Software Developer

About CSE

The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) is Canada’s agency responsible for foreign signals intelligence, cyber operations and cyber security. Learn more about our mission.

CSE is the national signals intelligence agency for foreign intelligence and the technical authority for cyber security and information assurance. The Communications Security Establishment Act (the CSE Act) sets out the five aspects of our mandate.

Join CSE for an opportunity like no other at the heart of Canada’s national security and intelligence community. Work in a team that contributes on meaningful projects which have a significant impact on Canada’s security posture (including Cyber Security and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)) and ensuring the safety of Canadians.

As a software developer you’ll be responsible for finding solutions to interesting and complex technical problems. We’ll provide you with the opportunity to collaborate with others and contribute to a supportive team environment.

We are looking for entry-level, intermediate, and experienced software developers who wish to work in a continuous learning culture, who look to apply and expand their current knowledge, and who are excited to build reliable and creative solutions to meet their clients’ unique needs and fulfill CSE’s mandate.

CSE is seeking passionate people from a diverse range of backgrounds, who will thrive working in an open-minded environment and value the different perspectives of others. If you’re excited about what we do and working with us but are not sure you’re 100% there yet, please don’t let that stop you from applying.

What to Expect

- The process will be conducted in the official language of your choice.
- You will be sent a technical test for each of the programming languages identified in your application. These tests will be used as tools to screen you in or out of the process based on your knowledge of these languages. Make sure to check your spam/junk mailbox regularly for notification of the test.
- Should you be successful in your technical test(s), your application will be circulated to various hiring managers.
- If a hiring manager expresses interest in your candidate profile, you will be contacted to schedule an initial interview.
- Your application will remain available to hiring managers for a maximum of 3 months.
- If a manager does not express interest in your application within this timeframe, your application will expire.
- If you are successful in your initial interview, you will be asked to participate in one or more technical interview(s).
- We will request your references (2 current or past supervisors or managers) if you are successful in the interview stage.

To find out more about our salary scale, vacation allowances and benefits (health, dental & pension plans, etc.) visit the Compensation page on our website.

Area of selection

Open to Canadian citizens.

Location

The majority of our jobs are in Ottawa, Ontario. CSE has two accessible facilities. Flexible work arrangements, including telework for a portion of the work week, may be possible.

Conditions of employment

A valid Enhanced Reliability Status (ERS) or an Enhanced Top Secret (ETS) security clearance is a condition of employment that must be met before an offer can be made.

In order to be considered, your cover letter must clearly explain how you meet the following education and experience requirements.

Education

You must have either one of the following:

- A professional certification, college diploma or university degree in a field related to the position, such as (but not limited to) Software Engineering Technician, Computer System Technology, Computer Science, Engineering (e.g. Computer, Software, Electrical), Mathematics;

OR

- A secondary school diploma and relevant experience in a field related to the position (as above).

Note: The educational program must be recognized in Canada, and you must be able to provide proof of education credentials. Students graduating within the next twelve months are eligible to apply.

Experience

Programming experience in one (at a minimum) or more of the following:

- Designing
- Developing
- Testing
- Deploying
- Maintaining, or
- Improving

software with at least one modern language such as but not limited to Java, C, C++, Python, or modern web languages and frameworks.

Note: Recent graduates should note that school projects can be considered as relevant experience.

The following technical, behavioural and leadership competencies will be assessed at a later date. You do not need to include information about them in your application.

- Application Development
- Knowledge of Information Technology (IT)
- Cognitive thinking skills
- Working in a team
- Change and innovation

Assets

Assets are “nice-to-have” expertise and skills we’re interested in. You will not be eliminated if you do not meet or possess these qualifications. However, if you do have them, they may be used to identify which team you could best complement.

Please demonstrate on your application if you meet or possess the asset education or asset experience listed below:

- Experience in the field of Cyber Security
- Experience working with Cloud Technologies
- Experience working with Modern Software Development Architectures
- Experience working in DevOps
- Experience working with Databases

The following asset technical, behavioural and leadership competencies will be assessed at a later date. You do not need to include information about them in your application.

- Knowledge of the Software Development Process
- Cyber Security
- Data Storage Design
- Data Administration & Management
- Infrastructure / Platforms
- Knowledge of Object-Oriented Programming
- Knowledge of the Quality Assurance Process
- Knowledge of Software Reverse Engineering
- Project Management
- System Integration
- Telecommunications (Data & Voice) Networks
- Web Design and Development
- Geospatial Systems Technology

Asset behavioural competencies

- Accountability/autonomy
- Interactive communication
- Service

Asset leadership competencies

- Achieving results
- Integrity, respect and awareness
- Lead and motivate
- Strategy and vision

Operational requirements

Overtime and standby duty may be required.

How to apply

You may submit your candidacy online by selecting “Apply” at the top or bottom of this page.

If you cannot apply online or have a disability preventing you from applying online, please inform us by email at careers-carrieres@cse-cst.gc.ca prior to the closing date of this selection process.

We ask you to not discuss your application with others (including on social media) besides your partner, or close family members - who should also be reminded about the need to be discreet.

This external selection process can take up to 12 months and is more comprehensive than that of many other organizations. You’ll have to complete a combination of assessments, including but not limited to various testing, interview, and security clearance processes. During this selection process, rescheduling assessments will be limited because this can create significant delays in processing applications. Therefore, before you apply to this process, we ask that you commit to each assessment phase.

Candidate assessments are conducted in the candidate’s official language of choice.

To address CSE’s current representation gaps, priority may be given to persons who self-declare as belonging to one, or more, designated employment equity groups: women; Indigenous peoples, including First Nations who are status, or registered and non-status, or non-registered, Inuit and Métis; persons with disabilities, including people with a mental health condition and neurodivergent people; and persons from racial or ethnic groups.

Please note the Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

CSE offers an assessment process that will accommodate any reasonable measures you require to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Those measures are available to all candidates during our processes. Information you provide will be addressed confidentially.

All communications with CSE relating to this process, including email messages and telephone conversations, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

The intent of this process is to fill vacant positions at CSE. The process may also be used to establish a pool of qualified candidates which could be used to staff similar or identical positions with various tenures.

Please note that in an effort to maintain balance between employee development and business needs, candidates who are hired at CSE must remain in their substantive position for a minimum of twelve (12) months subject to operational requirements.

We thank you for your interest in CSE. However, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

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