Cryptanalyst / Crypto-Scientist (Various levels)

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 committed to fostering a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion. This isn’t just an ideal, it’s crucial to our mission. Find out about our workplace culture, including our diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Become part of our team and you’ll understand why CSE is the most important organization you’ve never heard of.

Job summary

Join our team as a Cryptanalyst or Crypto-Scientist and work in a dynamic and innovative operational environment. At CSE, you’ll apply your analytical and problem-solving skills to a variety of problems in support of the Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and Cyber missions. You’ll learn and apply advanced cryptanalytic and cryptographic techniques to defeat encryption or to design and evaluate cryptographic algorithms and protocols.  You’ll also help develop innovative tools, new techniques, and recommendations for a wide variety of clients.

Cryptanalysts and Crypto-Scientists at CSE perform one or more of the following functions:

• Contribute to operations by developing and maintaining decryption capabilities and using them to support Government of Canada Intelligence and Cyber Defense requirements.
• Conduct cryptologic research and design, and develop, assess, and attack cryptographic algorithms and protocols.

We’re looking for passionate people from a variety of backgrounds who:

• have a blend of math and coding skills;
• have knowledge of and an interest in learning more about cryptography and cryptographic protocols;
• can breakdown technical documents (standards, protocol specifications or mathematical papers) into understandable pieces;
• are creative critical thinkers who love solving problems;
• are committed, resilient and tenacious in the face of adversity;
• want to be part of a great team that delivers results for the Government of Canada and Canadians.

Salary range

To find out more about our salary scale, vacation allowances and benefits (health, dental and 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.

Learn more about where we work.

Essential qualifications

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 university degree in a field related to the position, such as (but not limited to): Mathematics, Statistics, or Computer Science, Physics, Engineering with mathematics courses.

• An acceptable combination of education (i.e. college diploma, professional certification) in a field related to the position (as above), and relevant experience.

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

• Experience coding using a language such as Python or C++.
• Experience in researching and analyzing diverse information to solve on complex issues*.
• Experience presenting findings and recommendations to various stakeholders (e.g. peers, supervisors) verbally and in writing.
• Experience designing, programming or testing algorithms in a variety of domains such as algebra, discrete math, computational number theory, probability and statistics, combinatorics, or cryptography.

Note: *Examples of “complex issues” may include but are not limited to: a long-term project spanning multiple months, a thesis, a multidimension project with multiple partners or stakeholders, a project that sets a precedent or has a major impact on a business process.

Official language requirements

• English essential
• Bilingual imperative: BBB/BBB

Competencies

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.

Technical competencies

• Knowledge and Application of a Field of Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics or Engineering
• Cryptography and Cryptanalysis
• Application Development
• Problem Formulation and Response

Behavioural competencies

• Cognitive thinking skills
• Interactive communication
• Accountability/autonomy (for UNMA-08 positions only)

Leadership competencies

• Change and innovation
• Collaboration
• Achieving results (for UNMA-08 positions only)

Assets

Assets are “nice-to-have” expertise and skills we’re interested in.  If you do have them, they may be used to identify which team you could best complement, or they may be invoked as a volume management strategy. Please demonstrate on your application if you meet or possess the asset education or asset experience listed below.

Asset education

• A graduate degree in a field related to the position, such as but not limited to Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Physics, Engineering with mathematics.

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.

Asset experience

• Experience with mathematical programming, including use of C, C++ or Python or software packages such as Sage, Maple, Mathematica;
• Experience with network protocols, and protocol analysis tools such as Wireshark;
• Experience in Cyber Security principles and practices;
• Experience in Software Reverse Engineering;
• Experience in post quantum cryptography and or quantum information theory;

Operational requirements

Overtime and standby duty may be required.

How to apply

You may submit your candidacy online by selecting “Apply” at the 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.

Important information

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.

Assessments of candidates are conducted in the official language of their choice.

To address CSE’s current representation gaps, priority may be given to persons who self-declare as belonging to the following 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.

The level of competence demonstrated in the various assessments will be used to determine your qualifications for the UNMA-07 or UNMA-08 level.

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.

Due to the nature of CSE’s mandate certain roles may expose employees to content that is difficult to process. Mental health is a priority at CSE and if any personnel feel they require assistance to preserve their mental wellbeing, they have access to services, tools and other resources to help them in both their personal and professional lives.

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