Summer 2027 - Tutte Institute Graduate Student Research Opportunities

Reference number: RF-16992

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.

Student positions at CSE are unlike most others. We offer both practical and developmental work experience and allow students to be part of meaningful, exciting, projects, with the hope that they will want to join us full-time following their studies.

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

The Tutte Institute for Mathematics and Computing (TIMC) is a research institute focused on fundamental mathematics and computer science. Its mission is to deliver research results with an impact on the most important scientific challenges facing the Canadian and Five Eyes security and intelligence communities.

The TIMC’s key research areas are cryptography and data science. It draws upon many mathematical and computational fields, including algebra, algebraic geometry, combinatorics, data science, topology, number theory, and quantum computing.

We are looking for passionate students in a variety of fields related to mathematics, statistics, data science, and computer science who will thrive working in a collaborative environment where different perspectives and ways of working are valued.

Graduate students eligible to receive a TOP SECRET security clearance will work closely with CSE researchers on classified research projects.

Students will have the opportunity to participate in research workshops, conferences, and meetings related the research projects. When warranted, students will be asked to write research papers, blog posts, and code, and to share their research results with members of the security and intelligence community.

 

Salary

To find out more about our student salary scale visit the Compensation page on our website.

Area of selection

Open to Canadian citizens.

 

Location

Ottawa, Ontario.  All jobs require full-time onsite presence in one of our two accessible facilities.

Learn more about where we work.

 

Conditions of employment

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

For more information about our hiring process, visit our hiring process and security page on our website.

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 be registered as a full-time graduate student in a recognized post-secondary program in mathematics, statistic or computing science.

You must be able to provide a copy of your transcript to prove your enrollment.

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.
• And one of:
  • Knowledge of Machine Learning;
  • Cryptography and Cryptanalysis.

Behavioural competencies

• Cognitive thinking skills
• Interactive communication

Leadership competencies

• Achieving results
• Integrity, respect and awareness

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 students-etudiants@cse-cst.gc.ca prior to the closing date of this selection process.

Important information

The process will be conducted in the official language of your 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.

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

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