a Senior Platform Engineer with strong experience in Linux and working across infrastructure, automation, cloud and container technologies. You’ll play a key role in designing, building and supporting modern platforms used by our research and engineering teams.
Launch your career in IT and Cyber Operations
IT Platforms and Cyber Engineer role at UKTL build and protect 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.
Launch your career in Security Research
Research roles at UKTL utilise our cutting-edge lab environment to test communications systems to their limits in new and novel ways.
Are you fascinated by how technology works and how it can be made more secure? Do you enjoy solving complex problems, investigating vulnerabilities, and understanding how systems behave under attack?
The UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL) Graduate Programme offers a unique opportunity to build a career at the forefront of communications security. Working alongside leading researchers and security specialists, you’ll help strengthen the equipment used in UK’s infrastructure through testing, research and innovation.
UKTL also offers Graduate Engineer roles in IT Platforms & Cyber. 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.
After nine years as a talent lead helping others find their dream roles, I finally found mine in cyber.
Recruiting for UKTL sparked my curiosity, leading me to explore TryHackMe and Hack The Box. Now I’m building VMs, exploring 5G, and working towards OSCP — proof that passion and persistence open doors, even without a technical background.
My role here is hands-on and technical, giving me rare exposure to the full network stack from RAN to Core across both 4G and 5G.
With the help of UKTL’s broad range of knowledgeable people, often I’m testing things no one’s done before! If you’re curious and want to work on something with real impact, now’s a great time to join!
UKTL offers something different – a refreshing alternative to the corporate world, with the freedom to own my delivery and work alongside remarkable people.
The start-up energy here is real; we pull together behind bold ideas and make them happen. If you’re up for the challenge, now’s a great time to join us.
Striking the right balance between policy and pragmatism takes collaboration, and that’s what makes the work here so engaging.
When your input shapes a project, it shows the real impact individuals can make.
Security Clearance Requirements
All roles at UKTL require Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Security Check (SC) clearance with no restrictions, or the ability to obtain both. To be eligible, applicants must have lived in the UK for at least five years and meet the criteria outlined in the relevant job description. Some roles may require higher levels of clearance. Please read each job advert carefully and ensure you meet the necessary security requirements before applying.
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